Let’s learn how to work the bubble stitch on any knitting machine.
I really do adore this bubble stitch pattern. I found it in an old book on handtooled knitting machine stitches from 1987. Handtooling for Chunky Knitting Machines by Kathleen Kinder. Oh how we forget the torture of reading Times New Roman.
First – The Abbreviations
- COL – Carriage on Left
- COR – Carriage on Right
- UWP – Upper Working Position
Cast On for the Bubble Stitch
Cast on by hand towards the left. Choose a multiple of 10 plus 1 stitch on either end. Knit one row – COR.
Now we knit our first bubble
Next, set your carriage to hold. Pull all of the needles except the group of 10 closest to the carriage (plus the 1 extra) into hold position. Knit – COL
Repeat Start:
Pull the outer most 5 needles (plus the extra one) into hold position.
Hang your weight on just the bubble you are working. (Affiliate links ahead) I like to use these claw hangers and small barrel weights, although something a little lighter would be nice.
From the 5 needles still in working position, pull the one closest to the carriage out, yarn will auto wrap. Of the 5 needles in hold, push the closest one back into UWP. Knit to the right. COR
Wrap yarn under the needle farthest from the carriage, knit left. COL. Repeat from start above to here until the 5 needles that started in hold are back in work and the 5 needles that started in work are in hold.
Wrap the extra needle. Push the 5 held needles of the group plus all 10 needles of the next group back into UWP. Knit row, COL.
Pull 5 needles farthest from carriage into hold, hang weight from the stitches you are working and then repeat from >>Repeat Start<< until this bubble is finished. Move to the next bubble and carry on until all your bubbles have been knitted. Don’t forget the last needle is not a part of a bubble. It should be knitted to finish the row.
Now do it all in reverse!
Leave the first 10 needles plus 1 in working position, knit across COR.
Pull first 5 needles opposite carriage into hold. Pull first needle closest to carriage into hold for the autowrap. Push first held needle into UWP. Knit accross, COL.
Wrap needle, knit back across. Repeat until bubble is completed and then move to the next bubble. Keep working the bubbles back and forth until you’ve reached the length you are looking for. And that is the bubble stitch.
So what do you think? Is this a stitch you would use? Do you knit for texture or is color work your thing? Let me know in the comments.
