how to machine knit - weaving

This is an interesting knitting technique I learnt during my final year at the University of Derby.  There was a collection by Leutton Postle that I loved and wanted to use the technique but with my own twist. 

I don't think I got it quite as eye catching as them so I never used it in my final designs. 

However,  I want to show it to you now so you can learn some of the cool high fashion techniques and use them in your own design projects.

So, this is needle weaving on a domestic machine. So obviously you need a domestic machine, any brand of machine is fine just be comfortable with it.  Spend a few days learning about your machine, what the buttons do and how the tension reacts with your yarn. 

I've spend weeks battering my machine with all the crazy weird ideas I come up with.  I have bust a few needles, jammed the carriage but if you don't experiment you will not find out your machines capabilities or how you can work around a problem.

Ok. So moving on to my tutorial, this technique amazes me because the effect is so interesting and unique to usual knitting.  It is like Intarsia from the face of it, but the e-wrap weaving means that the yarn sits above the knitting, this creates a kind of applique effect. 

I do find that the weaving makes the tension of the knitting quite tight (creating applique can reduce stretch and become bulky) so start with a high tension or make an over sized sweater possibly. 

Try to experiment with different yarns, colors, yarns with fringing and bobbles.  Just go crazy and be creative with your swatches and see what works the best for your design/ garment.