Passap U100E Transfer Lock
The Passap U100E transfer lock is an amazing tool which, once mastered, will save you tons of time. You can transfer stitches in one pass. In order to successfully use the transfer lock, you must set everything up correctly. The last row of knitting (after your final pattern row) must be 2 to 4 clicks looser than your main tension. This final loose row will be knit from right to left. The locks will then be resting on the left of the bed. Turn the racking handle counter clockwise towards 9 o’clock. Push a needle up on the back bed. Only push it up a bit, but not enough for the stitch to go behind the latch. Now push a needle (the one to the right of the back bed needle) up on the front bed. Turn the racking handle watching to see the needle heads are close but not touching. There should be a hair of space between the needle heads. Put both needles back down into working position.
I usually have my racking position between 8 and 9 o’clock. You will keep the racking handle in this position and do the transfer by pushing the transfer lock across all needles in work. I always weight the knitting before transferring stitches. For full bed knitting I use 3 Passap weights and use either a cast on comb (reinsert into knitted fabric) or hang a comb from the LK150 machine (and add 3 weights).
Here are a few notes I have on using the transfer lock: Position 1 uses pushers, transferring stitches with pushers in work to empty needles on opposite bed. Position 2 transfers without pushers, every alternate stitch to the opposite bed (stockinette to 1:1 rib). Position 3 (garter stitch) transfers all stitches from one bed to the other whether or not there are needles with stitches already on needles. Position 4 transfers from double bed to single bed knitting. It transfers all stitches. Pushers are not necessary but will work with pushers. Postition 5 transfers a stitch from one bed to the other only where there is a pusher in working position and where there are already stitches on the needles opposite. Some stitches may remain on the front bed because it’s corresponding pusher is in rest position for that transfer. (example: Pat 1157, T286-follow console directions).
If the left side end needle was on the back bed, I push up an empty front bed needle (on the left) for that stitch to transfer to.
Here is a link to download the manual for the Passap U100E transfer lock.
