Fig. 7 gives another variation of this pattern produced on the same machine where the courses alternate with each other in red and green. This sample shows the facility with which new color blends can be produced to match any color of ground garment. One bobbin is simply replaced with another on the machine, or both may be changed. In this pattern again a decided tendency is shown for the effect to run in the direction of the right owing to the tendency to a spiral effect.
Use of Core Thread
In some cases the cord made of the knitted fabric itself is too elastic and lacks the tensile strength required for certain purposes. In this event it is an easy matter to arrange that a center core thread be run into the machine as the fabric is being knitted. The core thread is made of some strong, non-elastic material and is arranged on a bobbin above the machine. That material is drawn off its bobbin and passes down the center of the circle of needles so that it is completely covered by the knitted fabric. Its use considerably strengthens the cord and makes it suitable for certain purposes for which it otherwise would not be satisfactory.
Fig. 8 shows a sample of an actual cord made on the same type of machine where we have only four needles in the cylinder, these being worked with two yarn feeds, one black and one white, giving a one and one black and white effect in the cord. For this style it is necessary to have a core thread of material which passes into the center of the tube as the knitting proceeds. This makes the cord bulk larger and causes it to be quite round in effect.
The smallest cord of this character is produced from one latch needle by an arrangement such as is supplied with the Union Special sewing machine, where the latch needle works by power, enters its loop and takes the new thread, which it draws through the old one, thus making an endless chain of loops in a very rapid manner. These strings are used as the ground work of the ornamental edgings produced on this machine.
THE ABBOTT PRESS, NEW YORK