This Info has been reformatted and with further context added under my CSM Start sequence if pages
Please see CSM Start 3 for Baseline and Tension Dial info
Understanding how to setup your machine
If I knew then what I know now…. I’m here to tell you that indeed it IS important to start certain projects at certain points on the machine - that making a sock for example requires certain actions and yarn carrier placements.
WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO MARK YOUR 6 O’CLOCK POSITION ETC ON YOUR CYLINDER IS YOUR PREFERENCE!
CRANKING ORIENTATION: It’s possible to sit at the machine in almost any orientation however I believe strongly that by using the machine at a more natural arm movement (like sitting on a bicycle with leg pedaling forward) means I will experience less wear and tear to my arm and shoulder. (See the orientation images below).
So with this information in mind, my preference in marking my cylinder is to put 6 o’clock pretty much right in front of me on the cylinder.
In order to approach this with clarity let me show you how I sit at my machine with this photo.
TABLE POSITION: My setup is a non-cutout rectangular computer desk where the machine is clamped to my right (the right table corner). When I’m ready to use the machine I sit back a little and align to make it easy to crank with my right hand on the handle.
Below are two photos better detailing angle of sitting at the machine. Note the angle one sits determines where the 6 o’clock position would be and then the other marks would be in relation to that 6 o’clock mark.
Now understanding the marks, WHY and how
You will find this diagram in almost every CSM manual - at first glance it seems too busy to read however if you review the cylinder numbers it shows how many needles are between each important point on that sized cylinder. Click on the image if wishing to see bigger image.
WHAT MARKS ARE NEEDED?
As shown in the chart A, B, C and D are marked. This is 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock respectively. These are essential. We then also add further marks for Heel/Toe decease/increase areas. Refer again to chart.
The Marks…
What is the ribber accessory? (Vintage Legare shown)
Okay. So the marks have a purpose. Certainly where they are laid out on the cylinder does depend how you sit at the machine its helpful to note:
-mark your 6 o’clock at the position right in front of you where ever you sit at the machine - this makes it easier when working on the machine as everything is even
-IMPORTANT NOTE-aim to center the segments so that the ribber accessory (part that attaches to the inside of the cylinder and is used with the ribber) is in the middle of the segment to reduce attachment collision with Heel Forks/Heel Weights when working Heel/Toes on the machine (see photos for reference)
UNDERSTANDING THE MARKED SEGMENTS
EXAMPLE. Regardless to how many needle slots your cylinder has, when making a heel or a toe we use only HALF of the needles in the cylinder - so with a 72 slot cylinder - the heel/toe would use half that - 36.
Building the heel/toe we would decrease and increase evenly down to an average point - so this translates to leaving 1/3 of the stitches unworked on an average heel/toe. So if the heel/toe used 36 needles - we decrease 12 stitches on each side leaving 12 (this side evenly divides into 12 - 12x3) we then increase 12 and that heel/toe is done. You would therefore add your left boundary 6 needles from 6 o’clock and your right boundary 6 needles from the same 6 o’clock. Check the chart above and photos.
THINGS TO NOTE WHEN MARKING
When we use the ribber, the average approach to add a ribber needle to the setup is to add it at 3 o’clock, generally either the very first slot after that point or the second - which slot specifically works for you depends on where you align your marks - one or two one way or the other would change slightly the ideal alignment of the ribber placement when used. It is not urgent but something to consider if you prefer to always add a ribber needle at the first slot at 3 o’clock etc.
Note the 6 o’clock red mark (the one in the middle) is the center of the heel and the best alignment for heels/toes and using the V Hook Heel Weight.
Also on INSTAGRAM - REF1,
Now let’s look at this next image. Don’t worry at first glance it seems a bit chaotic. The clock positions remain where they are on a clock but here we see the 72 needle slot cylinder where the average heel/toe marks are 6 needles on each side of the 6 o’clock position. That an easy ribber dial alignment for regular ribbing (full pitch) has an ALIGN MARK for easy confirmation of the Ribber setup alignment on my machine. The Tappet Target mark on the cylinder is 8 cylinder needle slots before 3 o’clock and is used during selvage to engage or disengage the Tappet IN/OUT switch (the Tappet requires 4 ribber or 8 cylinder slots in order to activate/deactivate ribbing). My 6 o’clock position on my machine is aligned with the ribber accessory mounted on the inside of the cylinder to make the small working space on the inside of the machine easier later with whatever Heel Forks or Weights used for Heel/Toes.
WHAT WE USE TO MAKE THE MARKS?
Most of us use nail polish to mark our cylinders by preference as it allows the mark to be removed if needed, however polish must be applied thinly (in layers) on a non-oily surface and the dried color will eventually wear off with use. I’ve swapped most of my marks from the generic nail polish to the shellac/UV gel polish for its durability. This is something I had on hand having bought the drugstore unit in the past. One can also use model paints or strong markers.