Design repeats

Needle spacing is the distance between adjacent needles on the Schiffli machine. Historically, needle spacing or ‘rapport’ was measured as one French inch – 1.08 of the English inch – usually 27.07 mm. Standard spacing was known as ‘4/4 rapport’.

With Schiffli design, the distance between active needles is known as the ‘design repeat’ which is always a multiple of needle spacing. Repeats are thus known as 4/4, 8/4, 12/4, or 16/4 rapport. A Schiffli design can be repeated horizontally as many times as can fit across the frame. With larger designs, needles can be selectively disengaged, thereby increasing the needle spacing to 2, 3, 4, etc, inches.

Summary

If a repeat is a single French inch wide (4/4 rapport), all needles are engaged and work in unison. If two French inches wide, every second needle is active. And so on. Thus, the repeat determines design size. A design can be repeated horizontally as many times as can fit across the frame. The repeat must be designed accurately so that both sides join seamlessly.