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Passaps are fantastic machines for anyone who loves ribbed fabrics and textured work! I use an E6000, but almost everything here applies across models.
One thing that comes up again and again is the fear of moving from a Japanese machine to a Passap. That hesitation makes sense! Two fixed beds can be intimidating, the ‘language’ is different and the manuals can feel like they assume a lot of previous knowledge. That’s exactly why the first step that helped me the most was going back to basics.
Even if you have an E600, start with the DM80 manual. The E6000 manuals are written for knitters who already understand how Passap settings relate to each other, so it’s easy to get lost. The DM80 manual explains the set up of the machine in a way that translates across models. One thing to note is that the front lock (carriage) of the E6000 doesn’t exactly align with the DM80. For example, the third setting on the E6000 front lock (LX) lines up with BX on the E6000 back lock and with the same position on the DM80 front and back locks. This chart below has all of the lock translations.
Download this image as a PDF here.
Another helpful shift is understating the technical side of knitting, in general. Passaps can feel confusing if you’re used to thinking in terms of carriage button combinations instead of knowing what is actually happening to the stitches. Most manuals describe stitch patterns in terms of their carriage settings (PART L, ▲, ★, II) which doesn’t translate well across machines! When a knitter understands how needles and stitches behave on any machine, switching brands gets MUCH easier.
For me, that understanding came from studying with Helen Sharp at The Knitting School. Her YouTube channel is a great place to start and her virtual workshops go even deeper. I took her in-person classes after I already had years of knitting experience and her way of explaining stitch formation changed everything. That clarity has carried into every type of machine I’ve used since.
The same technical approach runs through the work of Susanna Lewis, Susan Guagliumi and others and it’s shaped how I teach, design and write patterns. A technical language makes instructions brand agnostic, which also makes them more accessible for knitters working on vintage, domestic or commercial machines.
If you have questions about your Passap or want help getting more comfortable with your machine, feel free to reach out or schedule a lesson.
