Brother garter carriages are the only add-on carriages that works on their own: once plugged-in, it can knit alternating purl and knit stitches. Only Brother Co. manufactured such carriages. When facing the fabric while it is on the machine, we typically see purl stitches. Those are knitted by the needles on the needlebed when the Garter carriage is activated. The stitches that face us as “knit” ones are knitted by the garter carriage needle.

Brother KG88 carriage was the first in the line of garter carriages. Other garter carriages are Brother KG89, KG88II, KG89II, KG92, KG93, and KG95.

The difference between Brother KG88 and its next iteration, Brother KG89, is that Brother KG89 does not come with the stand-along garter carriage rails. But, as you can see for the picture below, Brother KG88 has these rails in their setup to fit machines like Brother KH840, which do not have those rails already installed.

The difference between Brother KG88 and KG88II models is that KG88II has a built-in cast-on option and KG88 does not: carriage direction lever for the Brother KG 88 does not have a arrow with wiggles next to it (for cast-on) but has just two arrows pointing left and right..

The manual states that KG88 should only be used upto the maximum 190 needles on the needlebed. In particular, 95 on the left and 96 on the right from the zero (middle of the needlebed). The manual also states that depending on on the machine, certain color trippers should be used as well (read to the manual). There are especially many various instructions on using KG88/89 on KH910 machine.

The Japanese version of KG88 is often accompanied by the “ANDOLE” name/model.

PROS:

• HUGE advantage is working on its own once programmed and plugged in.
• knits and purl stitches in the same row.
• can be adapted to two-color/plating version
• can knit yarns a bit thicker than the standard-gauge machine can
• comes with garter rails to attach to the machines that do not have them already built-in

CONS:

• Garter carriages are very temperamental.
• a lot of maintenance is required: cleaning after each use, oiling, correct yarn selection, etc.
• can only be used on standard-gauge machines
• does not have an automatic cast-on option
• fits almost all Brother knitting machines with punchcards and electronic ones but for some models it require modifications (either installation of rails or replacement of rails to those include with the KG88).
• cannot knit on the full bed: only on 95 needles in each direction (total 190 needles)