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 KG89 carriage was the second (after KG88 model) in the line of garter carriages. (Other garter carriages are Brother KG88II, KG89II, KG92, KG93, and KG95).

The main diffeence between KG89 and KG89II is that the carriage direction lever for the Brother KG89 does not have a arrow with swiggles next to it (for cast-on): it has just two arrows poiting left and right. Basically, the automatic cast-on option does not exist in KG89.

The difference between KG88 and KG89 is that setup for the KG89 does not need special garter carriage rail racks (like KG88 does) and it works without any modifications with machines KH890 and above (with the exception of KH910).

Depending on on the machine, certain color trippers should be used as well (read to the manual).

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
• fits all Brother knitting machines with already installed garter carriage rails

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