Machine Knitting

I’ve always been a little fascinated and at the same time completely intimidated by knitting machines. They seem like a great idea, giving knitters a way to finish projects quickly but still have some of the experience of working with fiber. But it feels a little like cheating if you didn’t slave over that sweater for hours, doesn’t it?

Here’s a look at some of the pros, cons and other considerations when looking at a knitting machine.

The first thing you need to know if you’re in the market for a knitting machine is that you don’t just sit down and know how to work it like you do with a sewing machine. A knitting machine really has more in common with a loom than a sewing machine.

The machine consists of a row of needles, also known as latch hooks (the number of needles and the space between them vary from machine to machine). A carriage allows the yarn to go through the needles, producing a knitted piece. This is an oversimplification, of course. What you need to know is that there’s a lot of set up involved and knitting machines can be temperamental or downright confounding, especially to a beginner.

There are lots of reasons a person might want to buy a knitting machine. You might be looking to sell handmade items and want to speed up your production. You may have a large family or a lot of friends you want to be able to knit for but lack time to accommodate them all. Or you might just be interested in what the fuss is all about. All of these are valid reasons.

But before you buy you need to know that knitting by machine is not always going to be faster or easier or produce better results than knitting by hand. Some complicated patterns are impossible to replicate on a machine, and some are so difficult they might as well be impossible.

Machines limit the size of knitted items you can produce to the number of stitches the machine can hold, so you might have to do math to figure out where you can split a pattern to be sewn together by hand later.

Knitting machines are designed in such a way the stockinette stitch is default. It’s possible to do other stitches, even intricate patterns, but they way you will set up and make different stitches depends on the type of machine you buy.

There are three general categories of machines: manual, card punch and electronic or computerized. On a manual machine, you have to move around the pegs by hand when you want to change the pattern. Card punch machines come with basic pattern cards that you input into the machine and the machine then knows how to change the configuration to make the patterns. You can punch your own cards to make your own patterns.

Electronic machines have files stored in memory for basic patterns (you can also add your own). It reads the pattern just like a card machine does and moves the needles automatically to make the pattern.

Machines also vary by the size of yarn that can be used. Because the needles are really tiny hooks, if you use yarn that is too big for the hooks to catch, the yarn will snag and not knit properly. Think about what you’ll want to knit with your machine before you buy so that you don’t buy a super bulky machine when you want to make lace.

The basic sizes are bulky, standard and mid-gauge. A mid-gauge machine is probably the most versatile and most able to produce knits that look handmade. But if you want to make bulky sweaters or fine baby clothes, another size might be better for you. Shop around, ask questions and if you’re lucky enough to have a store with knitting machines nearby, take one for a test drive.

There’s definitely a learning curve when it comes to machine knitting. I’ve read that it’s helpful if you just forget everything you know about knitting by hand before you attempt to knit by machine. The two arts are that different.

You’ll want to follow the instructions carefully, use the ideal weight of yarn for the machine, and definitely watch the instructional video or DVD if one is included with your machine. Even if you just have a book, read through it well and work with the sample patterns, even if they aren’t items you want. You can always donate them to charity later. These patterns are included because they teach you important things about your machine. Once you have the basics under your belt you can try your hand at more creative patterns.

Have fun! Yes, there is a lot to learn, like taking up any new craft or learning any new piece of equipment. It does get easier, and a knitting machine can be a lot of fun and help to you to get many projects done quickly.

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