knitting machines

[thomas_highstreet]

i am thinking about picking one up.. but dont know my arse from my elbow about 'em..

anyone had experience using/working them?

thanks!

[ringring]

Pretty easy to learn. You just need to find out how to cast on and off and how to pick up any dropped stitches.

[johninger]

...and you'll need access to good quality yarn and yarn dyeing people. Depends where you are i suppose?

I hope indigo doesn't cause cancer...

... could you hand me the dental floss

[thomas_highstreet]

yeh.. but say i wanted to make a pattern for a sweater or something.. how are you supposed to ''tell'' the machine to knit to that shape?

which are the better models?

thanks for imput so far.. much appreciated

[ringring]

To make the shape for a sweater, you can do two things:

1. Fully fashioned - you basically knit the shape of the pattern piece on the machine. The advantages are that you'll get nice clean edges, the disadvantage is it's a slower process and needs more skill.

2. Knit a big blanket, then cut out your pattern pieces from the knitted fabric and finish the edges using an overlocker.

Brother make decent domestic machines. You're probably better off starting with a medium gauge machine (medium size yarns).

Unless you are particularly fussy, you should be able to find decent yarns quite easily.

[thomas_highstreet]

ringring,, you truely are v. knowledgable on the old textile industry.. thanks alot for all the help

how would i go about making patterns into the piece? ie. large lettering.. basic shapes.. etc. etc.. i mean, they are hardly gonna work like modern embroidery machines are they!!!!

[ringring]

For large lettering you're going to have to learn intarsia (eg the way the diamond shapes are made in argyle knits).

Do a google for intarsia and jacquard knitting and you'll get more info than I'll ever be able to supply.

[thomas_highstreet]

thanks alot man.. your a real help!

would you be able to recommend me any specific machines? i got a max of about £100/150euro/200$/20000yen to spend ..

[thomas_highstreet]

scratch that.. ill push 200£ / 400$..

Edited by thomas_highstreet on Oct 28, 2005 at 08:59 AM

[ringring]

Hey Thomas

It's been a long while since I've been in the market for a domestic knitter, so I wouldn't be able to give you a recommendation on a specific model.

As you in the UK, it would probably be best to check some out in a department store or sewing centre and get some better advice and a demo there.

If you're interested in knitting, then it may be an idea to learn how to handknit first. The startup costs will be much, much lower and you'll learn the techniques which will carry over to machine knitting.

Good luck.