Author: Emily

Understand the Art of Graffiti Knitting

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Graffiti KnittingSince it’s invention eight years ago, graffiti knitting has had many different names. Whether you call it yarn bombing, yarn storming, guerilla knitting, or graffiti knitting, the idea is the same. All of these names describe the art of using something handmade from yarn to create street art, similar to graffiti on walls. However, the difference is, yarn storming is a softer, more cheerful type of graffiti intended to make passers-by smile and remember a simpler time. These graffiti artists, known as yarn bombers, want to bring a personal, friendly touch to industrial and urban surroundings. What began as a few granny squares turned into cozies for street signs has now branched out into something amazing and diverse that has spread worldwide.

Types of Yarn Bombing

Yarn bombing can be done in several different ways. It can be knit, crocheted, or even created on a loom. It can be as simple as knitting a cozy for a telephone pole or as elaborate as crocheting a huge spider web full of victims to attach inside a tunnel. That is the beauty of graffiti knitting, that it is completely individualized, and there is really no way to do it wrong.

Yarn cozies are the most popular and original form of yarn bomb. The idea is attributed to Magda Sayeg because of the doorknob cozy she created to put on the door of her local boutique on a slow day. Passers-by were so excited and interested that it spurred her to make yarn cozies for other things outdoors, starting with a stop sign near her shop and expanding from there. Today, she is so popular as a yarn bombing artist that she has even been commissioned for such projects as creating cozies for the exposed duct-work in Etsy.com’s Brooklyn offices, as well as car “sweaters” that have appeared in many commercials in the last few years.

Another popular form of graffiti knitting is the art of creating stitched stories. These artists use amigurumi, which are stuffed animals and dolls made from knit or crochet, to create stories or landscapes. Some examples of this are the popular giant squid that has been seen on many statues, a spider web full of bugs and fairies and other such creatures, a group of “wild” animals crossing a bridge, a Cheshire cat in a tree, and other similar ideas. These landscape type yarn bombs are usually organized through groups of knitters who all contribute to the larger picture. You can find many examples of this if you look at their blogs, where they document each excursion with photos and videos.

knitted

Purpose of Graffiti Knitting

There are many speculations about the purpose of graffiti knitting. Some people feel that this must be some sort of feminist protest. Others believe that there is some sort of hidden message behind these fuzzy squares of yarn. In reality, though, there are no burning bras or picket lines full of protesters carrying posters. As far as anyone can tell, these yarn bombers haven’t made any sort of united message public. Instead, if you search the blogs of various yarn bombing groups, you’ll find the same message over and over. It’s fun! There is an exciting rush to be had by doing something that is technically illegal, even if they almost never get in serious trouble. Most of these artists create their yarn bombs as a way to have fun and loose themselves in a fun hobby. Some do this because they love knitting but feel that they simply can’t knit another sweater. Instead, they turn to something fun and exciting that can be done in a night and make an impact on society at the same time.

While there may be a little bit of a political message behind this yarn-bombing fad, the majority of it is purely an artistic escape for those doing it and nothing more. Whatever the real reason behind this growing art form, it has certainly spurred a larger change in the world. Crafts that were once considered completely outdated are coming back with a vengeance since the beginning of yarn bombing. The younger crowd is now getting into things like canning, gardening, raising chickens, sewing, quilting, crocheting, and knitting, which all used to be considered “grandma crafts.” All of these crafts are now cool and growing in popularity since knitting resurfaced in the form of graffiti knitting.

Machine Knitting Techniques

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Machine Knitting

Machine knitting is a great way to make knitted goods in a much more time efficient manner. Machine knitting can recreate many of the same knit looks that are so popular in hand knitting, such as cables and faire isle patterns. It is much faster than hand knitting, and having a knitting machine in your craft room can save you a lot of time and prove to be a valuable addition to your crafting tools. If you’re looking to save time and create beautiful knits at the same time, investing in a knitting machine may be right for you. You just need to know some important machine knitting techniques so that you can begin making even the most intricate patterns.

How to Make a Cast-On

If you’re planning on using a seam or a hem on your knit goods, a cast on is not essential in machine knitting. However, a good cast on can make all the difference in your machine knitting. The best way to cast on with a knitting machine is the wrap cast-on, or E-wrap cast on. To do this, you simply wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the shaft of each needle individually. Once you’ve done this, you can thread your carriage and knit according to the pattern.

Using the wrap cast on for your machine knit projects will make your garments hang better and give them a professionally finished look. After all, if you were going to take the time and effort to create a sweater to wear in public, wouldn’t it be better to have it look great? The wrap cast-on is a quick and easy way to improve the look of your entire garment.

garments hang better

Always Create a Swatch

Whether you are knitting by hand or by machine, a gauge swatch is always an important first step. A gauge swatch can ensure that you get the proper tension and fit for your garment. This can be the difference between a sweater that fits and a sweater that looks like it was intended for someone twice your size.

Swatches are really quick to make and can save you a lot of time in the end. To create a swatch, you simply knit a small square in the stitch pattern you intend to use in the garment. It might be a good idea to make several swatches using different tensions, and then wash them as you intend to wash the finished garment. This way you know which tension to use for your project to get the best fit in the end.

Combine Hand Knitting with Machine Knitting

Knowing how to hand knit can really benefit your machine knitting productivity. By combining hand knitting and machine knitting, you can increase your stitch options and make more complex designs. By using some hand knitting along with your machine knitting, you can improve some of the following processes:

  • Produce simple and complex cables
  • Speed up production processes
  • Add ribbed borders to sweaters and other garments.

Machine-Knit Goods

When using a knitting machine, you can create any knitting project you want. If you’re creating goods for your own household, you can benefit from a knitting machine by being able to make items much faster than by hand. You can also benefit from a knitting machine if you are making goods to sell, because you can decrease your production time. Some knit goods you can create with a knitting machine include:

  • Blankets
  • Scarves
  • Socks
  • Hats
  • Sweaters

Owning a knitting machine can be a great way to knit goods for your family, friends, or even for a business. You’ll find that purchasing a knitting machine can be a great investment and will save you a lot of time and energy. If you are interested in using a knitting machine, learning some important techniques and tips first can help increase your productivity and help you design more detailed patterns from the beginning. Many knitters that invest in a knitting machine find that this is a great way to produce garments that would have taken too long to knit by hand. If you’re just being introduced to machine knitting, these techniques can help you learn the correct way to use your machine.

Basic Warp Knitting Fundamentals

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Warp knitting

Warp knitting is a term used to describe a type of machine knitting used in the commercial knitting world. Although it is still considered a form of knitting, it is very difficult to do by hand; therefore the warp knitting fundamentals are not the same as the fundamentals of hand knitting. If you aren’t accustomed to knitting on a machine, the warp knitting fundamentals can seem rather confusing but really, it is a pretty straightforward technique.

What is Warp Knitting?

Warp knitting is a type of knitting done almost exclusively on a knitting machine, due to the fact that each needle requires its own thread, which can be very cumbersome during hand knitting. It creates parallel rows of stitches that are interlocked to form a knit fabric that is very elastic and flexible, making it a perfect fabric for women’s garments.

Warp knitting is much faster than other types of machine knitting. In fact, it is considered the fastest method of producing bulk knitting fabric. The fall back is that it can only create fabric yardage, rather than fitted or shaped garments. The knitted fabric by the yard that you find in many craft stores is created using warp knitting. This is handy for those that would like to create a sweater out of knit fabric but cannot knit. With this fabric you can sew a sweater that looks knitted and can be washed in the washing machine without the risk of shrinkage.

commercial knitting

The downfall to warp knitting is that while it is fast, the fabric created from this technique can be fairly course and thick if you’re not careful, unlike other types of machine knitting where you can get smooth, elastic fabric with much better drape. Still, if time is of importance, warp knitting is ideal since you can create fabric in bulk.

Basic Warp Knitting Fundamentals

There are two main parts to a warp knitting structure. You first have the stitch itself, which is created similarly to a hand knit stitch, by wrapping yarn around the needle and then pulling a loop through an existing stitch. This wrapped yarn is called an overlap, which is an important aspect in warp knitting fundamentals.

The second part to a warp knitting fabric is the under lap, which is the length of yarn linking together the stitches. The length of this under lap is dependent on how far apart the needles are on the machine. A short under lap creates less stability in the fabric, while long under lap creates more stability. However, this can also affect the fabric’s weight, since a longer under lap requires more yarn, which makes the finished fabric heavier and thicker.

Warp Knitting Stitches

There are six fundamental stitches in warp knitting. They are the tricot knit, Milanese knit, Simplex knit, Raschel knit, Ketten Raschel knit, and crochet knit. Each stitch is used for different garments and different looks.

fundamental stitches

The Tricot knit stitch, for example, is very soft and less prone to wrinkles than other knit fabrics. Tricot knit fabrics are the most delicate and are often used in women’s lingerie such as slips, panties, bras, and nightgowns. Milanese knits, while not used as much anymore, are more stable and strong. They used to be used often to make the more expensive and high-end underwear. Another warp knitting style that is still used often is Raschel knitting, which creates thick, bulky fabric without much stretch. These fabrics are often used for making bulky items like jackets, skirts, dresses, and coats. These three fabrics are the most used fabrics in warp knitting, although there are others that are less common. The other warp knitting fundamental stitches include:

• Simplex knit, which is pretty thick and dense.
• Ketten raschel knit, which creates a raised pattern on the fabric.
• Crochet knit, which is the basic hand-crochet stitch.

Machine knitting is a great way to quickly make fabrics that are more elastic and flexible than woven fabrics. This is great for fitted garments and garments that require a lot of drape. Things like women’s lingerie would be a lot different today if warp knitting fundamentals had not been discovered. By understanding the basic warp knitting fundamentals, you can understand more about the fabric you’re using, or even attempt machine knitting yourself.

2 Flat Knitting Definitions You Should Know

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begin knitting

When you begin knitting, you soon realize that there is a whole new vocabulary to learn as you go, such as the different flat knitting definitions. Flat knitting is a term used in both hand knitting and industrial knitting to describe a common technique. Of course, depending on what type of knitting you perform, there are different flat knitting definitions. We’ll discuss the two most common definitions in this article in detail.

Flat Knitting Definitions for Hand Knitting

In hand knitting, the term flat knitting refers to a piece of knitting that is turned periodically, usually every row. This technique is also sometimes referred to as back and forth knitting, which is a pretty self-explanatory name. It basically just means that at the end of each row, you turn your work and work backwards until you reach the starting point again. In other words, you work the piece back and forth.

Another way to describe flat knitting is to create a piece of knit fabric that has sides. This can refer to many different types of projects, such as:

• Knit baby blankets
• Knit afghans
• Knit scarves
• Knit throw pillows
• Knit headbands

It can also refer to many other projects, depending on how they are made. For example, while a knit hat is a circular garment, it can be knit flat and then sewn up. Many beginner knitters do this before they feel practiced enough to knit in the round.

Flat knitting

How to Knit Flat

Flat knitting is usually done on two straight needles, although some knitters prefer to work with one set of circular needles instead. The biggest advantage to using circular needles is that you don’t risk losing one of your needles, but it is also easier when working with a large piece of work such as an afghan since circular needles can hold more stitches. Regardless of your needle preference, the technique is still done by turning your work.

The most common stitch in knitting is the stockinette stitch, where all of the little “v’s” are on one side of the fabric. While this is called a knitting stitch, it is actually a stitch combination, since you have to use two different stitches to create the look. These stitches are the knit stitch, and the purl stitch. When looking at the right side of your work, or the side that will face out and be seen, you will use the knit stitch, but once you turn your work, you must use a purl stitch for the next row, since that is basically a knit stitch performed backwards. This allows all of the “v’s” to line up on the right side of the fabric and all of the bumps to line up on the wrong side. This technique provides you with a smooth, elastic finished piece, such as the one commonly seen on sweaters and hats.

Flat Knitting Definitions for Industrial Knitting

While the term flat knitting is pretty self-explanatory when you look at it in terms of hand knitting, it holds a completely different meaning when you consider industrial knitting. Industrial knitting is the process of using knitting machines in order to mass-produce knit material and garments found in stores.

Flat knitting machines use two needle beds to quickly create complex designs and shaped garments for commercial use.

Industrial flat knitting, also referred to as weft knitting, is slower than using a circular knitting machine, but the ability to create more complicated stitch patterns and fitted garments makes up for the lack of speed these machines use.

The advantages of using a flat knitting machine include:

• Flat knitting machines are the most versatile knitting machines available
• Flat knitting machines allow for many different yarns to be used.
• Flat knitting machines are simple to supervise and operate.

As you can see, flat knitting definitions vary depending on the technique you use. As an industrial knitter, using machinery to produce commercial knits, flat knitting refers to what sort of knitting machine is used and what sort of detail can go into your project. For the more common hand-knitter, flat knitting is just the basic knitting. By working back and forth across your rows of knitting, using knit and purl stitches, you can easily master the most common of flat knitting definitions.

Weft and Warp Knitting Differences

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different knitting techniques

Weft and Warp knitting are technical terms that describe two different types of knitting used by either machine or hand. They refer to the widths and lengths of the thread and how many needles are used.  Knitting is typically done by hand, although some machines are used today.  These terms are technical terms mostly used when discussing machine knitting, although weft knitting can be done by hand, too. There are many differences between weft knitting and warp knitting, and since many knitters don’t commonly know these terms, we’ll discuss them here.  There is a lot to learn about weft and warp knitting, so continue reading to expand your knowledge of the ancient art of knitting.

Weft Knitting Versus Warp Knitting

Weft and warp knitting are completely different knitting techniques that result in two different types of fabrics.  The most obvious difference in these two techniques is that weft is a yarn that runs back and forth, while warp is a yarn that runs up and down. Due to these different techniques, the finished product is entirely different, too.  For example, weft knitting can produce shaped garments and highly drapeable fabrics while warp knitting produces only coarse yardage.

Weft Knitting

Weft knitting, which can be done by hand or machine, uses a continuous thread to form courses and loops in the fabric.  This technique can produce either fabric yardage or shaped garments such as circular fabrics.  Due to the fact that it uses one continuous thread to create a finished product, it is very hard to unravel and creates a very elastic and thin fabric.  However, this fabric is more likely to shrink than fabric created using warp knitting, and needs to be washed and dried by hand rather than in a machine.

knitting technique

While weft knitting offers many more options in terms of finished products, the technique is generally more complicated and takes a longer time to complete.

There are three fundamental stitches used in weft knitting, which are:
•    Plain knit
•    Rib knit
•    Purl knit

This knitting technique creates many of the classic knitting looks you’ve come to recognize, and is more likely used by hand knitters everywhere.

Warp Knitting

On the other side of the knitting spectrum is warp knitting.  Usually knitting machines are used for this technique. It is much simpler and faster than weft knitting, which makes it more likely for commercial knitting fabrics. Another advantage to warp knitting is that the finished fabric can be washed in a machine with much less risk of shrinkage.

Unlike with weft knitting, each needle on a knitting machine uses it’s own loop of yarn to form parallel rows.  These rows and loops are interlocked to form fabric like the knitted fabrics you can find in stores.  Due to the restrictions of this technique, warp knitting is only used for fabric yardage rather than shaped and fitted garments. Very large widths of fabric can be created using warp knitting.  In addition, the fabrics are generally coarse, and thicker than those produced using weft knitting.

There are six fundamental stitches used in warp knitting, which are:

•    Tricot knit, which is soft and less prone to wrinkles.
•    Milanese knit, which can be recognized by the rib pattern on the face.
•    Simplex knit, which is pretty thick and dense.
•    Raschel knit, which creates nets, veils, and lace.
•    Ketten raschel knit, which creates a raised pattern on the fabric.
•    Crochet knit, which is the basic hand-crochet stitch.

While these terms are most commonly used to refer to machine knit fabrics, warp and weft knitting can be used to describe some hand-knit pieces as well.  In fact, as mentioned above, weft knitting can be done by either machine or hand.  Knowing these terms can help you choose which techniques you need to use for your project, since they result in entirely different fabrics.  If you are looking for a thinner, more elastic fabric, or need to shape your project as you go, weft knitting is the way to go. However, if it is more important to you to have a fabric that can go in the washing machine, warp knitting will give you the finished product you are looking for.  Whichever way you go, it is important to know the differences between weft and warp knitting if you are creating commercial knitting fabrics.

Bond Knitting Machine Reviews

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Knitting Machine Reviews

Bond Knitting Machines are very popular across the US and the UK. They are especially handy if you want to supplement or add to your handmade knitting work. The reason for this is that most of the Bond Knitting Machines are especially adept at working with the larger yarn generally used for hand-knitting. If you have grown up using the 4-ply or heavier yarns all the way up to the chunky yarns, the Bond Knitting Machine may well be the one you need to enhance your knitting repertoire.

While they claim that you can set everything up and begin using it the first night and complete an entire sweater by the second evening, unless you have previous experience with Knitting Machines, do not expect this will work for you. Still, the Bond Machines are extremely easy to use and provide many excellent features as well as additional patterns and projects available on their website.

One very popular product from Bond is the Pocket Knitter. While this is certainly not the best knitting tool for everyone, it can be especially valuable to introduce someone to the world of knitting who may not be coordinated or otherwise capable of using the two needles by hand. It has also been shown to be extremely helpful to certain people who may suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other issues that prevent them from having more flexibility in their hands.

While the Pocket Knitter is not going to be right for everyone, it is certainly an ingenious device and one that does serve many different purposes quite well. Its real beauty lies in its simplicity based on a simple “wrap and lift” technique that makes it possible for nearly anyone to use … even if they may have difficult holding or handling the more traditional knitting needles.

Bond Knitting Machine

If you have a young “Fashionista” in your family and you have had difficulties getting them to join you with something so “droll” as knitting. The Bond Cool Corder will simply amaze them and get their interest in a hurry. Not only can they make “cool” jewelry items in a matter of moments and sell them for extra cash (school colors work great for keychains, bracelets, necklaces for holding ID cards or cell phones and many other uses) but they can even make fully custom shoelaces for those overly priced (and probably very ugly) tennis shoes or sneakers. Once they see what they can do and what they can earn, you can rest assured that you will have gotten their attention. When they discover how easy and rewarding knitting can be, you may have just started a new family tradition … or brought back an old one.

Bond’s Embellish Knit is another incredibly simple yet extremely handy device. Whether you want to make fancy trimming for your scarves or around the openings in a sweater, they are a snap with this handy and easy to use device. Furthermore, you can make a pretty amazing selections of decorative knots and other embellishments to give your pillows, clothes or anything else that you can knit or sew items onto to highlight it and make it stand out as exceptional rather than being “plain”.

The “Granddaddy” of the Bond Knitting Machines is the Ultimate Sweater Machine. Imagine being able to stitch from 600 to 1200 stitches a minute. With the Ultimate Sweater Machine, you do not have to imagine it anymore. This (incredibly simple) Knitting Machine has proven itself capable of stitching almost twenty inches of cloth in five short minutes. It handles the Chunky Weight Yarns all the way down to the Sport Weight Yarn. It even handles many of the fancy yarns that can be so difficult to manage manually.

While the Bond Knitting Machines may not give you all of the versatility that you had hoped for, they do provide an extreme ease of use and surprising functionality that still makes them valuable tools and an incredible bargain for the price. If you are trying to get someone involved with knitting for the very first time, the Bond Knitting Machines may truly be just the ticket that you need to get them on board.

Customized Knitting Machine Patterns

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Knitting Machine Patterns

I am going to go against all of the rules here and do something that I was told never to do. I am going to write an article all about ME ME MEEEEEEE! Okay, it is not all about me really but about some of the knitting that I have discovered is much easier (for me at least) using knitting machine patterns and playing around with them a little bit. Now this is not entirely true for all of them but for quite a few of them, what I have done is taken basic patterns and embellished on them as well rather than just using the knitting machine to create embellishments for my other works.

Now one of the most common things I use the knitting machines for is the simple knots … simple for most people at least. The Celtic Knots are among my favorites but while I am able to do quite a bit of needlework without too many problems, the slight shaking in my hands prevents me from doing much detail work with knitting needles … especially when it comes to some of the more lightweight yarns. I enjoy using the smaller knots as decorative items on larger pieces I create for other uses.

Knitting the Celtic Knots around a small, round magnet allows me to create really neat little refrigerator magnets that are decorative as well as functional. Additional uses can include using them to highlight other items as well. There are the ever-popular decorations for throw-pillows which will likely always remain very popular. Additionally, I make hems for lampshades, curtains and even for valances over windows and doorways. The smaller decorations help to highlight the work and make it stand out as opposed to the more simple knitted lace trim or hemming.

fairly cheap knitting machine

Neck chains are very popular and if you are looking for a part-time and profitable hobby, you may be surprised how much you can accomplish with the right patterns and a fairly cheap knitting machine. Again, due to the shaking in my hands, I have a difficult time with the Ribbon Yarn. However, the Ribbon Yarn does make some really nice “bolo” like necklaces which I knit into a small plastic clip which can then be used to hold pens, id cards and even cell phones. If you do not like the Ribbon Yarn, the very Lightweight Yarns also work very well for this. There is almost no limit to what can be created here. The same techniques can be used for watch chains, bracelets and even small, colorful and cheap rings that can easily be sold for a couple of dollars each.

I have knitted covers for about everything in my home short of the furniture. Given time, I may do that as well but for things like cookie jars, flour containers, spice racks and other common household items, a custom made knitted cover just gives it a bit of a personal touch. However, in some areas, the common knots made with the Chunky Yarn not only attract dust and dirt, it seems to capture it and hold onto it for dear life making it very difficult to clean.

The custom knots made with the Lightweight Yarn allow for a more decorative touch without being so difficult to clean or requiring nearly as many washings … which even in cold water will eventually wear on your knitting work. Now here I have to cheat a little bit since most of my personalized covers are made with the heavier yarn and the lace or knots I knit are not about to go in with the same stitching. I do have to use a few stitches of thread to sew them on but if you use close colors, you can make this seam almost invisible.

If you want to make it stand out, use a gold or blue metallic thread and make an actual border around the embellishments to make them stand out even more. The contrasting colors can work just as well for highlighting as the similar color yarns and threads do for making it more subtle. It all depends on your personal tastes. Knitting Machine Patterns are very similar to recipes in this aspect; while you can generally rest assured that the pattern will work, it is sometimes just fun to see what can be done to make it just a little better and a little more “you”.

Passap Knitting Machine Reviews

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Passap Knitting

The Passap Knitting Machines are one of the most diverse and flexible models insofar as the different threads that they will handle, the materials that you can create and the styles of knitting that you can perform with them. They are a bit on the pricey side but if you are knitting for money and want a machine that can keep up with your pace and the ever-changing pace of a growing knitting business, the Passup Knitting Machines are an excellent value and a very high-quality knitting machine to add to your production floor.

Many of the Passup Machines come fully equipped to deal with multiple types of yarn all the way down to lace and all the way up to the chunky yarns so popular for sweaters, caps and mittens. If you are looking for one single knitting machine that can create an entire ensemble than Passup Knitting Machines are definitely among the ones you want to examine closely. They may be a bit expensive for those who are new to the world of knitting but if you are looking for an all around incredible machine, then Passup has something in your league.

There is a bit of a learning curve for the Passup Knitting Machines but nothing that cannot be overcome by someone who has worked with automated knitting machines in the past. If you have not, it may take a little more patience and a little more time but you can still master the Passup without too many headaches and generally without breaking anything. While it may be difficult at first, once you have learned the subtle nuances of these machines, you have found your mark, you are already set and you are definitely ready to go.

finest knitting machines

(In my very personal opinion) One of the finest knitting machines available today is the Passup E-6000. This truly amazing knitting machine comes with well over six-hundred patterns already stored in its memory and has the capacity for you to create your very own patterns and designs in a most unique fashion. With the Passup E 6000 you can actually draw your very own design and implement and integrate any of your personal knitting designs with those that are already stored on the machine to create your very own special touch and truly make your mark on the fashion world.

The Passup E-6000 also has the added benefit of being able to work without weights so that all of your stitches are always equal and symmetrical and you do not get any of the variations that are so common with some machines and when knitting by hand. When you are knitting anything that requires incremental changes in shape, the machine itself tells you how many stitches you need to add or take away in order to obtain the exact shapes that you want. This makes it possible to create things with a knitting machine that would not only be time consuming but tedious and often frustrating when knitting by hand.

All things being equal; if you are serious about machine knitting and are looking for flexibility, production capacity and incredible workmanship, at least one of the Passup Knitting Machines will probably be your final choice.

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Passap Knitting Machine Image 1

Silver Reed Knitting Machine Review

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Silver Reed Knitting Machine

The Silver Reed Knitting Machine is the only series of home knitting machines still in active production. While not all of their older models are available as new products, this does give them something of an edge over their competitors. The Silver Reed Knitting Machines are Japanese made and have been distributed under the names of Singer knitting machines, Studio, Empisal and KnitMaster.

Apart from the fact that they are the only home knitting machines still in production, the Silver Reed Knitting Machines do have some other points in their favor. They are relatively easy to set up and use which puts them way ahead of much of their competition especially among people who are new to the world of knitting and more specifically, machine knitting.

Used Silver Reed Knitting Machines are also readily available although parts for some of the older machines can be a bit difficult to obtain. Some of the older machines may be sold online as “Vintage” but they still seem to be well built and capable of coming out of retirement to function fine. Used parts may not be plentiful but they are available online even if you do have to do a little bit of digging to find them.

Places like E Bay do seem to get them on a pretty regular basis and some of the shops regularly purchase old machines specifically for parts both to use and to sell. Another great advantage with the Silver Reed Knitting Machines is the ability to interchange a limited number of parts. While this is not true with all of their machines, lists are readily available online which will show you exactly what parts can be interchanged among their different machines.

Silver Reed Knitting Machine

Additional benefits of the Silver Reed machines in regards to this aspect is the fact that you can still go directly to the factory with your inquiries. Even if they do not sell the older machines any more, there are still people there who have more information than the average person will. They may also have just what you need on hand stashed in a corner somewhere and while it may require a little bit of time on the telephone, this can be a great bonus for people who are not overly familiar with the complexities among even the simple knitting machines.

The Silver Reed machines also come in a variety of sizes to allow you to work with nearly any type or weight of yarn. Some of the newer Silver Reed Knitting Machines are also easily used with many of the more difficult yarns and even wire should you wish to incorporate some of that into your knitting work. Patterns for the Silver Reed Knitting Machines are numerous and easy to find. While they are not as easily manipulated as with some of the other knitting machines, custom work and incorporating different aspects of different patterns is possible with a little bit of practice.

The price and the overall value make the vast majority of the Silver Reed machines a great bargain for the price. Their ease of use and low learning curve also make them a great solution for many people who are new to the world of machine knitting. If you are just looking for a knitting machine to help you along in some of those more difficult moments, the Silver Reed Knitting Machines are and will likely remain a great place to start.

 

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Silver Reed Machine Image 1
Silver Reed Machine Image 2

Singer Knitting Machine Reviews

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Singer Knitting Machine

The Singer Knitting Machines come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and varieties designed for almost any type or weight knitting yarn. While they may not be as popular as some of the other brands of knitting machines, the Singer Knitting Machines do have certain offerings that are extremely valuable to the serious knitter in your home or family.

At first glance, there are only two prohibitive factors when you are considering the purchase of a Singer Knitting Machine. They are no longer produced by Singer and the prices are rather steep for anyone relatively new to the world of knitting. However, these are also offset as well. The parts and service for Singer Knitting Machines are readily available in many locations around the globe and the relative ease of use regarding even the more advanced knitting machines by Singer make it a popular selection for some.

The Singer line of knitting machines starts out on the low end with many “Toy” knitting machines that are in fact very functional. Whether they are deemed to be “toy” knitting machines because of their plastic construction or ease of use is unknown but they are still fully functional knitting machines that can be used by adults for adornments and embellishments as easily as they can be to introduce your children (or grandchildren) to the wonderful world of knitting, arts and crafts.

Singer line of knitting machines

There are numerous attachments and other parts readily available for the Singer Knitting Machines as well. Singer Stores are also very common in nearly any large city so finding a certified Singer Technician who actually has experience with the Singer Knitting Machines should not be a major problem.

The Singer Knitting Machines are no more sensitive than any of the other machines and are much better built than some but as with any such sensitive equipment, minor problems can cause major difficulties when you are actually attempting to use the machine. Finding a reputable Singer technician or Service Center should allow you to find a technician who is intimately familiar with your Singer Knitting Machine and can keep it running in nearly perfect order.

When you get up into the larger Singer Knitting Machines, they are very nearly commercial in their nature and ability to produce the finished products. The Singer Knitting Machines at this level are truly amazing machines and have an incredible capacity for knitting at speed. The learning curve may be a bit higher than some of the other knitting machines but if you have the patience to get it up and running and keep all of the finer parts in good condition, these machines really are difficult to beat.

Singer Knitting Machines and attachments are readily available for nearly any yarn weight and style so even working with those difficult yarns like the ribbon yarns, the lace yarns and even the chunky yarns that sometimes create problems on knitting machines can be easily worked with. Again, there may be a slight learning curve and the prices may be a little steep for those new to knitting, if you are a seasoned professional, have the time and patience to learn your machine and are serious about production, the Singer Knitting Machines are difficult to beat.

Image Attributions:

Singer Knitting Machine Image 1
Singer Knitting Machine Image 2