Tag: knitting machine patterns

How to Convert Hand Knit Patterns into Knitting Machine Patterns

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Knitting Machine PatternsThere are many benefits to using a knitting machine to create your knitted goods at home. For example, you can finish large knitting projects in a few hours rather than in a few days it would take you to hand knit the same project. While there are plenty of intimidating features to transition to when learning the knitting machine, a big advantage is that you can use some of your favorite basic hand knitting patterns for your first few projects. Basic hand knitting patterns that do not use complicated stitches, cables, or other patterns are very simple to convert to knitting machine patterns without any extra work. If you have a few basic stockinette stitch patterns that you would like to try on your new knitting machine, read on for how to knit them on a machine.

Hand Knitting Patterns vs. Knitting Machine Patterns

Most basic knitting patterns can be used on knitting machines without any converting. In fact, knitting machine patterns and hand knit patterns look almost exactly the same on the surface. You have a set amount of stitches to cast on, knit, and bind off, just like on a hand-knitting pattern. On knitting machine patterns that require several rows, or increases or decreases, you are still instructed to use stitch markers to help you count, too.

The biggest visible difference on basic knitting machine patterns is that instead of seeing a needle size requirement to meet the gauge, instead you’ll see a needle range. For example, instead of seeing instructions to use size 8 knitting needles, you’ll see instructions to use a mid-range knitting machine with a setting for your stitch dial.

How to Convert to a Knitting Machine Pattern

If you don’t have a pattern to use for your first few machine projects, you can easily use some simple hand knit patterns that don’t call for cables, bubble stitches, or lace. Using a hand knit pattern on a machine is pretty simple. Like with any new hobby, it is best to start with simple projects such as washcloths, scarves, or a simple wrap. To use your hand knit patterns for your knitting machine, the process is pretty simple.

Hand Knitting Patterns

The first thing you need to do is prepare your yarn for the machine. It needs to be made in a center-pull ball so that it can feed yarn to the machine fast enough. A typical skein will not unravel fast enough for a knitting machine. Once you’ve done this step, you can put the number of stitches the pattern calls for on your machine. This step will be explained in your manual. Then you simply push the carriage back and forth until you’ve reached the desired length for your project. You cast off by running the carriage over your knitting without any yarn. Be sure at this point to hold your work up so that it doesn’t fall to the ground or unravel fro the weight.

If you are using a ribbed pattern for your project, the process will be slightly different, and require a crochet hook or latch hook to use during the process. During cast on, you will skip the purl rows and then move your carriage back and forth for the length of the purls. Once you have completed the length that needs to be purled, you can take your crochet hook or latch tool and go up the ladder chaining in the spots where the stitches are skipped.

Machine knitting is a great way to quickly produce knits in your home. Whether you want to quickly make up a bunch of scarves for holiday gifts, make winter sweaters or socks for your family, or want to start up a knitting business, a knitting machine is a great way to increase your production and create beautiful items. If you want to start machine knitting and need some patterns to get you started, try using some of your regular knitting patterns on your machine. While your more complex projects will need real knitting machine patterns, simply converting your basic knitting patterns for use on your machine can work to complete your first few projects.

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”.

Machine Knitting Patterns

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People who are new to the world of knitting altogether or more specifically to the world of machine knitting may not know this, but machine-knitting patterns can be substantially different from the more traditional Hand-Knit patterns. Still, as the knitting machines become more advanced, they are very handy tools for both product creation and for making really beautiful embellishments for knitted materials or to decorate almost any common household item.

On a more personal note, my favorites are the numerous machine patterns for the knots. I have a very difficult time knitting these by hand but there are numerous knitting machines available at very reasonable prices that have allowed me to create some of the most beautiful adornments for many household items. I use these knots that are created from the machine patterns to adorn throw-pillows, pot-holders, cookie jars and even in the creation of shadow-boxes and some of my other wall hangings.

Knitting machine patterns are not relegated to the simple knots or other smaller jewelry or otherwise decorative items that many people believe them to be. While knitting machines do have their limitations based on numerous factors, they are really quite adept at helping to create some really beautiful works of art and clothing. While many of the knitting machines come with a wide selection of patterns, there are also many more patterns readily available as well as options for creating fully custom knitting patterns.

Knitting machine patterns are also available for many of the fancy yarns that are so difficult to work by hand. The ribbon yarn has long been the bane of many knitters (and hats off to you if you have mastered this) but some of the knitting machines can almost fully automate the process while others make it substantially easier to work this and with some of the other more difficult fancy yarns. While you may not want to create an entire garment from these, you can now create some very beautiful trim and seams for your garments to enhance them and make them even more lovely than they were before.

Some people have a difficult time with the tight knitting on many blouses, capes, socks and other knitting projects that use the sports weight or other lighter yarns. The uniformity of the machines makes these worries and troubles a thing of the past. Machine knitting patterns are readily available for every type of yarn and every type of knitting project. If you were ever concerned that knitting machine patterns would be limited to small knots and other embellishments, you need worry no more. The entire spectrum of knitting projects can be completed in part or in whole with some of the knitting machines that are available these days.

One of the knitting machines that are not often the first thing people think of when thinking about knitting machine patterns are is the flat knitting machines and the numerous patterns that are available for them. Some of the flat knitting machines will require some special attention and maybe changing the yarn(s) a few times, but these patterns can be used to create actual cloth to be used in any number of different projects.

These days, the question is not so much what kinds of machine knitting  patterns are available but what you want to create.

6 Top Tips For Machine Knitting

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If this is your first time using a knitting machine, it’s natural to feel intimidated by the intricate controls you never encountered with hand knitting.

Learning to master your knitting machine takes practice and patience. I have listed below 6 top tips and tricks that can help you shortcut your way to lovely machine-knitted garments.

Punch Cards
If you are using punch cards for machine knitting, try covering with tape the holes that you are not using to prevent mistimed punching.

Zippers
Pins are inconvenient to use when you’re running fabric through a knitting machine. Fabric glue is a better alternative when trying to hold a zipper in place while machine knitting. Before applying glue, make sure that the fabric is treated so it doesn’t shrink after washing. When the glue dries out completely, you can sew the zipper onto the fabric smoothly.

Marker Row
A marker row is useful when you are machine knitting down a long train of garment. They enable you to spot the row wherein you can hang a hem easily. To knit one marker row, pull out alternating needles to the farthest point and set the knitting machine carriage to “Part” or “Slip”. When knitting two marker rows, do the second row on the needles that are not on the previous row.

Stitch Gauge
If your rows are shorter than the number of per-inch stitches required by your knitting machine pattern, you can hang ribber weights or claw weights on your garment swatch to adapt your work to the exact number of rows.

Ribbing
Ribbing on a knitting machine keeps your stitches tight and firm. To do this, knit one circular row after the first vvvv row. After you set your needles, knit across to create a classic vvvvv row. Hang a cast on weights and comb then push the “part” button. After knitting one row, remove part and continue ribbing on the knitting machine.

Steaming and Blocking
Machine-knitted garments should be finished with a steaming process. Steam secures the stitches in place and produces a smoother fabric finish. Blocking can be done if you want to alter the dimensions or shape of your machine knitted garment. To block, pull the garment to the size you want as you steam. Not all garments are blocked but they all have to be steamed. Steam pieces one by one then stack them together and steam the seams.

Welcome To Machine Knitting Advice

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Welcome to Machine Knitting Advice! Here you will find lots of great information and advice about machine knitting, including tips on buying a knitting machine, how to choose the best knitting machine for your needs, how to maintain and run your knitting machine, and where to find machine knitting patterns, help and support. If you have any questions about machine knitting, please reply in the comments section of any post. I hope you find Machine Knitting Advice a helpful and informative resource!