| The decision to buy a domestic knitting machine | | | | automated patterning can produce beautiful |
| usually comes at the point when a hand-knitter | | | | multi-color fairisle (jacquard), tuck, slip, woven and |
| finds that knitting stocking stitch is far too slow | | | | lace fabrics, just by setting some buttons and |
| and boring. | | | | pushing the carriage backwards and forwards! For |
| Stocking stitch (one row plain, one row purl) is the | | | | automated patterning, you'll need either a machine |
| basic stitch structure for knitting machines and | | | | with a manual punchcard mechanism or one with |
| they knit it very well and very fast. So fast, in | | | | a built-in electronic device. Electronic machines |
| fact, that the making up of a garment can take | | | | need a power supply close by and will be more |
| longer than the actual knitting! | | | | expensive to buy than punchcard machines. One |
| When it comes to buying the machine, the choice | | | | thing to remember - if the electronics in your |
| is either new or second-hand and which option | | | | machine go wrong, they are more complicated to |
| you choose will probably be determined by your | | | | fix than the manual punchcard machines. |
| budget. | | | | 5. The instruction book is a must! When buying a |
| Second-hand machines can be bought on EBay or | | | | second-hand knitting machine, always ensure that |
| through classified ads for very reasonable prices, | | | | it comes with the original instruction book. There |
| but before you invest in a 'sight unseen' machine, | | | | are two reasons for this. Firstly, if there are no |
| here's a few tips to guide you: | | | | tutors in your local area, you're going to have to |
| 1. Machine knitters can do it on a single bed or a | | | | learn to use your machine from the book. |
| double bed. Single bed machines (Brother, Silver | | | | Secondly, there's usually a page in the instruction |
| Reed, Knitmaster etc) can't knit rib stitches. You | | | | book which illustrates all the accessories that |
| would have to purchase a separate ribber to | | | | should come with the machine. This makes a |
| attach to the single bed in order to do this or be | | | | great checklist when your machine is delivered, to |
| prepared to knit the ribs by hand. Double bed | | | | make sure that everything is included. Careful |
| machines, on the other hand, come complete with | | | | knitting machine owners always keep the |
| a fixed built-in ribber (Passap/Pfaff etc). | | | | instruction book and if your seller can't provide |
| 2. On single bed machines, there are different | | | | you with the original copy, be wary of what else |
| 'gauges' available, which knit different thicknesses | | | | may be missing! |
| of yarn. For example, a standard gauge machine | | | | 6. Availability of spares. Knitting machines |
| has 200 needles on the bed and will easily knit 3 | | | | sometimes need parts replacing. When you're |
| ply, 4 ply and soft double knitting yarn. A fine | | | | knitting with 200 needles, one of them is bound to |
| gauge machine has 250 needles on the bed and | | | | bend sooner or later! The needles are held in |
| knits 1, 2 and 3 ply yarns. 'Chunky' machines knit | | | | position with a sponge retaining bar and this will |
| chunky yarns and so on. Decide which yarn | | | | also need replacing if the sponge loses its 'bounce'. |
| thickness you prefer to knit with and choose your | | | | Before you finally choose a particular brand of |
| gauge of machine appropriately. | | | | machine, make sure you can buy your spares |
| 3. Full-size knitting machines are approximately 45 | | | | conveniently, either from a local supplier or by mail |
| inches (115 cms) long. To use them, they need to | | | | order. |
| be clamped to a firm table. Clamping one to your | | | | 7. Love your knitting machine! Knitting machines |
| dining table can have its drawbacks when | | | | don't respond well to force or neglect. If they |
| mealtime comes round, so you may need to | | | | won't knit properly, it's usually for a very good |
| purchase a table specially made for knitting | | | | reason. Try to take some time to understand a |
| machines. If one is not offered for sale with the | | | | little bit about how the mechanics of the machine |
| machine, these are fairly inexpensive to buy. | | | | work and ensure that you maintain it regularly - |
| 4. Patterning or non-patterning? Some knitting | | | | it's really not complicated. |
| machines have no patterning device and therefore | | | | If you decide to buy one, your knitting machine |
| you're limited to knitting stocking stitch with | | | | will give you hours of pleasure (sometimes a few |
| perhaps some hand-tooled stitches to create | | | | tears!) and maybe, just maybe, all your creative |
| more interest in the fabric. Alternatively, | | | | knitting dreams will come true. |