I’m waitin…..
Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/
Patterns, projects and techniques
, by Terrye. 7 Comments
I’m waitin…..
Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com/
Lately I have been seeing a lot of interest in circular knitting machines and knitting patterns to use with the Addi and Sentro circular knitting machines. Whether you have one of these machines or are just thinking about getting one, I thought it might be useful to pull together some circular knitting machine FAQs. Please add your questions in the comments and I’ll keep building on the post as we go.
What is a circular knitting machine?
Circular knitting machines are circular, plastic machines with a set of pegs around the inside of the circle. The machine has a yarn feeder and tension guide, a crank and (on some models) a round counter.
To make knit tubes you cast on your yarn to every other peg, the use the crank to knit every stitch. Each machine can make stockinette stitch tubes of a single size depending on the number of pegs.
You can also make flat panels on a circular knitting machine by working back and forth in rows. Again the size will be limited by the number of pegs on the machine.
What kinds of circular knitting machines are there?
The main brands are Sentro and Addi, and both machines come in a few different sizes. I have a Sentro 40 pin as well as a Sentro 22 pin. There’s also a 48-pin Sentro for slightly larger projects. Sometimes you will find machines that look just like Sentros but have a different brand name; they are all the same machine.
Addi machines have a higher price point (which is why I don’t have one yet). They come in a 22-pin and a 46-pin version, which is known as the Addi King.
From what I have heard it seems like the Addis are made a little better. Sentro machines were originally made as toys but have been embraced by people who want to knit faster, or to make a knit-like fabric without having to know how to knit.
What are the benefits of using a knitting machine?
As mentioned above, knitting machines allow you to make a lot of fabric much more quickly than you could if you were knitting by hand. They offer a way for you to express your creativity quickly and you can make a lot of different things with them.
They are easy to use (though there is a learning curve) and people of all ages can use them. People who may have trouble holding knitting needles or doing the repetitive motions of knitting will find using a knitting machine much easier.
What are the cons of circular knitting machines?
Because the number of pegs is fixed, you can only make tubes of one size with each machine, which means you may need to buy several machines if you want to make different kinds of projects, which can be expensive and they also take up a lot of space. There’s also an upper limit to the size of flat panels you can make on each machine, though you can make them as small as you like.
Some knitters have problems with different kinds of yarn in their machines causing skipped stitches or dropped stitches. (I’ve written about some of my favorite yarns for the Sentro.) In general yarns in the DK/worsted (size 3 or 4) are best, but they don’t all work as well, which can be frustrating and makes projects take longer when you need to fix mistakes.
What kinds of projects can you make on circular knitting machines?
Most people start their journey with a circular knitting machine by making hats. I love making headbands on the Sentro, and you can use the different sizes of machines to make different widths of headbands.
I also love making loop scarves because they’re quick and easy and you can use lots of yarn leftovers this way.
But really you can make a wide variety of things with these machines. Smaller machines can be used to make socks. You can join tubes or flat panels to make sweaters and blankets. They are often used for home decor and toys, like my snowman I knit on the circular knitting machine.
Once you start using one of these machines you’ll start thinking of ways to make different projects on them, which can be a lot of fun. It definitely won’t replace knitting with needles for people who love knitting with needles, but it is really satisfying to be able to finish a project in a couple of hours that would take days to knit by hand.
What questions do you have that I can add to my circular knitting machine FAQs?
Have a Circular Knitting Machine? Make a Twisted Headband!
Purl Jam says
Sorry no encouragement here .. socks stink literally!!
Marlies Cohen says
After 40 years since I last knitted a pair of socks, I have just finished a pair for my hubby. This time I made them without a heel, I guess you would call them tubesocks. But these are with a twist literally, they are spiral socks as the pattern spirals around the sock and so makes the sock fit perfectly. With the leftover from the ball I made a pair of baby spiral socks for my future grandchild. I will post that pattern tomorrow, but for now you can find the picture and pattern at my blog: http://dappledair.blogspot.com/2008/08/spiral-socks.html
It is fun knitting socks, especially when watching TV.
Sara from Paradise Fibers says
Thanks for letting people know about Flat Feet! We just got in the new Flat Feet Sock of the Month. We aren’t allowed to post pictures of it on our website. You can see pictures of it on Ravelry though. If you’re interested in the sock of the month give us a call 888-320-7746.
Sara
PS love your website 🙂
Nancy says
Could be the yarn. I’ve had two pairs of socks that wore out within a few months and one pair that’s lasted for years. I also think some of us are harder on socks than others. Mine wore out while the ones I made my husband and son are still going strong.
You can try reinforcing the heel with sewing thread while you knit it. I’ve heard it helps. You can also buy reinforcing thread.
Denise says
I absolutely love the Monkey Socks designed by Cookie A. from Winter 2006 Knitty, you can find the pattern here: http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter06/PATTmonkey.html
It’s knit on 5 needles which I don’t normally like but this pattern is so well designed and written that even with what appears to be an intricate pattern they are a very easy sock. I am enjoying them very much. And I will make the pattern again.
If you consider yourself an beginner/intermediate knitter then you can most definitely make these socks and love them all the way!
Also I hear the “RPM Sock” from Knitty is also a very good pattern, but I have not yet tried it – it’s on the list!
PS – flat feet are AWESOME too, great for knitting on the go because you don’t have to wrestle with a ball that can get all tangled in your bag.
Terrye says
I will definitely try the monkey socks, they look like it would be an easy pattern to master, yet not boring.
Thanks for sending the link!
Terrye
knitting.craftgossip.com
Ali says
I knit at bulletproof gauge (9st/in on US1 needles) and haven’t had any wear through problems, could be your yarn. MimKnits Boudica socks are a great pattern, so are Hedgerow socks