Embroidery Designs, software, machines

This article covers in very broad terms some background info on knitting machines and the various models available.

A knitting machine is used to produce knitted fabrics and clothes on a fixed bed of hooked needles. A knitting machine is made of a needle bed, a carriage and yarn guides but it may have other attachments as well. Latchet hooks hold the stitches.

Domestic & Industrial - They can be hand powered or motor assisted. There are also domestic and industrial models of knitting machines. The domestic knitting machines produce a fabric that looks handmade because they use the weft knitting method. It is obviously easier to knit using a knitting machine and a lot faster because knitting machines make an entire row of loops in a single movement. Another reason for using knitting machines is that the fabric made with a machine looks better in many instances than the hand-knitted fabric, the latter having large areas of plain stocking stitch. Finally ,you do not have to be a professional knitter to make wonderful clothes because many machines are fairly simple to operate and it can be a great way to begin to knit .

However, you must not confuse knitting machines with sewing machines. A knitting machine is more complicated- it has springs, buttons, wires and hooks and most Importantly you need to realize you have to use machine-knitting books to get the pattern you want because hand knitting books can’t be used with a machine as they are not compatible.

Different Machines - A Bulky size machine is used for making heavy sweaters because the distance between the needles is 9 mm and the hook is large enough and there is no risk of splitting the yarn.For machine knitting with lace the machine needs to be used as manual or semi-manual.

The smallest yarns you can use when knitting with this machine are Sport and DK weight yarns . Some of the techniques you can undertake on this machine are: tuck, slip, intarsia, weaving, and many others.

On the standard bed machine you can make knitted suits and lace curtains. The distance between the needles is 4.5 mm and the hook/latches are much smaller. The lace is automatic. You can do fair isle, tuck, slip, manual cables and others. Baby weight is the most popular weight used for this machine. DK weight is the largest yarn that can be knit with this knitting machine. The Standard 200 can knit very fine yarns , up to a sport weight.

The Silver Reed Gauge SK830(3.6 mm) is a machine used for fine yarns. It is perfect when knitted in an open and loose fabric and light and airy fabric. Knit at tension 5 or 7 and use 2 or 3 strands together.

For the Hand Knitted Look - If you want to have garments that look and feel more like the hand-knitted garments you should buy a mid-gauge knitting machine.

Knitting with a machine is straightforward but you need to consider when using a machine the patterns, many are not easily inter-changeable between machines, some are but It is hard but not impossible, but is probably best left until you’ve had a little experience of using a knitting machine as you have to spend a lot of time calculating, multiplying and dividing to modify the pattern.

I love finding free knitting patterns and to go along with that I love to save money reusing old yarn. Have you ever looked at a sweater and thought that you don't like the style anymore but you love the color or the texture of the yarn. Well, I have. Maybe I never really liked it in the first place. It’s time to dig out a great free knitting pattern and re-use the yarn.

The first thing I do is search through my free knitting pattern collection to find one I like and see if the sweater I am reusing is big enough for the new knitting pattern. First I unstitch the seams. Snip carefully with scissors so you don't cut through the actual knitting. First you need to find the end where the knitting was cast off. This makes it very easy to just pull and unravel each row. It helps if you have a helper with their hands about a foot apart, or you can use the back of a chair to wind the yarn around. Keep doing this until you come to the end of that piece of yarn. Tie another piece of yarn around the yarn bundle in two places so it doesn't tangle. This yarn will be very wrinkled, would be difficult to knit with and would give a bumpy texture to your knitting if used like this.

I have had some success with washing the yarn in bundles (washable yarn only of course). I wash yarn as usual leaving the yarn dripping wet. I hang the yarn over the back of an old chair outside, or inside in the bath tub in the winter. You can use anything that will hang. A stick across two boxes will work. The weight of the water will unwrinkle the yarn. After it is dry I hand wind the yarn into balls or use my yarn winder. I prefer the yarn winder as it allows the yarn to be pulled from the middle which stops it rolling and catching but if you don't have one then hand winding it is. Good luck in your knitting

Reports on the economy frequently lead into a discussion about the level of job creation. Yet few details are ever revealed about what new jobs have been created. One 21st-century job goes unmentioned. One forward step in the effort to improve job creation evolved from the creation of knitting machines.

Knitting machines operate under the control of the knitting machine operator. These individuals process yarn or thread and work it into a 3oven or knit fabric. Sometimes the operators of the knitting machines manage to weave the yarn or thread into fine lace or delicate hosiery. On occasion, the operators of the knitting machines set-up and adjust the equipment. Always these operators need to inspect the product coming out of the knitting machines.

Armed with the knowledge that knitting machines have created a new career the knitting machine operator vocational trainers need to become familiar with the primary requirements of that position. In other words, if a student of that trainer hopes to become a knitting machine operator, then what qualities should he or she possess?

The knitting machine operator must be able to stand for many hours. The knitting machines are large, and their operation requires that one stand next to them. Therefore, the knitting machine operator must possess the needed stamina for maintaining a day-to-day routine of standing.

The knitting machine operator must also be able to climb onto platforms. Ascending stairs and getting onto a platform can only access some parts of the knitting machines. The person who hopes to operate a knitting machine must be prepared to make such an ascent.

The knitting machine operator must be able to tolerate a lot of noise. The knitting machines make a lot of noise as they manipulate their yarn or thread. The operator can use earplugs, but not everyone likes to use earplugs. If someone wants to avoid both earplugs and noise, then that individual should not seek to work with knitting machines.

Finally, the knitting machine operator should be familiar with computers. After all, the knitting machines are computer-controlled. The person who is to be working with, and possibly performing repairs on, the knitting machines should therefore know something about computers.

Vocational trainers need to study the above requirements and then they need to look again at the strengths and the skills of their students. Those students who meet the above requirements and those students who have an interest in working as a knitting machine operator should be challenged into the type of training that best prepares them for the use of knitting machines.

What type of training would be most useful? Probably anything, that would increase the student’s perceptions. Such training could guarantee a decent inspection of the goods that will be coming off of the knitting machines. Such training could insure delivery to the dedicated student of future success as a knitting machine operator. It could guarantee the continued ability of the knitting machines to provide many future students with a satisfying job option.