Are you making machine knitting harder than it needs to be?
- September 20, 2022
- 7 comments
Knitting Machine Tips
Follow Knit it Now on Follow
Food for thought:
Whenever we start a new craft or set out to learn a new skill, it's common to be overwhelmed.
Machine knitting has so many terms. Plus there are so many machines "out there" that it's easy to get confused.
More experienced knitters may refer to techniques that are foreign to you and talk about instructor names from days gone by.
Don't get lost!
Machine knitting has so many terms. Plus there are so many machines "out there" that it's easy to get confused.
More experienced knitters may refer to techniques that are foreign to you and talk about instructor names from days gone by.
Don't get lost!
- Focus on YOUR machine.
- Use the Knit it Now Glossary for those cryptic terms and abbreviations
- Check out the Knit it Now Machine Knitter's Bookshelf for some of those authors that have influenced other knitters.
- Take it step-by-step with our Success Path
- Keep it simple!
When learning to cook, you don't start out with a 5 course meal. You might start making some pasta and sauce until you make the perfect meal for your family. You'll then add dishes to add to your menu one-at-a-time.
We always advise to master the main bed before attaching the ribber. Keep your ribber in the box until you are comfortable with swatching, shaping, short rows and stitch patterning on the main bed.
Why learn 2 machines at a time? Gain confidence with your machine, then incorporate the ribber.
Yarn CrazyWe always advise to master the main bed before attaching the ribber. Keep your ribber in the box until you are comfortable with swatching, shaping, short rows and stitch patterning on the main bed.
Why learn 2 machines at a time? Gain confidence with your machine, then incorporate the ribber.
Another tip is to find a yarn that you love that is appropriate for your machine and use it multiple times.
Why complicate things by switching the fiber, twist and weight of the yarn. Use one yarn for a few projects and focus on learning the machine without changing "mediums".
If you are learning to paint, you'll want choose, watercolors, acrylic or oils and perfect your techniques before jumping to something else. The same with yarn. Focus on mastering the machine.
You aren't alone ... does this sound familiar?Why complicate things by switching the fiber, twist and weight of the yarn. Use one yarn for a few projects and focus on learning the machine without changing "mediums".
If you are learning to paint, you'll want choose, watercolors, acrylic or oils and perfect your techniques before jumping to something else. The same with yarn. Focus on mastering the machine.
When I first started machine knitting, I was initially overwhelmed. I was an experienced knitter and professional seamstress... how could this be so hard?
Arrogantly, I jumped right in with the ribber, and g-carrige, 2 machines, lots of yarn and really big ideas. (Sound familiar?)
I finally pared everything down and focused on one machine (main bed only) and learned how to accurately swatch then knit some simple projects, blanket, scarf, shawl etc, building my confidence to knit more complicated projects.
Machine knitting patterns decisionArrogantly, I jumped right in with the ribber, and g-carrige, 2 machines, lots of yarn and really big ideas. (Sound familiar?)
I finally pared everything down and focused on one machine (main bed only) and learned how to accurately swatch then knit some simple projects, blanket, scarf, shawl etc, building my confidence to knit more complicated projects.
Another challenge I faced was in making a decision about patterns. I tried using a Charting Device , DesignaKnit , Sweater Wizard, Cochenille Garment Designer and even hand charting with pencil and paper.
Needless to say, I was spending more time charting and planning projects than knitting (Sound familiar?). Once I chose DesignaKnit (and learned to use it) my confidence grew and my knitting production increased.
Today we have Knit it Now Dynamic patterns - Any yarn, any machine, any stitch pattern with no learning curve, no software updates and no math!
Parking Lot yarnNeedless to say, I was spending more time charting and planning projects than knitting (Sound familiar?). Once I chose DesignaKnit (and learned to use it) my confidence grew and my knitting production increased.
Today we have Knit it Now Dynamic patterns - Any yarn, any machine, any stitch pattern with no learning curve, no software updates and no math!
I also spent too much time struggling with different yarns. I got caught up in using "parking lot yarn" (Southern California knitters know what this is ).
I didn't understand my machine and hadn't decided on a charting method, but expected miracles from those mill ends of different fibers, textures and weights.
Maybe a version of this sounds familiar....I didn't understand my machine and hadn't decided on a charting method, but expected miracles from those mill ends of different fibers, textures and weights.
A knitter recently asked about knitting lace with a lace carriage on her new electronic machine.
It turns out that she hadn't even tried knitting in ANY stitch pattern. She wanted to use DesignaKnit, but didn't have the correct hardware to send the electronic information between her computer and her machine. She was sooo discouraged.
Before sending her down the DAK rabbit hole, I suggested she plan some successes with simple projects that she could finish and feel accomplished. She started knitting hats for charity and graduated to easy kids sweaters.
Once we got her set up with DesignaKnit for stitch patterning on her machine, she was off and running! She build on her previous knitting successes and add stitch patterns.
It turns out that she hadn't even tried knitting in ANY stitch pattern. She wanted to use DesignaKnit, but didn't have the correct hardware to send the electronic information between her computer and her machine. She was sooo discouraged.
Before sending her down the DAK rabbit hole, I suggested she plan some successes with simple projects that she could finish and feel accomplished. She started knitting hats for charity and graduated to easy kids sweaters.
Once we got her set up with DesignaKnit for stitch patterning on her machine, she was off and running! She build on her previous knitting successes and add stitch patterns.
Don't make machine knitting harder than it needs to be.
Keep it simple and enjoy the process
Keep it simple and enjoy the process
Latest Posts
-
1November 4, 2024 -
2October 28, 2024 -
3October 21, 2024 -
4October 12, 2024 -
5October 1, 2024
