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From: Sewhappie
Date: 12-30-2004, 01:53 PM (1 of 7)
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Do any of you have one? Are they worth the money? What can and can't you do with one? Is one brand better than another? Have been looking at one, but not sure if I really want one. Thanks |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Reta J
Date: 12-30-2004, 02:47 PM (2 of 7)
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Hiya, I have 4 knitting machines and love them all. My hand knitting is atrocious lol, so I bought my first knitting machine 20 years ago. I have knitted everything from lace tableclothes, socks, mittens, sweaters, toys, evening ensemble, dresses, etc. I have 2 brothers and 2 singers. Stay away from the Bond. I tried it and it is extremely frustrating. (I had one given to me) I sold it on Ebay. The person who bought was happy with it. I think the problem was i was use to using fully programable and/or punch card machines and bond is a basic bed and all hand transfer. I also have the ribber and alot of attachments. Some pics on my knits are on gallery 10 at this site. First row middle pic, and 3rd and 4th rows. I don't know if any machines are better then any other, depends on what you want to do and price you want to pay. Most machines have accessories that you can purchase separately as you get more into machine knitting. It is addicting.  My kids grew up with machines in the house and I use to knit with my son in a chest pack. Now all 3 will fall asleep as soon as they here the noise of the carriage going back and forth. Kids are now 23, 20 and 17. There are punchcard machines that the design is for fairaisle and is a 24 or 12 stitch repeat. Some are electronic with a 40 stitch repeat. For larger designs you will have to do intarsia work, which means you will lay the colors on the needles by hand for each row. It is a little slower but still alot faster then hand knitting. With intarsia the possiblilities are endless. (sweater with horsehead and sweater with horses pulling a plow were done with intarsia) (granddaughters dress was a punch card design set for tuck lace). Also, the quality of knits that you will produce is so much better then what is in the stores, we handed down my sons sweater to my grandchildren. It is 13 years old and looks brand new. The Horse sweaters are 17 years old and hubby still wears them. You can't say that about mass produced sweaters from stores. 1 year at most and they are ready for garbage. Is there any other questions that i might have missed? Check with local dealers and try to get free lessons with purchase. Also, I am here for you if you need anything. I use to teach machine knitting. I have also done custom knitting for people and will probably get back into it now that kids are grown. Hope this helps, Sewing Forever
Housework Whenever Reta J |
User: Reta J
Member since: 01-30-2002 Total posts: 136 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 12-31-2004, 11:58 AM (3 of 7)
| What about the ones that they sell at Joann Fabrics? I can't remember what the name was on it. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-31-2004, 01:00 PM (4 of 7)
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I have one in the loft I have not used for years - it just about managed an 8 stitch repeat. This meant it was very limited in it's use and I returned to handknitting. Ribbing was poor on my machine as well - I would rib by hand and then transfer it to the machine. It was OK for boring plain knitting but I wanted more of a challenge. If you get one, do get a punchcard machine - far more versatile. Mine was up from a Bond but still frustrating. I've got cones of 4ply left over that I can't find anything to do with.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: Reta J
Date: 12-31-2004, 01:44 PM (5 of 7)
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Our Joann's doesn't carry any. But it could be the Bond Incredible Sweater Machine. I didn't care for it at all. Yes it is inexpensive but you can't add on to it like a larger machine. See if they will let you try it out.
Sewing Forever
Housework Whenever Reta J |
User: Reta J
Member since: 01-30-2002 Total posts: 136
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 01-11-2005, 12:23 AM (6 of 7)
I went on Ebay to see what they had there for sale. I found a computerized Brother that the bid started at $50.00. Well I figures that I would watch it and see what it was going for at the end of the auction. HOLY COW!!!! I checked on it the next day and it was up to $375.00  . I couldn't believe it, do they really go for that much? This was not a new machine either.
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User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Reta J
Date: 01-11-2005, 08:02 AM (7 of 7)
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Yes they can go that high, depending on model and what accessories are with it. The electronic and computerized machines are expensive. The punch card machines are a little cheaper but it is a trade off because the designs are smaller. Which Brother is it? When you buy new, you buy main bed or the knitting machine, the ribber you buy separately. So if it is a main bed plus ribber, that is cheap. I paid 250 for just a punchcard machine without ribber, new back in 1985. a few months later I bought the ribber. Then I added other accessories. Then I bought an electronic machine, for 899.00, and my ribber that I already had fit it as they were both singers. Then I bought a bulky Brother punchcard and had to buy ribber for it. In 1991, I purchased my last machine and it was a Brother CK-35, the BEAST!!! It is fully programmable, computerized, electronic industrial machine. It came with the table and ribber. I paid 7,000.00 for it. I don't even think they make them anymore. Machine knitting is expensive, you need to do research. Check out what features you want, and see what will best fit your needs and pocketbook. If you do buy a used one, it will probably need cleaned and maintenance done on it before you will be satisfied with the knitting. Let me know and I will send you some info on what should be done and how to do it. One of the first purchases you should get after machine, is what is called a "cat-tail brush" made for knitting machines. It is a long twisted wire that is the length of the bed of the knitting machine with a brush on the end. It is used to clean where needles are. My machines have been in storage for a few years with moving, so when I get them out to set them up it will a thorough cleaning for each of them. If there is anything that I can do to help you, let me know. Sewing Forever
Housework Whenever Reta J |
User: Reta J
Member since: 01-30-2002 Total posts: 136
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