knitting

If you’re a hand knitter looking to start machine knitting, the process can look a little daunting. The truth is, these two are totally different skill sets, but you know a lot already if you are a hand knitter! Understanding how knit items work can help immensely when you start to knit on a machine. Knowing both crafts is hugely beneficial, because they both have different advantages.

When you hand knit, you have total control over the shaping of your piece. You are able to do intricate designs without any fancy equipment, and you get a great sense of accomplishment after working on every stitch of a project. You are also able to use many different weights of yarn that are not always compatible with machines.

The advantages to machine knitting are also numerous. The most basic one is that your work moves a lot more quickly.

You are able to create many different unique pieces in a fraction of the time it takes to hand knit a piece. If you have arthritis or carpal tunnel, the motion of hand knitting (often, turning a crank) is a lot less work intensive and stressful on your hands. You are able to really express your creativity, because the trial and error period is a lot shorter than with hand knitting.

You need a few skills to begin machine knitting. Casting on is a different process from hand knitting. My favorite knitting machines are the Addi Express machines, because they are very straightforward and uncomplicated. On the Addi Express, you weave your yarn in and out of the pegs on the machine to cast on. After casting on, you simply turn the crank until your piece is the desired size. Most machines make pieces in stockinette stitch (knit on one side and purled on the other side in a flat piece).

Machine knitting requires more sewing than hand knitting does, because you are creating a lot of separate pieces. To cast off a project, you use a darning needle to weave in and out of the stitches on the machine. The “mattress stitch” skill from hand knitting can be carried over into machine knitting to put together your pieces.

Addi carries two knitting machines that are great learning tools. These machines are the Addi Express Knitting Machine and the Addi King Size Express Knitting Machine. The stitch definition from these two machines is extremely neat and even. The Addi Express machine comes with DVD instructions, so you have a visual guide in case you get lost. With twenty-two pegs, this machine is great for baby clothing and smaller projects.

If you’re interested in making larger projects, check out the Addi Express King Size Machine. This product has forty six pegs, and comes with an instruction book to help you on your way. Both machines knit flat pieces and pieces in the round.

Don’t worry about starting machine knitting if you’re a hand knitter, because you already understand how most of it works. If you know how to do both, you have the option of which craft you want to use to make your piece. Investing in an Addi Knitting Machine can help you learn a new skill and take your knitting knowledge to the next level.

Get your very own Addi Knitting Machine today, and find out great information on the whole Addi Knitting Needles collection.

knitting