Okay, so I’ve been getting into this whole knitting thing lately, but I’m not exactly the most patient person. That’s when I stumbled upon the Addi Express knitting machine. It looked pretty cool, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the King-size one because, well, why not go big, right?
When it arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. Ripped open that box and there it was, this circular contraption with a bunch of needles and a crank. It also had a row counter, which I thought was pretty neat. I’d heard about the Sentro machine too, but from what I read, the Addi seemed sturdier and more reliable, especially for thicker yarns. Plus, the row counter on the Sentro sounded kind of wonky.
First thing I did was watch a bunch of videos online. I mean, I had no clue how this thing worked. Turns out, it’s actually pretty straightforward. You just thread the yarn through the guides, start cranking, and the machine does its magic.
Getting Started
- Threading the yarn: This took a bit of getting used to, but once I got the hang of it, it was a breeze.
- Cranking: This is the fun part! You just turn the crank, and the machine starts knitting in a circle. It’s surprisingly fast.
- Casting on: There are a few different ways to do this, but I found the e-wrap cast-on to be the easiest.
- Binding off: This is how you finish your project. Again, there are different methods, but I usually just use a simple bind-off.
My first project was a simple tube scarf. I just cranked out a long tube, bound off the ends, and voila! I had a scarf. It wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty proud of myself. I used a heavier-weight yarn for that first one, just to test out what the Addi could handle. Worked like a charm.
Then I started experimenting with different patterns. I found a bunch of free ones online, which was awesome. Hats, leg warmers, even a sweater! The sweater was a bit more complicated, but with the help of some video tutorials, I managed to pull it off.
Honestly, I’m totally hooked on this machine now. It’s so much faster than hand knitting, and you can create some really cool stuff. Sure, it takes a little practice to get the tension right and avoid dropped stitches, but once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing. I’ve made a ton of stuff for myself and my friends. It’s just so darn satisfying to see a project come together so quickly.
If you’re thinking about getting a knitting machine, I definitely recommend the Addi Express. It’s a bit of an investment, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it. I’ve been using mine for a while now, and it’s still going strong. It’s a great way to get into knitting without spending years learning how to do it by hand. Plus, it’s just plain fun!
