Okay, so I recently got my hands on this Addi 46 needle knitting machine. I was super pumped to start cranking out some cool knitted stuff, you know, like those fancy folks do. But, let me tell you, it wasn’t all smooth sailing at first.
So, I unboxed this thing, and it looked pretty straightforward. I set it up on my table, all excited to get going. I picked out some yarn, nothing too fancy, just some regular worsted weight stuff I had lying around. The first thing I tried to do was cast on. I read the manual, watched a couple of videos, and it seemed easy enough. I started turning the crank, and the yarn was going around, but then, bam! It got stuck.
I tried a few more times, but the same thing kept happening. The needles would catch, and the whole thing would jam up. I was like, “What the heck is going on?” I took a closer look and noticed that some of the needles weren’t moving smoothly. They were kind of bumping into the sinker plate, which, I guess, is supposed to help guide the yarn. I remembered reading something about the sinker plate getting bent out of shape sometimes. So I took the thing apart, gently bent the sinker plate back into place, and put it all back together.
Then came the moment of truth. I held my breath and started cranking again. And guess what? It worked! The needles were moving like butter, and the yarn was flowing beautifully. I was so relieved! I kept cranking, and before I knew it, I had a decent-sized tube of knitted fabric. It was pretty awesome to see it come together like that.
Next, I wanted to try making a hat. I found a simple pattern online and followed the instructions. I had to decrease some stitches to shape the top of the hat, which was a bit tricky, but I managed to figure it out. It took some practice, but I finally got the hang of it. After a few hours, I had a finished hat! It wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty proud of myself for making it.
I’ve been experimenting with different yarns and patterns since then. I made a scarf, which turned out pretty well. I even tried making some socks, but those were a bit more challenging. I’m still working on getting the heel and toe shaping just right. It’s been a learning process, for sure.
- Unboxing and setup: Got the machine, set it up, seemed simple enough.
- First attempts: Tried to cast on, but the machine kept jamming.
- Troubleshooting: Noticed the needles were hitting the sinker plate.
- Fixing the issue: Bent the sinker plate back into shape.
- Success: The machine started working smoothly.
- First project: Made a tube of knitted fabric.
- Making a hat: Followed a pattern, learned to decrease stitches.
- Experimenting: Tried different yarns and patterns, made a scarf.
- Sock adventures: Still learning how to shape the heel and toe.
Overall, it’s been a fun and rewarding experience. It’s not always easy, and there’s definitely a learning curve, but it’s pretty cool to be able to make your own knitted stuff. I’m still learning new things every day, and I’m excited to see what else I can create with this machine. It’s like, I’m not a pro or anything, but I’m getting there, one stitch at a time!
