Alright, so I’ve been wanting to make my own sweaters for a while now, and knitting by hand just takes way too long. I decided to give a knitting machine a shot. Let me tell you, it was quite the experience!
Getting Started
First off, I had to pick a machine. I did some digging and found that the Addi Express King Size seemed to be a popular choice. It’s a circular knitting machine, which is great for making tubes, like the body of a sweater. You know how you always see the flat bed type, I didn’t want that since I heard they can be unreliable. This thing is supposed to be pretty sturdy, built for “long-term use” and all that. Plus, it didn’t need any electricity, which is a bonus.
I ordered the Addi online and waited (not so) patiently for it to arrive. Once it finally got here, I ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas morning. Inside, there was the machine itself, some yarn, and a bunch of little tools. I guess some machines come with extras, like a row counter or even a pom-pom maker. Mine didn’t, but that’s okay. I found a row counter app on my phone, and I can make pom-poms by hand.
The Learning Curve
Okay, so I’m not gonna lie, figuring out how to use this thing was a bit of a struggle at first. The instructions were… well, they could have been better. I watched a bunch of videos online, and that helped a lot. It took some trial and error, but I eventually got the hang of casting on (that’s how you start the yarn on the machine) and cranking the handle.
The first few attempts were a disaster. I dropped stitches left and right, the yarn kept getting tangled, and I almost threw the whole thing out the window. But I’m stubborn, so I kept at it. I started with a simple scarf, just to get a feel for the machine. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a scarf! I was pretty proud of myself.
Making the Sweater
- Body: After practicing with the scarf, I felt ready to tackle the sweater. I chose a nice, chunky yarn in a color I liked. For the body, I just had to crank out a long tube. This part was actually pretty relaxing. Once I got into a rhythm, it was almost meditative.
- Sleeves: The sleeves were made the same way, just smaller tubes. I had to make sure they were the same length, so I used that row counter app to keep track.
- Putting it all together: This was the trickiest part. I had to take the pieces off the machine and sew them together. I’m not the best at sewing, but I managed to get it done. It wasn’t pretty, but it held together!
The Finished Product
I tried on the sweater, and… it actually fit! It was a little wonky in places, and the seams were definitely not professional, but it was a sweater that I made myself! I was so excited. I wore it around the house all day, even though it was a bit too warm for that.
So, yeah, using a knitting machine to make a sweater is totally doable. It’s not as easy as just pressing a button, but it’s definitely faster than knitting by hand. There’s a learning curve, for sure, but it’s worth it in the end. If you’re thinking about trying it, I say go for it! Just be prepared for some frustration along the way, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how you learn, right?
