Alright, so, I got this Erlbacher knitting machine, right? I’ve been seeing all these cool things people are making with them, and I’m like, “I gotta get in on this.” So, I ordered one online. Took a little while to get here, but when it did, I was pumped.
First thing I did was set it up. Now, I’m not the handiest person, but the instructions were pretty straightforward. It’s basically a big circle with all these needles around it. You attach it to a table with these clamps, and you’re good to go.
The learning process
- The Yarn Struggle: The first hurdle was figuring out the yarn. You can’t just use any old yarn; it’s gotta be the right thickness. I tried a few different kinds, and let me tell you, it was a mess. Yarn getting tangled, needles jamming, the whole nine yards. Finally, I found a yarn that worked, and it was smooth sailing… well, almost.
- Cranking Away: Once I got the yarn sorted, it was time to start cranking. You just turn this handle, and the machine starts knitting in a circle. It’s actually pretty satisfying to watch it go. I made a few test runs, just to get the hang of it, and it’s way faster than knitting by hand, I’ll tell you that.
- Casting On and Off: Okay, this part was tricky. There’s a whole process for starting and ending your project, called “casting on” and “casting off.” I watched a bunch of tutorial videos. It took some practice, but I eventually got it down. My first few attempts were… well, let’s just say they weren’t pretty. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?
My first real project was a hat. A simple tube, close off one end, and boom, you’ve got a hat. It turned out okay! A little wonky in places, but hey, it’s a hat. I was pretty proud of myself. Since then, I’ve made scarves, more hats, and I’m even thinking about trying a sweater. But one step at a time.
I heard that some knitting machines are expensive, but this one is not too expensive, it’s a great deal for me.
There are a few things I’ve learned along the way. One, you gotta keep the yarn tension right. Too loose, and you get holes. Too tight, and the machine jams. Two, regular maintenance is key. I clean and oil the machine every so often, just to keep it running smoothly. This one time, the carriage got stuck, and I thought I’d broken the whole thing. Turned out, it just needed a good cleaning.
All in all, it’s been a fun experience. I’m still learning, but I’m getting better with each project. It’s like that Henry Ford guy with his cars. When you find an efficient way to do something. If you’re thinking about getting into machine knitting, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s all part of the process.
