Well, folks, gather ’round, because today I’m diving headfirst into the world of sock knitting machines! Specifically, the Erlbacher. I’ve been eyeing these contraptions for a while now, and I finally took the plunge and got one. Let me tell you, it’s been a journey.
First off, getting this thing set up was an adventure in itself. I watched some videos online, you know, those instructional ones about the Erlbacher. The box arrived, and it was like a puzzle. I laid out all the pieces and started connecting this to that, following the manual that came with it. It’s all about putting the right parts together. You’ve got your cylinder, your needles, and a whole bunch of other bits and bobs. It took me a good afternoon, but I managed to assemble the whole thing.
Once I had it all put together, it was time to figure out how this thing actually works. This machine, it’s a circular thing, and it knits in a round. I started experimenting with some scrap yarn, just to get the hang of it. There’s a crank you turn, and as you turn it, the machine knits the yarn into a tube. It’s pretty mesmerizing to watch, to be honest.
The next challenge was figuring out how to actually make a sock. I learned that you start with the cuff, then work your way down to the heel, and then the foot, and finally the toe. It’s a bit like magic.
I did some calculations, because you need to know how many rows to knit for each part of the sock. For example, I figured out I needed about 72 rows for the main part of the foot, and then I doubled that to 144 because we’re knitting in the round. It’s a bit of math, but you get used to it. I played around with different colors, too. You know, just to make things a bit more interesting. The videos I watched gave me some good ideas on how to switch colors.
After a few tries, and a few, uh, “learning experiences,” I finally managed to knit my first sock! It wasn’t perfect, but it was a sock! A real, wearable sock that I made with my own two hands, and this crazy machine. I used some 🔴🟡🟢⚫️yarn for some fun color combos. It’s pretty awesome if you ask me. I kept practicing, and I’ve gotten a lot better. I’ve made socks for myself, for my family, even a few for friends.
Now, I’m not gonna lie, there’s a bit of a learning curve with these machines. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a real time-saver. And there’s something really satisfying about making your own socks. I am now able to knit a pair of socks within hours, including hand cranking and hand-finishing the heel and toe. It’s way faster than knitting by hand, that’s for sure.
So, if you’re thinking about getting into sock knitting machines, I say go for it! It’s a fun hobby, and you get to make some pretty cool socks along the way. Just be prepared to put in a little time and effort to learn the ropes.
Anyways, that’s my Erlbacher story so far. I’m still learning and experimenting, but I’m having a blast. I’ll let you folks know if I come up with some new designs!
