So, I got this Sentro knitting machine a while back, and I’ve been meaning to try making a flat panel with it. You know, just to see how it works and what kind of stuff I can create. I finally got around to it, and let me tell you, it was quite an experience!
First off, I had to find a good spot to set up the machine. I cleared off my kitchen table, and that seemed to do the trick. It’s important to have a sturdy surface, or the machine might wobble around and mess things up. Once the machine was in place, I grabbed my yarn. I decided to go with a basic worsted weight yarn, nothing too fancy. Standard yarn should be fine for most simple projects and it is a good start for beginners. Although some people say chunky yarn is easier to learn because it is bigger and easier to see and control.
Now, this machine has a little switch on the side. You can set it to “P” for panel knitting or “T” for tube knitting. Since I wanted a flat panel, “P” it was! Next up, threading the yarn. There’s this little hook thingy that you have to guide the yarn through. It’s kind of like threading a needle, but way simpler. I did that, and I was ready to start cranking!
I started turning the handle, and the machine started doing its thing. It was actually pretty mesmerizing to watch. The needles went up and down, and the yarn started forming a fabric. But here’s the thing, it wasn’t just going around in a circle. With the panel mode, the machine knits back and forth, creating a flat piece instead of a tube. It’s pretty cool how it does that, alternating back and forth along the circle.
- Set up the machine: Find a flat, stable surface.
- Choose your yarn: I used a standard worsted weight yarn.
- Select the mode: Switch to “P” for panel knitting.
- Thread the yarn: Guide it through the little hook.
- Start knitting: Turn the handle and watch the magic happen!
I kept going until I had a decent-sized panel. Then, I had to figure out how to get it off the machine. That took a bit of fiddling around, but I eventually got it. And there it was, my first knitted panel! It wasn’t perfect, a few little mistakes here and there, but I was pretty proud of it. These panels consist of knitting only a specific section of the total garment pattern called a panel. These panels are defined by an exact number of courses and wales.
What can you make with these panels?
Well, you can use them as part of bigger projects like scarves, blankets, or even sweaters if you want to do a lot of sewing pieces together, or you can just make some small stuff like headbands, handbags, etc. I’m thinking of trying to make a scarf next, but we’ll see how that goes.
