Yeoman Panama yarn

Hi
I have taken out my Passap and Knitmaster knitting machines after over 20 years. I bought from eBay June Brereton’s book of Yeoman Panama Summer Tops and have the right yarn, but the pattern says to use a reel of knit-in elastic for the rib. Do I need to use this or is there an alternative way of doing the rib?
Thanks.

Knitaholics Spectacular

I would like to thank all the exhibitors for coming to our show and taking their chance with us. We had 150 people through the doors, coming from far and wide. Thank you to all the visitors and to all our club members. They worked very hard keeping the teapot going. Also a big thank you to Iris Bishop who once again gave a fantastic talk.
Patricia Dadson

Simpleframe knitting

This is a small frame, will sit on your lap. It is very well made. The company details are as follows:- Frame Knitting Ltd, PO Box 115, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 3TJ. Tel 04427-71759. These details are out of date and having found the company name I have discovered that the company closed in 2009. I also have a handwritten letter to Machine Knitting Monthly, a ‘new magazine’, ordering the new magazine along with the Simpleframe supplement containing 2 patterns a month, hints and tips, news and letters. The directors of the company were P J Reilly and S A Reilly. Can anyone shed any light on this subject? I am beginning to feel like a detective!

Hi
I remember some patterns and articles in a series in some old magazines. I can’t remember which one and despite trawling through my collection I can’t find them again.
I did some research at the time as I wanted to try out the loom knitting myself and my son made a small wooden loom for me to try but I never persevered and put it away. The patterns were attractive and different to ones achieved with needles.
I did find some looms and patterns for sale on eBay in America and I’ve Googled and found this site today It’s http://frameknitting.com/
Good luck with your new frame knitter. By the way it can also be called a loom or a rake.
Heathercoral
2011-10-10 19:16:27
Loom knitting is becoming very popular here in the USA. I have three big chain-type stores in my area and all of them sell different types of frames. There’s one to make hats or round items and even one that’s is supposed to make socks.

I used to use a little frame knitting machine called a Knitty Noddy I think it was called. We used to make them as kids out of a wooden thread spool with 4 or 5 little nails. There are all kinds of books available here for the larger frames. Check out the Hobby Lobby Michaels or AC Moore websites. Also Amazon probably has books on using this type machine as well as pattern books.

I am a very impatient knitter and I feel the frame is just a little faster than hand knitting. I like the zip zip zip of my machine to produce two or three inches of fabric – as long as I’m not hand manipulating a fancy pattern.
Good luck.
Ronny

Ronny
2011-10-10 19:15:58
Posted by: Ronny
Email: makyrie3699@yahoo.com

Loom knitting is becoming very popular here in the USA. My local hobby stores I have 3 big chain type stores in my area all sell different types of frames. There is one to make hats or round items and even one that is supposed to make socks. I used to use a little frame knitting machine called a Knitty Noddy I think it was. We used to make them as kids out of a wooden thread spool and 4 or 5 little nails. There are all kinds of books available here for the larger frames. Check out the Hobby Lobby Michaels or AC Moore web sites. Also Amazon probably has books on using this type machine as well as pattern books. I am a very impatient knitter and I just feel the frame is just a little faster than hand knitting. I like the ZIP ZIP ZIP of my machine and I have two or three inches of fabric if I’m not hand manipulating a fancy pattern.
Good luck
Ronny

Anne
2011-10-05 17:07:04
I am trying to get a hold of a SimpleFrame knitter. I think it is different from loom or frame knitters that others have mentioned. I think it works like a manual machine where you move the needles with your hands instead of a carriage (but I’m not sure. See the link below which gives a picture with explanation.

http://www.knittingmachinemuseum.com/Simpleframe.php#

I would be interested to hear if you figure it out.

Lindawer

Lindawer
2011-11-05 14:19:11
Hi
There is a Simpleframe knitter on eBay UK at the moment it has about a day to run there is also a pattern for a lady’s jumper.
Hope this may be of some use to someone.
Regards
Sue.
Sue P
2011-12-02 23:02:30
Hi
I just won one of these yesterday at my spinning guild’s annual auction day. It seems to be in good working condition just a bit dirty. I’m looking for an instruction book to help me cast on and off. I thoroughly understand the detective work involved in some of these older pieces. My knitter has a “Pats. Pending” sticker on it and that should help me date it if someone else can find the British patent number. It’s nice to know that it’s probably 1980s.
Thanks Susan
ssommers
2012-02-13 20:59:42
Hi
I’ve just won one of these at my spinning guild’s annual auction and I’m looking for an instruction manual. It works but I’d like to clean it up and start a new piece. I need the cast on and off instructions if anyone has them.

My Simpleframe knitter has a patent pending sticker so I went looking for the patents. United States Patent US4542632 Great Britain Patent number: GB2096650A
Publication date: 1982-10-20
Applicant: REILLY PATRICK JAMES

I assume this is the same P J Reilly that owned the Frame Knitting company and it helps me date my knitter to approximately 1983-84. I love finding these older odd pieces! It’s fun doing the detective work.

ssommers
2012-01-30 15:56:03
I haven’t gotten around to scanning these yet. I hope to tomorrow night. Send me an email address if you want me to send a copy. I think I have the instruction book and one pattern book. I have only set it up once so far. I haven’t played much with gauge and tension.
Linda.

ljcno3@gmail.com

Lindawer
2012-02-14 11:19:26
I can send you a copy of what came with the one I bought on eBay. I’ll get them out tonight after I get home from work.

Linda

Lindawer
2012-02-13 20:59:42
Anyone know where I can locate one of these? Have tried eBay but the search came up showing no items matching my description.
kazbill
2012-07-04 17:59:09
I received this from a reader on Oct 5 2012 and offer it to anyone who may be interested in it.

Hi Linda

Whilst looking for a Simpleframe knitting machine I came across your comment and email address. Because I am not registered to “Machine Knitting Monthly” I am unable to comment and wonder whether if you think my input is relevant you might do so for me.

Kind regards and many thanks
Janeen Russell (South Africa)

The Simpleframe from Quicknit was a finalist in the Prince of Wales Award Scheme for Industrial Innovation & Production 1983/1984
The UK Patent no is 2096650 and Taiwan 18668
Being a hoarder of bits and pieces of paper that I might just look at at some stage sometimes pays off. It did a few years ago when I found a leaflet I received in the early ’80’s at a demonstration of this little machine. Having found the name of the person who held the patent in South Africa I decided to track him down only to find he had passed away. Next step was the patent office where I got the full details of manufacture. I gave it to someone who thought he might be interested but found that the components would be too expensive to make.
Incidentally there were video tapes (VHS or Betamax) intended for schools showing the assembly and operation.
The patent has lapse which means that should anyone want to start manufacturing them it shouldn’t cost much to purchase. Judging by the interest I am sure the investment would be worth it. I would definitely buy one and I am sure that there are plenty of welfare organization who would too.

Lindawer
2012-10-20 14:41:05
My mother was a prolific hand and machine knitter and gave me one of these machines (the one in the ‘museum’ photograph above) at some point in the eighties. My children were small and I didn’t have time to learn it properly at the time. Now my mother has passed on and I don’t have any paper work for it. If any of you would be willing to share instructions or patterns I would be very grateful.

Suzanne

strevis@cablerocket.com

strevis
2013-02-26 14:52:37

Index of mkm patterns

Dear Anne and anyone with database skills. Would it be possible to sell indexes of the patterns created over the years for |MKM, as I have so many magazines in my collection it takes me a week to find the one I want. If somebody who has the time, patience and resources to create some I would gladly pay for them as I suspect would many other subscribers to this magazine. My magazine collection goes way back to the 1980s but I’m not sure if it is possible to catalogue all the magazines but since MKM became electronic and web friendly that might be possible? Anybody able to help me?

Hi – I’ve just seen this and funnily enough I’ve already started indexing all my knitting machine magazines. I’ve not used a database since taking my GCSEs 10 years ago so it took me a while to figure out what I was doing. So far I’ve indexed half my magazines then I plan to index the articles and the patterns and make them searchable by various factors such as technique used ladies’ wear men’s wear type of garment and make of machine. I know it will take me a while. I currently only have Machine Knitting Monthly and MKNews from 1986 to 1996 plus a few recent ones but I would be able to sort something out! When I started doing it I did think that other people may be interested in it!
Amy
AmyA
2012-02-13 20:59:42

Sponge Bars

Hi
I have found a better alternative to sponge on the sponge bars. I have replaced the sponge with a row of 12 conical springs, the type found in AAA battery packs purchased from Maplins Electronics. A battery pack costs 89p and has four springs. Remove the springs are attach to the sponge bar then cove with a length of metal tape, the type found in retractable tape measures. The smaller type are usually 1 metre long and the same width as the sponge bar. Purchased from our local hardware store these are £1.29 for a twin pack.
When the tape is cut from the holder remember to put Sellotape over each end, they are very sharp. You just have to remember when inserting the sponge bar it has to be inserted upside down so that the springs are facing away from the needles. I use this method in both the main bed and the ribber attachment. The bar works perfectly and I have been using it for over a year now and the springs are still in perfect condition. Up until I created this method the sponge bar was the absolute bain of my life, very hard to find, expensive and messy to replace on a DIY basis. I hope this helps.

Arts Alive – Melissa Warren knitting courses

I am trying to create interest in using the knitting machine as a creative tool. I also run sessions at my workshop, please contact me for details.
melissa@melissawarren.co.uk
www.melissawarren.co.uk
www.lemonblues.co.uk
www.craftmaker.co.uk/melissawarren

Brother KH881

Hi

I’m unable to move the knit carriage across the needle bed without it jamming and there are loose needles.I bought my Brother KH881 knitting machine about 15 years ago, but I never managed to get the machine to knit and put it away. Recently I decided to set-up the knitting machine and to try to learn to machine knit. I’ve cleaned and oiled the knitting machine and I’ve replaced the needle retaining bar.

I’ve followed the instructions from the machine knitting manual in an attempt to plain knit. The knit carriage jams against the needles in B position, they’re very loose once extended beyond B position and in holding position don’t lie straight
on the needle bed.

Could this be the K carriage itself that’s faulty? Could it be the fact that the knitting machine has always been faulty?

Could you please advise further.

Many thanks from Lilian Guyers in Skelmersdale

Hi Lilian
It’s good that you have cleaned your machine and replaced the needle retaining bar. From what you have described I think you may have put the bar back in under the needles instead of over them.
Take the bar out again and then replace it foam side down whilst using the straight edge of the 1×1 needle selector to hold the needles down against the numbered strip.
Hopefully this will solve your problem.
Kind regards
Sue.
Sue P
2011-09-16 17:15:30
Hi Lilian
It’s good that you have cleaned your machine and replaced the needle retaining bar. From what you have described I think you may have put the bar back in under the needles instead of over them.
Take the bar out again and then replace it foam side down whilst using the straight edge of the 1×1 needle selector to hold the needles down against the numbered strip.
Hopefully this will solve your problem.
Kind regards
Sue.
Sue P
2011-09-16 17:15:30

Ayr Machine Knitting Club

We start back after the summer break on Tuesday 6th September for show and tell, demonstrations and anything related to machine knitting. We’re a friendly group with a wealth of knowledge and experience in machine knitting and look forward to welcoming you to our club. Meetings are held at Kyle Academy, Ayr and please e-mail Maggie at mlhmb@btinternet.com for further information.

Tip for making an easy gauge swatch

I used to have trouble when I made my gauge swatch counting the number of rows and stitches, especially if I used a furry or bouclé yarn. To solve this problem I cast on at least 20 more stitches and knit about 10 to 15 rows. At this point I tie on a brightly coloured contrast yarn on the stitches just prior to my gauge stitches. For example, if the gauge is 20 stitches and 30 rows to 4 inches I put the yarn on the 9th row and the 9th stitch and the 21st stitch (this is based on knitting 40 stitches for the whole piece). I then knit the 30 rows and place the marker again on the 31st row and the 9th and 21st stitch. I knit a few more rows, take the piece off the machine and stretch it a bit and let it settle. It’s absolutely essential to let it settle for a few hours and overnight is best if you can wait that long. When I measure the piece I just measure inside the coloured scrap pieces and adjust from there and this method has never let me down.
Hope it helps someone and good luck with your knitting.
Ronny

Help, please

Hi
I need a knitting club and help with a Silver Reed carriage please. Does anybody know whether an SRP60 carriage will work on the needlebed of an SRP50?
Also, does anybody know of a machine knitting club in the Leeds, West Yorkshire area? Thank you for any help and an excellent machine knitting magazine.
Christine Murphy