Winning Ways

I’d like to say how much I’m enjoying MKM, it gets better every month. Beryl’s Classwise has been like a godsend to me whilst I’ve been improving my knitting. I’ve just completed the Tie Back cardigan by Alison Dupernex which turned out lovely, so much so that my daughter took one look at it and asked if she could have it. For someone who wasn’t keen on home made knitwear she seems to have acquired quite a few garments that I’ve knitted. Still, that’s kids for you! I’m now trying out my own version of Alison’s lovely design in English rib and I hope it turns out well. Keep up the good work Anne and I hope to see you at the next show. Kind regards, Shirley Marsden in Doncaster.

Button Hunt

However, I went on the internet and found wwwduttonsforbuttons.co.uk who have the largest collection of buttons ever seen on my screen. I enquired and they even sent me samples for me to see. I returned the unwanted items and this is a wonderful service for us knitters who cannot find buttons. Hopefully this information maybe of help to you for others who have the same problem. Once again thank you for your help. Best wishes from Barbara Edwards

Lucky Strike

I always read my MKM from cover to cover, but I don’t have room to store the issues, so I just take out the patterns and articles that interest me and have built up quite a comprehensive file now. Keeping like with like, it’s very easy when I want to find a particular item. I keep them together under headings such as punchcards, edgings, scarves, baby, child, adult and the funny odd things that crop up from time to time. Thus I’m very grateful that the magazine has given me all this information and also keeps me up-to-date with the goings on in the machine knitting world. Thank you once again and yours sincerely, Chris Tanner

Cant wait to start The Casual Comfort pattern

Hi
I hope everyone who lives there in England is safe and well in the troubled times you have had recently. I just received my September issue and every time I look through it (which is a lot) I think about you all and say a prayer for you.

I am really excited to start the Casual Comfort pattern in the new issue. I have been looking for a pattern that would be fairly quick and easy to give to some of my loved ones for Christmas. I am planning to make several for a few of my nieces and also one for myself and another friend. I really like these kinds of pattern because with a little tweaking it can be made for a girl or a guy (me). A little shorter in length and a little less of a collar and I think it would make a great sweater for a man. I will probably also make the collar into a hood for the one for me. I always get inspired when I get my issue of MKM and love to work the patterns even if I have to change them a little if I want to make something that was originally designed for a woman.

I am also working on developing a sleepwear set to give as gifts. I am using a sport weight silk thread and plan to make drawstring pants and a Henley top to go with it. I have looked and looked for a pattern for a knitted set like this and have never found one. Sleepwear or lounge sets are very popular here in the USA and most are made of flannel or T-shirt material. I think a set knitted on my standard gauge machine would be great. I’ll send pictures if I get the pattern worked out. Sometimes my great ideas don’t work out to well if I don’t have a pattern to at least start from. LOL
Take care
Ronny

How to Organize your MK Crafting space

I think this would be a win win, for us MKers because we might learn how reorganize our stuff and for MKM, because that’s the only media who’d address this issue.

Other mags focus on crafting space, but MKers have never been included.

Knit Guy in the USA

HI I live in the US and love my knitting machines. I am disabled and had a kidney transplant in 2009. I also had a lung collapse in Dec of this last year and have a lot of back problems. If it wasn’t for my knitting machines I think I would go bonkers sitting here at home day after day. I love the MKM magazine and look forward to it every month. The only thing I wish is that it had a web edition. The cost of the magazine is very reasonable but the cost of shipping it to the US makes it very expensive. It cost almost 120.00 American. If there was a web edition I could just download what I like. I would also like to see a web edition of back issues. I want a lot of the back issues but the cost makes them out of my budget. Does any one else feel this way? I have knitted quite a few of the patterns from the magazine and they always turn out beautiful.
Thanks, Ronny

I’m with you on the postage cost Ronnie but I do love this magazine and as you stated the patterns turn out beautifully. I’m thinking if I could save on the postage I could have enough to make a trip to a Machine Knitting LIVE! Expo.
Happy knitting!
Jo
jo
2011-08-03 15:33:36
I absolutely agree with you. I too would like to see the magazine in a digital format. I’m willing to pay a yearly subscription.
Nana’s Creations
2011-08-03 15:33:14

Basic set of Mylar sheets for a Knitmaster 560

Hi
I’ve purchased a Knitmaster 560 but I don’t have the original set of Mylar sheets. I’ve tried knitting with the lace carriage but I’m having problems and I’m not sure if it’s the pattern card I’m using. Could anyone please help?
Cheers
Maureen

Hi Maureen
I don’t know if this will be of use to you but there is a set of Mylar sheets for the Knitmaster 580 on eBay at the moment. Item Number 230623359927.
Regards
Sue.
Sue P
2011-06-11 15:44:41

Yarn gets caught

I’ve tried setting the upper tension tighter and looser, cleaning the brushes, using thinner yarns, changing the brushes to rubber wheels and I’ve checked to make sure none of the gate pegs are bent. I’ve resorted to hand pulling the yarn every single time I move the carriage from right to left to prevent the long loops. Does anyone have a suggestions as to how to fix the problem?
Thanks
Nancy Basler

Hi Nancy
I have experienced this problem when I had a Brother machine and to a lesser extent on my Toyota. First check that the right sinker plate is adjusted properly – there are screws underneath to alter its alignment.

One knitter solved it by removing the brush on the side that was forming loops. That seems a bit drastic but as you have tried just about everything else you might find that this works for you too.

Hope you manage to overcome this annoying problem.
Regards
Sue.

Sue P
2011-05-04 18:46:56
Hi Sue
Thanks for your advice regarding the yarn getting caught on the gate pegs. I looked carefully at the sinker plate and saw some screws but am not sure how to adjust them. I have carefully watched the carriage as it moves from left to right and can see no difference from one side to the other but am not positive what exactly I should be looking for. Do you have any advice on how to adjust the sinker plate? Thanks again
Nancy
Nancy Fancy
2011-05-16 21:37:10
Hi Nancy
If you look up from underneath the carriage the sinker plates on each side should be the same distance from the gate pegs. You would only need to make an adjustment if they were out of line.
If you do need to re-adjust it loosen the screws a little – enough to be able to move the sinker plate. Move it a little and re-tighten the screws. The sinker plates are usually flush with the front of the sinker plate assembly and parallel to it.
I have just thought of something else. Does your take up spring have enough ‘spring’ in it? They can lose their spring as they get old and this could cause problems. They are easy to replace if this is the problem.
Regards
Sue.
Sue P
2011-05-17 16:11:51

Knitting Machine Accessories

Please does anybody know where I can obtain an instruction manual or book on how to use the Knit Radar? I’m also looking for the stitch scales for the Knitmaster 360 machine. Does anybody know where I can obtain them? I saw one advertised on this site but there’s no way of knowing whether it will be suitable for my machine. I’ll be grateful if anybody can help.
Thanks, Fred

Hi Fred If you google knitting machine + manuals there are some out there. Good luck!

Regards
Hilda

P.S. Is it a half size radar ?

Hilda
2011-05-04 11:27:27
Hello Fred

As long as the stitch scales are for Knitmaster/Silver Reed they should be compatible with your machine.
Such items are often available on eBay or try the advertisers in MKM.
Hope you manage to find what you are looking for.
Regards
Sue.

Sue P
2011-04-20 15:13:42

How to make an i-cord on an SK860

I’ve been unable to set the carriage so that it knits in one direction only. The only option I’ve discovered is to slide the release lever each time I want to return to the knit row. This seems to be a clumsy way to achieve one directional knitting. Can anyone help please and thanks in anticipation.

Hi Veridian
I don’t know if this will help or not – it depends if your carriage is similar to the older Knitmaster machines. Mary Weaver gives the settings for cord knitting in her Technology and Patterns. For Knitmaster the Left Side Lever is set to the Circle mark and the Right Side Lever is set to the Triangle with the carriage set to Slip. I hope this helps a bit Regards Sue.
Sue P
2016-01-27 19:43:29
Hi
I’m sending this confirmation for the benefit of other people who may also read this several years after the original posting – as I did. I tried this technique on my Knitmaster 155 Chunky and it worked fine. The only thing is that you need to completely remove any punchcard in the reader first so that it doesn’t pick up any settings. I forgot the first time and a 1×1 card picked up alternate stitches on the slip row and knitted them! Kind regards Lyn
Moogie1947
2016-01-27 19:42:44