I had to quit my subscription for a while, but have a bit more money in my pocket right now and will not hesitate to spend it on a good investment: your magazine!
Can’t wait till I get the next issues (big happy smile)
Greetings and sincere regards,
Annette
Always use all three colours in each colour sequence. If you don’t, you will not only find counting impossible, but also get a different colour on the back, which will show.
Have the colour changer set up so that you work from left to right {for example 2 rows red. 2 rows blue , 2 rows green = 6 rows). Now you are always working in multiples of 6.
If you are working with a punchcard machine, writing the pattern and punching it can be tedious! I have DesignaKnit 7 so I am able to input the design to it and then print out the template, {ST) in colour. Just have to make sure all three colours are bright and it doesn’t matter if they are not the ones actually used. If you have not got DesignaKnit 7, I’m sure someone in your club does and you could borrow their expertise.
Anne, if you could pass on my comments together with my e mail address, we might be able to discuss double bed Jacquard. Love the new look mag and the new contributors.
Best wishes
Nancy in Oz
I’ve been knitting jumpers for my (step) great grand-daughter who lives in Ohio. While browsing through some vintage magazines I came across the enclosed pattern from a November 1956 (I was eight then!) Modern Knitting magazine. The instructions looked intriguing, but proved to be a lot less complicated once I was actually knitting the garment. I decided to do the hem as a 2×1 mock rib. I use mock rib as I don’t have a ribber. I was using a Bramwell acrylic yarn to knit the waistcoat and although I love the colourful fabric it creates, blocking with a hot iron over a damp cloth is a definite no-no! Hence I wanted a hem which would lie properly.
The original waistcoat is plain and designed for a small boy, but in these unisex days I simply used pink, added a simple single motif of bunny rabbits and swapped the buttonhole band over to the other side to make a neat little top for a small girl. With the brown top, I used a sheep border all the way round the bottom. Instead of having it as a waistcoat with a front opening, I stitched up the front seam, added a false placket and half a dozen clear buttons to make it look like a waistcoat, but it simply pops over the child’s head. I also finished the armholes on the brown one with two rows of double crochet as I thought it looked better, being unable to press the armholes flat.
So, I thought I’d share it with you. There’s a wealth of inspiration from the 50s and 60s , beautifully neat collars, tailored jumpers and so on that can be adapted to today’s fashions. These are particularly useful, I think, to those of us who have older, more basic machines and no ribbing attachment.
Yours sincerely
Vivienne Fagan in Hanwell, London
Many years ago I knitted my children hand muffs with a pattern which I’m sure came from a Machine Knitted News pattern (and I’m talking at least 20 years). Now my grandaughter has found her mum’s original and would like one of her own……..but I can’t find the pattern, nor remember how I did it!
Has anyone got a pattern which I can use / adapt?
Many thanks
Susie
Can’t help with the MKN design but in the December 2005 issue of MKM there’s a pattern for a woman’s muff and hat knitted in pile knitting, together with a 2-page article about pile knitting on Silver Reed and Brother machines. The muff could easily be adapted for a child and the magazine is still available at £2.50 plus 75p postage. (Sorry, Royal Mail increased the postage today!)
I have recently purchased my first knitting machine so that I can make 4 ply garments for my grandchildren. In the past I have done a lot of hand knitting, usually in DK, and have had access to a wide range of lovely patterned and random dyed wools. Now that I’ve started machine knitting I find that the choice of 4 ply wools is rather drab – the only random dyed wools I can find on the internet tend to be sold in 100g packs for socks, usually 100% wool and VERY expensive.
Can anyone suggest where I can purchase colourful 4 ply wool?
Please feel free to contact me via ebay hgvpilot site address http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/thread-yarn-and-fabric_Machine-Knitting-Yarn_W0QQ_fsubZ8561037QQ_sidZ362716500QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322
I LOVE machine knitting and want to be able to pass on the craft to others SO I am looking for all those unwanted & unloved machines hiding under beds or in lofts. I promise to give them a new life and get lots of people machine knitting. Personally, I own a Brother 940, with its ribber, garter carriage and motor drive. I use Designer Knit to create designs and stitch patterns. If I can only get one other machine it will be a start as it is so much easier to learn if one can copy the teacher’s movements.
I look forward to hearing from you
Jane Parker
mother and daughter…
The designs i am working on are fairly simple punchcard designs in a kind of 80’s / graphic design, the jumpers themselves are men’s long jumper and cardigan style. I can send fully recognised patterns and drawing to you if you can help. Please let me know if you know of anyone or anywhere which is worth trying. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you so much. my email address is serencolley@googlemail.com
I make a continuous bag that’s joined at the bottom and I knit until the cone runs out. I finish off with waste wool. I then pin sheets to the inside and also put in some washing or something to rattle around, tack up the top and stick it in the washing machine. I use Uppingham 2-ply and sometimes it takes two washes : it just depends on the colour and whether it has been agitated enough. It makes very nice jackets and embroiders beautifully.
More happy felting from Rita Lambeth
Jumper2.jpgJust thought you might be interested in the attached. I actually knitted the jumper on the Bond using Keyplate 2 but the jumper could be knitted on any machine by manually selecting the needles. Then again a card could be punched or it could be put into an electronic by whatever method is appropriate. Because the floats are only three stitches long, it’s fine for chunky machines and for kids who we all know catch their finger and drag on any floats whatsoever!
I’m not giving a pattern as this Fair-Isle can be added to any jumper, but I have to admit to using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Percentage System (EPS) for working out the number of stitches to cast on for such things as the cuff and the Magic Formula for working out increases, so mixing hand and machine knitting techniques. Obviously a tension swatch is essential and honest body measurements. However, since I’m the only one to read the tape measure and then turn it into rows and stitches, no one else need know what the measurements were in the first place. I think I’m finally getting the hang of my computer now my son has moved out and I get a chance to use it.
Keep up the good work
Katharine Humphries in Poole, Dorset
Jumper1.jpg
I’ve just finished knitting a sideways sweater and I must say that it’s very comfortable to wear. I’ve tried to find a machine-knitting pattern for a sideways knitted cardigan but as yet I’ve had no luck. Could you look into your archives to try and locate one and if possible would you be able to print the pattern in one of your future issues?
I was so disappointed not to be able to attend MK LIVE! this year as I’m sure that I must have missed some new exciting goodies that I’d have been happy to purchase. Perhaps I’ll have better luck next year but usually I can’t do an October show as I’m away on holiday. I noticed that in one of your back numbers you had a pattern for a ladies shrug. I wonder if you would be able to print the pattern in one of your future issues?
I’m gradually getting back in the swing of using my knitting machines (Brother 890 and Brother 260 both with ribbers) but I can’t seem to be able to master using the ‘holding technique’ instead of the traditional cast off method. To the accomplished knitter, this is surely a very easy method and I think my problem may be due to ‘senior moments’, which we older people sometimes have – well I do! Would you please print the way of using the method in one of your helpful articles?
I also wonder if you could have a page dedicated to hints and tips from other readers which would, I assume, cover many problems which others returning to machine knitting would find very helpful. I really do look forward to my issue of your magazine each month, as it is a good mix of patterns. Keep up the good work and long life to your magazine!
Many thanks from June Wisdom
This sounds very interesting, but alas I’m only new to all of this but I really enjoy reading the comments.
Best wishes from Maggie in OZ