Giving the machine needles a bath!

Hi Anne, Just like to say thanks to the people who responded to my queries about the garter carriage, and also to ask those of us who hoard old magazines if they can help me.

Many years ago (wouldn’t like to say how many) I remember reading an article in a machine knitting magazine by one of the regular contributors (it may even have been our own Joan Lafferty) about giving your knitting machine a jolly good spring clean. In it she described taking out all the needles and giving them a bath in some sort of spirit to get rid of all the hard accumulated oil.

I returned from Bournemouth (jolly good time had by both me and my husband – really enjoyed it) fired by the need to get my knitting room (the loft) sorted out and one machine put away and the other one thoroughly cleaned. I looked for the above article but couldn’t find it and came to the conclusion that in my last turn-out I must have chucked it.

My query is does anyone remember that article and who it was by? It went into cleaning in some depth – much more than your usual thorough clean.

I found some American demonstrations on YouTube, but the things they did to their machines seem a bit scary to me. I’d be bound to lose things!

Can anyone help?

Mary L

Help! My KH190 has broken down.

I have a Brother Electro knit KH190 but the pattern cards slip and it is getting worse. I have taken the unit out and cleaned it but the problem is no better. I can not find anyone local who can fix my problem so I am hoping someone out there can either sell me another part or suggest how I might be able to fix it my self.
By the way, I love your mag and dive in to it as soon as it drops through my letterbox. I go straight to the patterns to see if there are any I would like to try. Pity there are not more bigger sizes though.

Three colour cast on

My carriage jams knitting the first row. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. Should I use three colours together or alternate them? I am using Tension 10.

Hi Tanna

I know it’s a while since you posted your query but I did have a go at a three colour cast on.

If you bring the needles out to Holding Position but have the carriage set to knit you can weave the yarns over and under the needles – over one under two so that the different colours form a repeating pattern across the needles. Hang the cast on comb push the comb back to the gate pegs thread the carriage with one of the yarns and knit carefully across.

I hope this answers your query
Sue.

Sue P
2014-06-04 12:18:40
Hi Tanna

I know it’s a while since you posted your query but I did have a go at a three colour cast on.

If you bring the needles out to Holding Position but have the carriage set to knit you can weave the yarns over and under the needles – over one under two so that the different colours form a repeating pattern across the needles. Hang the cast on comb push the comb back to the gate pegs thread the carriage with one of the yarns and knit carefully across.

I hope this answers your query
Sue.

Sue P
2014-06-04 12:18:40

Ribber for Brother Chunky KH-260

Hi
I am returning to my knitting machines after an absence of 15 or so years and would like to find a ribber for my Brother Chunky KH-260. What is the model number(s) that go with the 260? Does it have to be the 260 ribber or will a 230 fit and does anyone out there have one they want to sell?

Hi

Welcome back to machine knitting.

You will need a KR260 to go with your machine. They do sometimes come up on ebay UK but they are usually quite expensive. Heathercraft Steeles and HKC Knitting Machines all advertise in Machine Knitting Monthly and may be able to help.

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2013-11-11 12:48:09
Many thanks Sue.

Have been having fun getting my Knitmaster 580 working. Andrea at Andee Knits has been tremendously helpful.
Now my ‘Jolie Unicorn’ stick picker up has broken. Don’t suppose you know anywhere that still sells them?
Have done an internet search to no avail. Sue

suzandy
2013-12-04 16:40:42
Hi Sue

It’s good to hear you have your machine working again.

In ‘Trading Post’ in MKM Hague advertise a curved pick up tool for the chunky machines and Metropolitan have a set of wooden handled tools; one looks to be a pick up tool. Brother made a hooked tool that came with their machines Toyota provided a tool with a crochet hook at one end and a curved end at the other and Passap had the orange tool with a transfer eye at one end and a curved stitch pick up tool at the other. Perhaps one of these would replace yours?
Have you looked on ebay? There are always lots of machine knitting related items advertised.

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2013-12-05 13:01:46
Hi

Welcome back to machine knitting.

You will need a KR260 to go with your machine. They do sometimes come up on ebay UK but they are usually quite expensive. Heathercraft Steeles and HKC Knitting Machines all advertise in Machine Knitting Monthly and may be able to help.

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2013-11-11 12:48:09
Many thanks Sue.

Have been having fun getting my Knitmaster 580 working. Andrea at Andee Knits has been tremendously helpful.
Now my ‘Jolie Unicorn’ stick picker up has broken. Don’t suppose you know anywhere that still sells them?
Have done an internet search to no avail. Sue

suzandy
2013-12-04 16:40:42
Hi Sue

It’s good to hear you have your machine working again.

In ‘Trading Post’ in MKM Hague advertise a curved pick up tool for the chunky machines and Metropolitan have a set of wooden handled tools; one looks to be a pick up tool. Brother made a hooked tool that came with their machines Toyota provided a tool with a crochet hook at one end and a curved end at the other and Passap had the orange tool with a transfer eye at one end and a curved stitch pick up tool at the other. Perhaps one of these would replace yours?
Have you looked on ebay? There are always lots of machine knitting related items advertised.

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2013-12-05 13:01:46

FC6 Fair Isle carriage wanted

Hi
I recently became the proud owner of an LK-150 and have been immersed in learning use this machine. However, the one accessory I would love to own is the FC-6 Fair Isle carriage. If anyone is looking to sell their FC-6, please get in touch. Thanks Trish

Machine Knitter’s Design Board

Does anyone have a copy of the Machine Knitter’s Design Board that they wish to sell or know where I can get one. Either the white solid board or the clear plastic one will do.

Are you talking about a ‘Dawsons grid’. If you are I have one.
suzandy
2013-11-12 10:58:56
Hi
There is one on ebay with just under 2 days to go starting price £25. It is a solid one.
eBay item number:
271306722172
Regards
Sue
Sue P
2013-11-03 15:14:39
Hi
I’ve just noticed that the same seller has a flexi sheet for £15 with just under 2 days to go. Both of these design sheets are free post.

eBay item number:
271306716527

Sue.

Sue P
2013-11-03 15:18:40

Club in Manchester

Hi Sandra

There’s a club in North Manchester you might try and it’s at http://knitting.smeech.co.uk/machine-knitting-group/

There’s also one in Stockport at Hazel Grove. There may be others I don’t know of and have you tried looking on the GMK site?

buffythesage
2013-10-22 13:47:28

Brother Garter Carriage

Hi Anne
I have a little problem with my otherwise excellent garter carriage KG-95. I use it on my Brother KH-894. I can put it on the needle bed from the right-hand side, no problem, but when it comes to putting it on the left-hand side it goes clunk and won’t go onto the needle bed. As you can guess this is very frustrating. I use rails each side of the bed and am beginning to suspect that the left-hand side rails might be slightly twisted.

Also a little bit of one of the two ‘doo-dahs’ (don’t know what to call them, but they are like two little white u-shapes at the back) has broken off. However this doesn’t seem to affect the knitting.
Hope someone can help me with any advice. Also where can one purchase another G-carriage as a spare, just in case old faithful finally gives up?
Best wishes, Mary Langridge