Zippy 90

I am new to machine knitting, and have purchased a cheap Zippy 90 machine, but I am unsure as to whether I have to use balls of wool or have to use cones and also if this is the case where can I buy a wool winder from? I have tried all wool shops in Derby and surrounding area, any help appreciated

Hi Shellbelle

Welcome to machine knitting.

You can use balls of yarn but you will have to rewind them so the yarn feeds through the machine smoothly. For this you will need a winder. Check Metropolitan and BSK for new ones or eBay often has secondhand ones for sale.

It is much easier to use coned yarn as it is prepared especially for knitting machines. There are quite a few places that supply cones. Uppingham Metropolitan Undy BSK Yeoman Texere are a few that come to mind. They all have websites where you can order securely.

Hope this points you in the right direction.
Kind regards Sue.

Sue P
2014-02-26 17:47:55
Hello
Actually you can use any kind of balled or coned yarn with this machine. With balled yarn just try and pull the end from the centre of ball (not the outside) and pull enough off (about three long pulls) to knit one row – depending on the width of the row of course. I’ve been using my little Zippy 90 since the late 80s and it’s great for all kinds of yarn especially mohair.
Are you in Derby City or Derbyshire? I could offer some additional help.
Best wishes
Marilyn
maribob
2014-02-26 17:47:23
Hi Shellbelle

Welcome to machine knitting.

You can use balls of yarn but you will have to rewind them so the yarn feeds through the machine smoothly. For this you will need a winder. Check Metropolitan and BSK for new ones or eBay often has secondhand ones for sale.

It is much easier to use coned yarn as it is prepared especially for knitting machines. There are quite a few places that supply cones. Uppingham Metropolitan Undy BSK Yeoman Texere are a few that come to mind. They all have websites where you can order securely.

Hope this points you in the right direction.
Kind regards Sue.

Sue P
2014-02-26 17:47:55
Hello
Actually you can use any kind of balled or coned yarn with this machine. With balled yarn just try and pull the end from the centre of ball (not the outside) and pull enough off (about three long pulls) to knit one row – depending on the width of the row of course. I’ve been using my little Zippy 90 since the late 80s and it’s great for all kinds of yarn especially mohair.
Are you in Derby City or Derbyshire? I could offer some additional help.
Best wishes
Marilyn
maribob
2014-02-26 17:47:23

Machine Knitting LIVE!

The school is on the A3060, Castle Lane West. Once you reach Castlepoint Shopping Centre on the right, continue straight. East Way is first left and Castle Gate Close is second left. Everything is on one level so disabled access is easy. Organised by machine knitters for machine knitters, Machine Knitting LIVE! really is a friendly event that welcomes everyone. This year we’ve some new exhibitors, so please support the show.

ADMISSION
Pay on the door and entrance is £6 for everyone. Children are admitted free as long as they’re supervised throughout.

DESIGNERS
This year our leading names include Iris Bishop, Sue Castro, Elaine Cater, Clair Crowston, Beryl Jarvis, Nina Miklin and Fiona Morris. Hilary also hopes to bring her collection of Busy Bee patterns.

EXHIBITORS
Apologies that at the last minute Anne Baker with Karabee designs and Carl Boyd can’t attend for health reasons. As we go to press, we look forward to welcoming the following exhibitors:

Arnold Bennett with amazing buttons
Busy Bee Hilary hopes to bring the full range of patterns to the show
Iris Bishop will have her fabulous designs and she’s our Guest Speaker
Sue Castro has innovative ideas and help for club leaders
Elaine Cater designer patterns and books
Anne Croucher will run our Knit Clinic and offer help and advice on all machines – she has 50 of her own!
Clair Crowston and her designer patterns
DesignaKnit with expert advice including the new DesignaKnit 8 from Carol at Metropolitan
Guild of Machine Knitters Frank Dineen launched the Guild at our first exhibition in Bournemouth in 1998 and it’s gone from strength to strength
B Hague & Co bring their selection of linkers, twisters, winders and accessories for all machines
David Hampson is new this year with packs of major branded yarn including Wendy, Twilleys, Stylecraft, King Cole and JC Brett. He’s hopefully recovered from his back injury
David & Phyllis Hilton bring their intarsia expertise and designs
Beryl Jarvis brings her designs, Info Sheets and DVD
Knits ‘n’ Bits Wendy Piper brings a large selection of used machines, accessories, books and patterns
MKM will bring current and back issues, Anjo patterns, La Rivière dust covers, American patterns plus binders
Metropolitan has a huge selection of machines, books, accessories and yarns including Metro Crêpe
Nina Miklin brings her luxury yarns and designer patterns
Fiona Morris has innovative patterns, yarn and notions
Silver Reed new machines and accessories are available at Metropolitan
Uppingham Yarns always has a wide range of yarns

FASHION SHOW
This year, our show is staged with lots of help and support from several clubs.

FIRST AID
In case of difficulty, members of the Talbot Division branch of St John Ambulance will be on hand all day.

GUEST SPEAKERS
We’re delighted to confirm that our Guest Speaker this year is Iris Bishop.

LEFT LUGGAGE
Members of St John Ambulance organise the Left Luggage point and your donations to their fund-raising efforts are always much appreciated.

MACHINES & ACCESSORIES
There will be new and second-hand machines, together with a wide range of accessories for all machines. If you’d like to find out more about buying and using a knitting machine or linker, come to Bournemouth for expert advice from the long-established and highly reputable Metropolitan plus B Hague & Co. A newcomer this time is Wendy Piper with Knits ‘n’ Bits – a large selection of used machines, accessories, books and patterns

REFRESHMENTS
The school’s caterers provide drinks and refreshments at very reasonable prices. We use the school dining room, so there’s lots of seating available.

TRANSPORT
Parking again is right outside the door in the school’s playground and we reserve spaces for disabled travellers just by the entrance. Coaches and mini-buses usually drop knitters to leave the driver free to look around Bournemouth. The main bus route is on the road right outside the school.

YARNS
Local stockists with a good supply of coned yarn are in short supply so if you’d like to re-stock your knitting room, you’ll find lots to tempt you. Nina Miklin brings her fabulous luxury yarns and Metropolitan will have a large range including Metro Fine French Crêpe. Uppingham Yarns always has a wide selection of popular yarn and hopefully David Hampson has recovered from his back injury. He’ll bring Wendy, Twilleys, Stylecraft, King Cole and JC Brett yarns. Arnold Bennett is now the ‘haby man’ with his button collection. It’s looking good, so please make every effort to join us this year. This is the only MK LIVE! show in 2012 and the craft really needs your support if it’s to survive.

I’m sad to see that there won’t be any shows ‘up North’ this year!
AmyA
2012-02-16 11:13:46
I am really happy to join Machine Knitting Monthly. I know that I would be able to learn how to knit from them.
Jake Reeves
2012-03-05 15:51:24

Reforming stitches for garter stitch

I am attempting the pattern Misty Morning from the Jan 2012 issue. I start with waste yarn then a row of nylon cord then the latch tool cast as per instructions. I then do the 2 rows of knit. When I start dropping the stitches to reform them the nylon cord and waste drops off. Should this happen or am I doing something wrong! Also should I leave the end stitches unreformed?
Thanks for any help!

Hi

I hope this will help you with your problem. It sounds a bit complicated but does work and you won’t drop any stitches.

Take your latch tool and push it through a stitch from the first row knitted then move the needle forward and back to release the stitch. By pushing the latch tool down you will be able to ‘un-knit’ the stitch leaving a bar which you can knit up with the latch tool and then replace this new stitch on to the needle. By inserting the latch tool first you control how many rows of stitches are undone.

To form garter stitch you only want to undo one row but the same principle applies if you want to knit up several rows to form a rib. After knitting the required number of rows you just insert the latch tool where you want the stitches to change and run the rows down to the latch tool then pick up the bars to form new stitches.

If you leave the end stitches as they are they will form an edge which is easy to sew up. The edge stitches are more fiddly to reform so it is easier to leave them.

Hope this makes sense try casting on a few stitches to start with – it’s not so frustrating if you do drop a stitch!

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2012-02-17 00:24:37
Hi

I hope this will help you with your problem. It sounds a bit complicated but does work and you won’t drop any stitches.

Take your latch tool and push it through a stitch from the first row knitted then move the needle forward and back to release the stitch. By pushing the latch tool down you will be able to ‘un-knit’ the stitch leaving a bar which you can knit up with the latch tool and then replace this new stitch on to the needle. By inserting the latch tool first you control how many rows of stitches are undone.

To form garter stitch you only want to undo one row but the same principle applies if you want to knit up several rows to form a rib. After knitting the required number of rows you just insert the latch tool where you want the stitches to change and run the rows down to the latch tool then pick up the bars to form new stitches.

If you leave the end stitches as they are they will form an edge which is easy to sew up. The edge stitches are more fiddly to reform so it is easier to leave them.

Hope this makes sense try casting on a few stitches to start with – it’s not so frustrating if you do drop a stitch!

Kind regards
Sue.

Sue P
2012-02-17 00:24:37

Made a huge mistake! Boo Hoo!

Hi
I’ve made a huge mistake. I spilt a very strong cup of tea on my new beige sweater that I had recently finished on my bulky machine. I lovingly hand washed it even though the yarn said it was machine washable. I put it in the washer to spin and thought I’d put it in the dryer for just a minute or two and then lay it out on the bed to finish drying. I forgot it in the dryer and by the time I remembered it it had already dried and shrunk by about half. I was so upset all I could do was sit on the floor and cry. I am a guy and I don’t cry, but I did today. I had worked so hard to adapt the pattern for that sweater to be what I wanted and I was so proud of it. I took it, wet it again and tried to stretch it out. It worked some but my poor sweater will never be what it was. I know I’m not the only one who has ever had this happen to them. It makes me feel so bad and stupid that I could forget something like this.
Just thought I’d write this to try to make myself feel better.
Take care and beware of the evil dryer!
Ronny

You are not alone! We have all been there (or somewhere similar) and you have our love and sympathy.
You’ve kept the tension and stitch info I hope so just re-knit it.
ozmartian
2012-05-01 20:13:42

Denys Brunton Magicolour

I’m looking for some Denys Brunton Magicolour 4-ply or something simliar so I can make a jacket using one of the patterns I’ve got. Can anyone advise on what wool is similar or where I can buy it?
Yours hopefully, Sandra

I’d love to know too. Of all the discontinued yarns I think it’s the one I miss most.
elis
2012-02-28 12:40:16
I have used one strand each of three different colours together as one which knitted up as a 4 ply they were 2/28 each.My fairisle pattern was on a black background and the three colours were red emerald and royal you need bright colours to contrast with one another its a good way to use up leftovers of fine yarn try it
Hilda
Hilda
2012-03-05 15:51:24
I’d love to know too. Of all the discontinued yarns I think it’s the one I miss most.
elis
2012-02-28 12:40:16
I have used one strand each of three different colours together as one which knitted up as a 4 ply they were 2/28 each.My fairisle pattern was on a black background and the three colours were red emerald and royal you need bright colours to contrast with one another its a good way to use up leftovers of fine yarn try it
Hilda
Hilda
2012-03-05 15:51:24

Ribber

Hi
Can anybody tell me which ribber fits a Silver Reed SK155 machine?

Hi

You need a Silver Reed 155 ribber.

Heathercraft list them on their website so it might be worth contacting them.

Regards

Sue.

Sue P
2012-02-15 17:26:47
Hi

You need a Silver Reed 155 ribber.

Heathercraft list them on their website so it might be worth contacting them.

Regards

Sue.

Sue P
2012-02-15 17:26:47

Garter carriage KG-95 problem

Hello
I’ve recently bought a carter carriage KG-95. Everything was fine and I’ve knitted one half of a jumper but on the second half, after I’ve re-hanged the cast-on-comb, the needle has jammed. After changing the needle the garter carriage was knitting again with fine yarn but on the first row after casting on with double knit yarn it’s jammed again. I’ve changed three needles already. I was doing everything as it said in manuals and I feel so frustrated. Is this carriage so fragile? Is there anybody to help me with some advice and spare parts? Sorry, I didn’t mention, I’ve got a Brother KH-965. Please, somebody help me. Thank you

Have you checked your sponge bar? I haven’t used my GC much but I know it’s more temperamental / sensitive to main bed needles being even slightly bent than the normal knitting carriage is and it needs a good sponge bar to make them work properly. Hope this helps.
GrandmaLiz
2013-01-27 18:30:35

Toyota KS858 and KR506

Hi

I’m new here. I bought these machines on eBay and they seem to be okay, but I just can’t get the cast-on process to work properly. It worked once on a trial run, but not since. Everything looks set-up and threaded properly, but the stitches don’t form. Can anyone give any advice please? Thanks

Hi

Sorry to hear you are having problems. The following may help.

Make sure the machine is clean.

Check that the gate pegs are upright and evenly spaced.

Check the spongebars in both beds. If the foam is flattened it will need replacing. Some people recommend using Silver Reed spongebars as replacements as Toyota ones are no longer available. Alternatively you can replace the foam with draught excluder taping round the ends to secure it.

Loosen the ribber setting screws at the ends of the beds and make sure the ribber is pushed against the mainbed as far as it will go before re-tightening them.

Check that the ribber connecting arm is seated properly – take it off and replace it making sure it sits on the positioning notches on the main carriage.

To start with try a 1×1 rib using alternate needles on each bed with the beds set at Full Pitch. Cast on with a tight tension position the comb and continue as book.

Hope this helps.
Regards Sue.

Sue P
2012-01-30 22:57:07
Thank you so much and I will do as you suggest. I do notice that the connecting bar barely sits in the notch of the ribber so perhaps this is one of the problems.
daisy8
2012-02-13 20:44:43
Hi
I’ve just thought of something else: Make sure the Simulknit Lever is set to ‘O’ and that the middle lever on the Ribber Carriage is on Empty with the other two levers on Plain. All the other levers on the Ribber Carriage should be set to ‘O’. For the first row the Main Carriage should be set for Plain knitting.
You should then get a zig zag between the beds with the yarn in the needle hooks.
Hoping this gets you started.
Regards
Sue.
Sue P
2012-01-31 20:24:28
Thanks again Sue. I had made some progress since my first post. I’ve managed to use the ribber for a scarf in 2-ply wool which was going well but then again it dropped stitches suddenly. I think it must need a new sponge bar so I’m planning to look into that next.
daisy8
2012-02-13 20:45:08

Balls of wool

In a recent copy of the magazine it was mentioned that balls of wool can be used on a knitting machine but of course need to be waxed. How does one do that?

Hi

You need a wool winder and if you want to wax the yarn
a piece of a candle works well.

Find the ‘tail’ in the centre of the ball and let the yarn pass over the candle as you wind it. Wind each ball individually.

It is not always necessary to wax the yarn.

Balled yarn has a higher twist than coned yarn so you may need to knit with a looser tension.

Regards

Sue.

Sue P
2012-01-30 22:38:55

Mylar sheets

Hi Karrie

Metropolitan have these listed on their website. They are £11.80 for five. Sometimes they are advertised on eBay so it may be worth checking the listings.

Hope you manage to find some.

Regards Sue.

Sue P
2012-01-30 15:57:30
Hi
Thank you so much for your response and I’ve just been and placed my order with Metropolitan.
Karrie
2012-01-09 12:32:24
Hi
Thanks for your response and I’ve been and ordered some.
Karrie
2012-01-09 12:32:24
Hi there
Last year I came back to machine knitting on my Brother 950i and of course many of my Mylar sheet patterns were old fashioned and designs that I would not knit any more. I searched for Mylar sheets to buy and had problems finding them at decent prices so I decided to ‘clean off’ my old sheets. Eventually I discovered the ‘stain remover’ for oil and tar did the trick beautifully. Now I’ve cleaned most of them off and have put new designs on them. Some of the old designs were from 24 years ago including reindeer and snowflakes and I kept them as they’re now so popular in the High Street shops. I’ve just finished a gorgeous little sweater for my one year old great grandson Ben so try to save some money and get the stain remover from the £1 shop. It’s worth every penny and good luck.
Best wishes
Barbara
barbararoblin
2012-01-20 17:55:58
Thanks Barbara
The problem was that I couldn’t find my Mylar sheets not that they were full.
Karrie
2012-01-20 18:12:19
Hi Barbara
What kind of pen do you use on your Mylar sheets?
Thank you Linda
Linda69
2012-01-30 15:56:03
Hi
I know you have lost your Mylar sheets but others might be interested in removing Mylar pen marks from their chart.
I used to use Brasso metal polish put on a piece of cloth and it fetched the old Mylar marker off a treat.
Vincentwood
2012-05-01 20:14:59
Hi

There are several listings on ebay at the moment for blank and pre-printed Mylar sheets.

I thought you might be interested.

Sue.

Sue P
2012-07-09 15:52:53
Hi Karrie

Metropolitan have these listed on their website. They are £11.80 for five. Sometimes they are advertised on eBay so it may be worth checking the listings.

Hope you manage to find some.

Regards Sue.

Sue P
2012-01-30 15:57:30
Hi
Thank you so much for your response and I’ve just been and placed my order with Metropolitan.
Karrie
2012-01-09 12:32:24
Hi
Thanks for your response and I’ve been and ordered some.
Karrie
2012-01-09 12:32:24
Hi there
Last year I came back to machine knitting on my Brother 950i and of course many of my Mylar sheet patterns were old fashioned and designs that I would not knit any more. I searched for Mylar sheets to buy and had problems finding them at decent prices so I decided to ‘clean off’ my old sheets. Eventually I discovered the ‘stain remover’ for oil and tar did the trick beautifully. Now I’ve cleaned most of them off and have put new designs on them. Some of the old designs were from 24 years ago including reindeer and snowflakes and I kept them as they’re now so popular in the High Street shops. I’ve just finished a gorgeous little sweater for my one year old great grandson Ben so try to save some money and get the stain remover from the £1 shop. It’s worth every penny and good luck.
Best wishes
Barbara
barbararoblin
2012-01-20 17:55:58
Thanks Barbara
The problem was that I couldn’t find my Mylar sheets not that they were full.
Karrie
2012-01-20 18:12:19
Hi Barbara
What kind of pen do you use on your Mylar sheets?
Thank you Linda
Linda69
2012-01-30 15:56:03
Hi
I know you have lost your Mylar sheets but others might be interested in removing Mylar pen marks from their chart.
I used to use Brasso metal polish put on a piece of cloth and it fetched the old Mylar marker off a treat.
Vincentwood
2012-05-01 20:14:59
Hi

There are several listings on ebay at the moment for blank and pre-printed Mylar sheets.

I thought you might be interested.

Sue.

Sue P
2012-07-09 15:52:53