How was your New Year?

The exhibitor list is looking good and new additions this month are Carl Boyd coming along with his new patterns and Jane Woodward back in her usual classroom. As we’ve mentioned, Carl is working on a new collection and you may also remember that Jane was on holiday last year and couldn’t make it. She’s back this year with Wendy’s help and the sleeved wrap featured on page 35 is the first of Wendy’s designs for MKM. It’s been much admired, so we snapped it up for the magazine. You can belt it, button it, pin in or let it drape into soft folds and points. It’s a very flattering shape to cover all manner of ‘lumps and bumps’ and the length takes it well past any ‘thunder thighs’!

When I went to the Isle of Wight last autumn, I spent a lovely morning with the Newchurch Knitters. Jan’s coffee and cake went down a treat and Linda showed me lots of her designs. Amongst the goodies was a pile of Tan-o’-shanter hats, which she makes by the dozen for young and old alike. The pattern is ever so easy and you can add a brim or pon-pon if you wish. Best of all, they can be knitted from any oddments and take next-to-no-time. The base of the hat needs to be picked up on a circular needle for eight rows of garter stitch but you can vary the number of stitches you pick up, to fit different head sizes. It’s a fabulous pattern I’m sure you’ll want to cut out and keep.

As the days get longer, spring will soon be here and the cover girl on our latest issue (February 2009) wears a lovely jacket from Anne Baker knitted in Charlotte, from Chris Brennan. It’s very soft yet holds its shape beautifully and, when knitted in Fair Isle, makes a gorgeous warm garment. You can use Anne’s stitch pattern, or chose one of the hundreds you must have stored away. If haven’t used Charlotte before, raid Chris’ stand at Machine Knitting LIVE! (Sorry, he doesn’t do mail order.) At his knock down prices, every cone will be a bargain!

How was your Christmas and New Year break, and what are your plans for the New Year? Let me know by leaving a comment!

All the best
Anne

machine jamming

The test square etc is fine as it doesn’t use the needles 70-75 on the right.
Can anyone help?
I live in the Braintree area of Essex and would like to join a club if one exists.
Judy

Dear judy
Have you tried taking the needles out also checking to see if the underside of the carriage has been oiled also check to see if the needles are not bent.

If it has not been used for some time also see if the bed is not bent.

phoebe donaldson
2009-02-09 22:39:20
Have you checked the needle retaining bar. It should have 1/4 inch of sponge on it. If this is OK check that you have not got a load of fluff stuck in the channel where the retaining bar is housed.
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-09 22:39:20
Dear judy
Have you tried taking the needles out also checking to see if the underside of the carriage has been oiled also check to see if the needles are not bent.

If it has not been used for some time also see if the bed is not bent.

phoebe donaldson
2009-02-09 22:39:20
Have you checked the needle retaining bar. It should have 1/4 inch of sponge on it. If this is OK check that you have not got a load of fluff stuck in the channel where the retaining bar is housed.
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-09 22:39:20

Charity shop donation

I have not yet checked it over but it looks clean and in good condition. The Manager of the shop would appreciate some advice about how much we should charge for it when we put it in the shop for sale.

You could try Andeeknits I know she deals with some of the charity shops with machine if your in her area. www.andeeknits.co.uk
Claire
2009-04-07 09:13:12
Thanks for all your help and Mary Seaman has told us that they’ve received £30 for the machine.

Anne

Anne
2010-04-07 19:13:10

Tension on KH970

New to machine knitting and tension squares and how to adjust when knitting too tight is just bypassing me completely.

Many thanks
Karen

Hi Karen welcome to the madhouse that is machine knitting.

My rule of thumb is use a tension where the carriage moves easily and you don’t have to strain. If you find it difficult to move the carriage use a larger number and keep going up until it is easy to knit and you like the feel of the work.

Angela Thornycroft
2009-02-10 17:53:35

Ribbing attachment SRP-50

I’ve taken my knitting machine out of long term storage and have been unable to fine both Auxiliary pieces (L+R) for Ribbing Attachment SRP-50. Any idea where I could buy replacements?

These can be obtained from Undy Yarncrafts. You can phone 01633 881183 for further information
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-10 17:53:35
These can be obtained from Undy Yarncrafts. You can phone 01633 881183 for further information
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-10 17:53:35

punch cards

Hello Anne, I have a new Silver Reed knitting machine which came with a set of punch cards. When knitting using a card obviously I start with the card set on row one. But I believe that it is row 5 (or is it row 6) of the card which is being knitted. Can you please advise what row should I start with if using other manufacturers cards. I have a number of Brother and Toyota punch cards which which I would like to put into use.

Kindest regards

Anne

Knitmaster/Silver Reed machines start at row 5 and Brother machines start at row 7
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-10 17:53:35
I’ve got some pictures of other punch card patterns but no where does it tell me where I can get these from.

Can any one help?

Reed
2009-07-15 18:33:59
Knitmaster/Silver Reed machines start at row 5 and Brother machines start at row 7
Undy Yarncrafts
2009-02-10 17:53:35
I’ve got some pictures of other punch card patterns but no where does it tell me where I can get these from.

Can any one help?

Reed
2009-07-15 18:33:59

Knitting with alpaca

I have been trying to knit lace patterned scarves on my Emperial knitmaster with alpaca yarn, but it keeps laddering and getting stuck. I have tried changing the tention but nothing works, however if I use acrylic yarn it works perfectly. Please help.

Hi If the Alpaca Yarn you are using is 2ply or less then you should use the close knit bar which is the long white plastic bar or if you haven’t already tried a little weight that may help solve the problem.

Kind regards
Linda

Linda Collins
2009-02-22 10:17:10
Hi If the Alpaca Yarn you are using is 2ply or less then you should use the close knit bar which is the long white plastic bar or if you haven’t already tried a little weight that may help solve the problem.

Kind regards
Linda

Linda Collins
2009-02-22 10:17:10

Problems with shaping

I hope you can help.

Elaine
Weston-Super-Mare

Hello Elaine and welcome to the new site!

If you don’t get this right sideways knitting is going to be a problem!

For increasing
At the carriage side and where the increase is required bring two needles to holding position and e-wrap them both with the main yarn. Knit one row. Bring out those same two end needles to holding position again and as you take the carriage back across they will knit back. Repeat bringing out two more needles to holding position and e-wrapping them. Knit one row bring those same two needles out to holding position again and knit back across This way instead of increasing one stitch every row which makes the edge tight you increase two stitches every two rows. Use hand tension or a claw weight on the new knitting for a few rows.

For decreasing
Take a length of main yarn and at the end to be decreased knit the end stitch by hand with this separate length of yarn. Take the second end stitch on to the end needle and bring both stitches back to the empty needle. Knit one row and repeat always knitting the end stitch by hand before working the decrease.

Increasing several stitches
To increase a large number of stitches at one end work as follows. At the carriage end bring to holding position the required number of needles and e-wrap over them. Knit one row. Bring all the needles involved in the increase to holding position again and knit one row then repeat. This method sometimes works but if you’re using a fancy yarn it may give you problems so here’s another technique to try.

Start with the carriage at the end where you’d like to work the multiple increases. Hook a spare piece of knitting on to the empty needles to be used. Remove the yarn from the feeder. Over these needles only (put the others to holding position and set carriage to hold) knit one row with a nylon cord. Bring those same needles out to holding position again and then take the carriage back. Now using main yarn e-wrap over these needles. Re-thread the main yarn and continue to knit over all needles but bring those increased stitches to holding position for a few rows to make sure they knit off correctly The extra piece of knitting hooked on to the needles gives you something on which to hang the claw weights for just a few rows until the knitting runs smoothly.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes
Anne

Anne
2008-11-24 11:24:02