Miscellaneous

Hi Maggie
My advice would be to start with a basic punchcard model to get used to how the machine works. Once you understand the basic workings and how the machine knits the different stitches you can then decide whether you feel the need to upgrade. I have knitted on a puchcard machine for years and produced some lovely garments.

I would try and find a club near to you as well where you can pop along and have a chat to people already knitting. Most clubs have a machine and there is nearly always someone willing to show new starters the basics.

I enjoy passing on my knowledge to other knitters as do many others who enjoy the craft and I hope this helps.

Please reply if I can help any further.

Hi Maggie

Please e-mail Anne at the magazine and let her know where you live. We’re sure she can set you on the right road.

Hi Maggie
Machine Knitting is a lovely pastime and brings out your creative side. I have been machine knitting for about 2 years and I’m self taught because there are no clubs in my area regretfully. I started on the Silver Reed LK150 mid gauge which is a nice easy machine to master. I now have a Silver Reed SK280 and find it a lovely machine to work on. I bought several basic books on eBay which I found very helpful and still refer to them. MKM is an excellent learning tool well worth buying each month. Hope this gives you some encourgagement to have a go.
Kind regards
Shirley

Hi Maggie
Hopefully by now you’ve been able to work out how to use these wonderful machines. I’m very new to machine knitting and I have a Brother 950i with attachments. I trawled through eBay when I got my machine this year and found tapes and discs that were tutorial. The ones I found really good were by Barbara Stubbs. She teaches really clearly and the filming is very good so you can actually see everything she’s doing. I got mine on eBay and keep referring to them.
Kind regards
Mary

Hi Maggie
I have found the Diana Sullivan tutorial videos are extreamly good – just google ‘diana natters’.
Kind regards
Julia

You can use Silver Reed Mylar sheets which are still available on a Brother machine with a few adjustments such as the starting line. If you compare an old Brother sheet with a Silver Reed one you will see what needs doing.

You can with a little adjustment use Silver Reed Mylar sheets. If you compare them to an old Brother one you can see where the starting line needs putting etc.

I know your query was some while ago but I got a new and a used sheet from Heathercraft. Ordered yesterday delivered today. Fantastic service…

Ooops just realised its a different m/c to mine (KL116) apologies but do try Heathercraft anyway

Hi

If you mean intarsia patterns (picture knitting) then Jo Newton has a great selection. She’ll even work on special requests if you need something a bit out of the ordinary. Try her website at www.jonewton.co.uk or e-mail her at jo.newton@btinternet.com

I have a load of 2nd hand ones if their of any interest to you by Gary Kennedy. Drop me a line via ebay – hgvpilot if I can help.

Thank You Cassie but need help in Lincoln. Had a couple of machines years ago but don’t know how to set this one up. If I did I could manage to work it from other books/video. No instructions at all you see. Pleased you found a group I used to go to one in Lincoln. No Knitting Machine Shops at all now.

Thanks again – Sylvia

I have just taken the plunge and after having aquired an old Brother KH710 which has been under the bed for about eleven years I desperately wanted to find help in the area. Imagine my surprise when I found a group of people in Donington Lincolnshire. It’s just up the road for me and I went along for the first time last Thursday with my machine and I received such wonderful help. This is the web site of where they meet :~

http://www.therubyhuntcentre.org.uk/_files/ruby_hunt_centre_leaflet.pdf

Hope it is of some help if you don’t find anything nearer.

Hope You found one – Sylvia (I didn’t!)

No I am afraid I haven t Rose

I have not been knitting for about seven years and I would like to find a knitting machine club in the Bromley area Can you help.
Thank you
Rose

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

Thanks for all your help and Mary Seaman has told us that they’ve received £30 for the machine.

Anne

Try thi link:

http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/en/wonderwool_wales/exhibitors_information/2008/nina_miklin.php

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.

If it’s any help you’re not alone and there’s actually a ‘knack’ in removing this bar. Do make a mark on the side of the comb you should use first to remove the stitches which is the side that has the little grooves. Also make sure that you pull all the stitches you’ve lifted off firmly on to the bar so that they’re in a completely straight line.

1. Remove the yarn from the carriage and turn the comb so the grooves now face the machine. (Some knitters find it helpful to put a claw weight on both ends of the work.)

2. Bring out any needle on the machine and examine the needle hook. Look at the stitch now on the garter bar and note that a strand of yarn lies over the groove. The hook of the needles is going to grab this strand of yarn as the garter bar is laid on top of the needles. Return the needle you were examining to non-working position.

3. Lay the garter bar on top of the needles with the left end stitch exactly over the left end needle. Be firm in your movements. Get this stitch right and all the others will also be ‘grabbed’.

4. Carefully pull the garter bar towards you a little and slightly tilt it upwards. Peer over to see if all the stitches have been ‘caught’. If not you can tilt the comb back ease off the comb and start again.

5. Assuming the garter bar has all the stitches on it now comes the vital bit. Keeping a firm grip on the bar tilt it slightly towards you. The bar gets caught in the hooks of the needles because you take the bar downwards without tilting it so the hooks catch in the holes of the garter bar. In one movement tilt the comb towards you and downwards. This must be done firmly and not too slowly. Some knitters find it best to hold the base of the bar with the fingers and place their thumbs on top of the bar to control the movement more easily. It’s no more than a gentle rotation of the wrist and gentle pull downwards. Once you do this successfully with the medium sized bar you can do it with the large one. Practice to get the knack and you’ll soon perfect the technique.

Best wishes
Anne

Have a look at you tube there are demos on there as to how to use a garter bar
Hilda b