Selecting Your Knitting Machine

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Selecting your knitting machine should be done carefully.  Consider the manual, punch card and electronic/computer ready knitting machines.  Here, Angelika, has attempted to explain the Brother, Silver Reed and Artisan brand models.

Selecting Your Knitting Machine

Comment: Brother no longer manufactures knitting machines.  I have included them in this article due to the popularity of the machine.  It is the most common machine in the U.S right now.

When the decision has been made that you must have a knitting machine for your yourself, the decision making has really only just begun. Knitting machines are not like sewing machines. It seems like we were born with the basics of sewing machines. Knitting machines are intimidating pieces of equipment with buttons, springs, wires and hooks enough to contact the outer world. Common comments from individuals who have never seen nor have heard of knitting machines, when confronted with one is "WHAT is THAT!". In October of 1984, that was my line. In November of 1984, 9 months pregnant, I was under the machine looking at the 3" x 3" square hanging off the needles. I wasn't hooked, it wasn't a passion. I was POSSESSED !

Now you want one. Here is a basic education and some key questions I ask my prospective knitters when they come in to buy their own machine. What types of sweaters attract you when you are in clothing stores? Heavy, cabled & bulky? Thin, lacy & airy? Knitted suits? Do you hand knit? Is that the kind of fabric you would like to reproduce? Often hand knitters want to continue to hand knit, but want fine knitted garments as well. Knowing that to hand knit one would take more time than they consider to be fun, they look to the knitting machine for fine knits.

Heavy & cabled sweaters are usually done on a Bulky or Chunky size machine. These machines have the needles 9mm apart and the hook/latches are large enough to accommodate the thick yarns without splitting the yarn. Other techniques that can be done on most bulky/chunky machines are fairisle, tuck, slip, lace, intarsia, weaving and more. Sport & DK weight yarns are the smallest yarns handled by bulky machines. The largest yarns it can handle are "chunky" yarns. Most homespun yarns, unless extremely large, can be knit on the bulky.

Knitted suits and lace curtains are items that are usually (but not always) done on the standard bed machine. These machines have needles 4.5mm apart and the hook/latches are much smaller. Other techniques that can be done on the standard machines are fairisle, tuck, slip, lace, intarsia, manual cables and more. Standard machines usually have more stitch types to select from. The lace is automatic, while on the bulky, lace is manual or semi-manual. This is the size of machine that produces the St John's knits, if you are familiar with the knitted suits in high level boutiques. The standard will knit very thin (almost as small as thread) yarns, if they are doubled or tripled. Yarns that are traditionally (in the US) called baby weight are the most popular size to use on this machine. The largest yarn that can be knit is the sport or DK weight. Since different manufacturers of yarn can produce a heavier or lighter sport weight, it could be that even some sport weight yarns won't knit very successfully. This model of machine, when a Brother brand, also has an accessory called a garter carriage. The garter carriage is available ONLY for Brother/Knitking standard bed machines. The prettiest fabrics are created when using a sport weight yarn. Due to the garter carriage design, the garter carriage can knit the heavier sport weight yarns.

For garments with the look and feel of true hand knitting, the mid-gauge is the machine of choice. These machines have the needles 6.5mm apart and the hook/latches are smaller than the bulky, but larger than the standard machine. Other techniques that can be done on the mid-gauge are fairisle, tuck, slip, intarsia, manual cables, manual lace and more. This machine can knit most baby weight yarns, though, not real tight. And if the yarn doesn't get split by the needle hooks (if the yarn is not too fat) the mid-gauge can knit most chunky yarns. You have just received a quick education on MACHINE SIZES. Each machine size has 1,2 or more models that are available. I feel if you are thinking about a machine, your best decision is made after a thorough education. So read on for information about models and their features, as we continue your education on knitting machines.

Bulky & Chunky Models: 9mm knitting machines
Brother Brand: Brother International manufactured two models of this size. These machines are still in demand, but are no longer being manufactured. The KH270 was an electric (electronic machine). The memory contained 288 permanent patterns of fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. The memory also had room for you to input many more patterns. Using the keyboard you select the pattern #. Also the keyboard had variation keys which allow you to reverse, mirror, double width, double length, turn upside down (& more) any of these patterns. Though generally to double width a tuck pattern is not successful, all of the variation keys are a joy to have. The KH260 was a mechanical machine. It does not need electricity. This machine came with a small selection of pre-punched cards to do fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. Special blank cards and a special punch will allow you to create your own cards, or recreate a card as specified in your pattern. The only variation available is the double length. Both machines are made the same size and quality. Often with interchangeable parts. The biggest, most obvious difference is that the KH260's punchcards are limited to 24 sts wide. The KH270 electronic is not limited to any width. A pattern can be 1 st wide or 114 sts wide, which is the total width of the bed.
Studio Brand: Studio / Silver Reed is the only current manufacturer of bulky, metal bed knitting machines for the home knitter.  Studio manufactures two models of this size. The SK890 is the computer ready version.   It used a mylar sheet to read patterns which was read by an EC1. The EC1 is no longer being manufactured. The SK890 is a computer ready model that uses a special data cable and special software that will allow it to knit designs as wide as the needle bed. The SK890 will fairisle, tuck, slip, thread lace, weave and more. Lace is manually done. There is no lace carriage for the Chunky  machines. The SK890 is broken into two purchases; the bed and the Silver Link & DesignaKnit Software. If you own the SK890 with the Silver Link and software and you purchase the SK860 or SK840, you still use the same Link & software. They fit all the Studio 830, 840, 860 & 890 main beds. The Studio SK155 is also a bulky machine, with a 12 stitch punchcard repeat. A wonderfully simple machine to operate, yet will not limit your creativity

Standard Bed Models: 4.5mm knitting machines
BrotherBrand: Brother used to manufacture two models of this size. Probably the most popular machine in the US Market is the Brother KH970 (electric) Electronic. The memory contains 665 permanent patterns of fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. The memory also has room for you to input many more patterns. Using the keyboard you select the pattern #. Also the keyboard has variation keys which allow you to reverse, mirror, double width, reflect, rotate, inverse, double length, turn upside down (& more) any of these patterns. Though generally to double width a tuck pattern is not successful, all of the variation keys are a joy to have. The KH970 comes with the automatic lace carriage. It features a small computer than can be disengaged from the machine and fed data into on your lap. The KH970 has a built in garment program that you use to build the size of your garment piece. This allows you to reknit the same sweater over and over with different yarns, gauges and stitch design without re-entering the garment piece. The KH864 was a mechanical machine. It does not need electricity. This machine comes with a small selection of pre-punched cards to do fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. Special blank cards and a special punch will allow you to create your own cards, or recreate a card as specified in your pattern. The only variation available is the double length. The lace transfer carriage is an optional accessory. Both machines are made the same size and quality. Often with interchangeable parts. The biggest, most obvious difference is that the KH864's punchcards are limited to 24 sts wide. The KH970 electronic is not limited to any width. A pattern can be 1 st wide or 200 sts wide, which is the total width of the bed.

Silver Reed Brand: Silver Reed manufactures two models of this size. The SK840 is the computer read version.   It used a mylar sheet to read patterns which was read by an EC1. The EC1 is no longer being manufactured. The SK840 is a computer ready model that uses a special data cable and special software that will allow it to knit designs as wide as the needle bed. The SK840 will fairisle, tuck, slip, thread lace, weave and more. Lace is automatic with the purchase of the lace knitting carriage, when you are connected to the computer to download the lace design.   The SK840 is broken into two purchases; the bed and the Silver Link & DesignaKnit Software. If you own the SK840 with the Silver Link and software and you purchase the SK860, or a SK890, you still use the same Link & software. They fit all the Silver Reed 830, 840, 860 & 890 main beds. The SK280 is the punchcard version, a mechanical machine. It does not need electricity. This machine comes with a small selection of pre-punched cards to do fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. Special blank cards and a special punch will allow you to create your own cards, or recreate a card as specified in your pattern. The only variation available is the double length. The lace/knitting carriage is an optional accessory. Both machines are made the same size and quality. Often with interchangeable parts. The biggest, most obvious difference is that the SK280's punchcards are limited to 24 sts wide. The SK840 is a computer ready model that uses a special data cable and special software that will allow it to knit designs as wide as the needle bed.
Artisan Brand: The Artisan JBL-245 is a metal bed Standard Gauge (4.5mm) punchcard machine, complete with detachable ribber, with 200 needles on each bed.  This machine is extremely
similar to the Silver Reed 280 machines, so those who are familiar with these machines will feel very comfortable with this one.  This machine comes with a small selection of pre-punched cards to do fairisle, tuck, skip, thread lace, weaving and more. Special blank cards and a special punch will allow you to create your own cards, or recreate a card as specified in your pattern. The only variation available is the double length.  This machine has no lace carriage available at this time.

Mid-Gauge Models:  6.5-7mm knitting machines
Brother Brand: Brother manufactured the KX350. It is no longer being manufactured. The KX350 was a plastic knitting machine. It is smaller than all the metal beds previously discussed and is lighter weight. The carriage is also plastic. The needles are 7mm apart rather than the 6.5mm of true mid-gauges. There is no automatic selection of pattern. You select needles for tuck, slip, lace and fairisle. Cables are manual as is true of all machines. Lace is completely done by hand as is done on the bulky machines. There are no major accessories for this machine.
Silver Reed Brand: Silver Reed manufactures 3 models of mid-gauge machines.  The SK860 is the computer read version.   It used a mylar sheet to read patterns which was read by an EC1. The EC1 is no longer being manufactured. The SK860 is a computer ready model that uses a special data cable and special software that will allow it to knit designs as wide as the needle bed. The SK860 will fairisle, tuck, slip, thread lace, weave and more.  The SK860 is broken into two purchases; the bed and the Silver Link & DesignaKnit Software. If you own the SK860 with the Silver Link and software and you purchase the SK840, or a SK890, you still use the same Link & software. They fit all the Silver Reed 830, 840, 860 & 890 main beds. Lace is manually done. There is no lace carriage for the mid-gauge machines. The SK160 is the shell of the SK860. This model coupled with the basic small carriage is completely manual. A neat feature is that this simple carriage has the intarsia knitting technique built in. This is not the case with most machines today. The advantages to this machine is that it is all metal (which I prefer the feel of) and that it was made to be upgraded to the SK860 electronic. The SK160 has no automatic selection of needles for patterning. You will need to select them yourself. The 3rd model is an LK150. This is my choice for a plastic bed machine. The plastic carriage glides smoothly over your knitting because the needles have specially designed roll caps. The LK150 also will operate at a 13mm gauge for very large yarns and is indicated thus on the carriage. By hand manipulating the needles you can do cables, lace, tuck, slip, fairisle and more. This plastic bed machine has the most accessories I've ever seen for this lightweight machine. They include an electronic knit contour, an intarsia carriage and a wonderful automatic 2-color (fairisle) carriage.

The Artisan Brand  GE63-70 is a double bed Mid Gauge (7.0mm) manual patterning machine with 147 needles on each bed, complete with a well-designed, sturdy stand!  Although originally developed as a production knitting machine, we immediately saw tremendous potential for this machine in the home market.  It is a metal bed machine capable of all of the most common machine knitting stitches, stockinet, slip, tuck, as well as knit weaving and plating!  It also does an excellent job of ribbing, fisherman's rib, and circular knitting because of the angle of the beds.  It is an excellent knitter, and comes with all small tools, cast on combs, and weights you would expect from a full-featured knitting machine.  It is extremely easy to learn, very sturdy and reliable, and the carriages are quite easy to push. Plus, it knits DK, handspun, and other hand weight yarn like a dream!  An Intarsia carriage and ribber covers will be available for this machine later this year.

Now you know the 3 main sizes of Japanese machines and the models within each size. Passap (Switzerland) produced a knitting machine which was called a double bed. The fabrics are very unique to the Passap machine, some of which cannot be reproduced on the Japanese machines. I know very little about the Passap. For those of you reading this, who feel they like to add to this article, please email me and I would be interested in adding knowledge from your experience.

Silver Reed also manufactures one more model machine, of a size not covered above. This model, the SK830 is called a fine gauge. The needles are 3.6mm apart. The tiniest spacing available on home knitting machines. This will knit the very finest yarns we have. Great for delicate lace and wispy summer tops.

After all this education and decision making, there is one decision left to make which can often blow all this work away. And that is price. I probably should not end this article talking about money, but if you came to me wanting to buy a machine, money would certainly be something we'd want to talk about. So here I go.

Trying to get the best machine for your money cannot be related to quality. I've found all knitting machine brands to be of superior quality . . . . . nothing like the brand new toasters that continue to burn one side and leave the other side white! Parts and accessories are easy to come by and technicians are all across the county. I rarely find a machine that needs repairs. When it does happen, we can usually trace the source of the problem to incorrect handling of our equipment, insufficient cleaning, incorrect storage or forcing the machine to knit yarn out of it's size range.

Decide on the size of machine you want; i.e., standard, bulky or mid-gauge. When you zero in on that group, let your budget decide what machine you want. I run the Brother 970 and just love it. It is the top of the line machine, but naturally has the top of the line price. If that is workable for you, don't let that stop you from getting a machine. Purchase the punchcard model instead. I have many punchcard knitters that their garments literally run circles around me. The machines DO NOT limit your creativity, in my opinion. Oh yea, we'd like to knit some design 200 sts wide . . . . . but the garments done on the 24 st wide machines can be done in the same exact yarn, and because the design is simpler, the garment is often more attractive to my eye. I see this EVERY month at our meetings!

So why did I drag you through this long article just to tell you to buy what your budget allows? Because knowledge is the key to success! Be aware, be knowledgeable and be smart. . . .

MY OPINION REGARDING DEALERS:. And everyone has their opinion. Hear mine, listen to others and make the decision for yourself. I feel that if you have an active, knowledgeable (see! I said active & knowledgeable) dealer close by, you should buy from her. She will support you through your first projects and lead you into advanced levels of knitting. You may save $100 by buying mail-order, but the frustration of not having a friend to show you through challenging techniques is JUST NOT worth it. If you happen to buy a used machine, approach your dealer for a packet of lessons, that would place you in the same position as if you had bought the machine from her. That could run anywhere from $100-$200 for a full range of lessons. But each dealer has his or her own lesson plan. If all else fails, mail order your machine. Locate the closest club you can find and attend every once in a while. Advertise for other machine knitters and maybe form your own club, or just plan get togethers in your home. The knowledge of two individuals when put together is not the knowledge of two, but rather the knowledge of FOUR!

I hope this guide has been informative. I have pulled my information from my experience and the documents on hand. I hope that all this information is current, but things can change and I not be notified. You may find out that I have left off some models. But if you inquire into that specific model, you will be able to insert it into one of the appropriate categories. I hope I have added to your knowledge of knitting machines and you feel a little more qualified to make your decision. Angelika

Copyright © 1995-2008 by Angelika Burles. All rights reserved.