Machine Knitting

Yeah, I know. Machine knitting rips the heart and soul right out of the yarn, or whatever.

But – if you knit for the sake of having cool finished objects, and not just for the joy of feeling fiber on needles/cheap therapy/grandma-type nostalgia, machine knitting is a fast and fun craft in and of itself. It takes less than a quarter of the time of hand-knitting once you’re set up, and it produces a professional, clean result.

This blog exists to provide cool tips and patterns for machine knitting. We use a number of different techniques and machines, and our patterns tend to stay on the easy “project you can finish in a few hours’ time” side. Don’t put it past us to recommend something truly bizarre, though.

Our recommended items:
We use the Ultimate Sweater Machine because it’s a) cheap, b) pretty widely available, and c) has a low learning curve. The patterns you see here will work on just about any flat-bed machine, though.

The kids’ “Sew Easy Knitting Machine” is a small, round knitting machine. Most craft stores sell them or something similar to them – for about $20, you can’t beat this little thing for tube knitting for socks, scarves, and small accessories.

The same company that makes the Ultimate Sweater Machine makes two similar products both used to make I-cord, the all-purpose decorative object/purse strap/edging maker.
The Embellish-Knit! and the Cool Corder basically do the same thing, so pick your poison and have one ready.

You’ll also need a very basic knowledge of sewing – if you can cross-stitch and whipstitch, you’ll be golden. Ready to make something cool?