Machine Knitting

Traditionally, knitting is generally done with two or more needles and by hand. Fortunately, it is not be any means limited to these methods or a whole lot of people would never be able to fully enjoy the pleasure of creating their very own line of hand knitted products and maybe even being able to make some money as well as have some fun with knitting. There are also many "purists" as well who will always feel that "real" knitting should be limited to those same needles. This article will look at some of the pros and cons of machine knitting and how it has a place in the world of knitting at least for some people.

Many of the more "traditional" knitters are only in it for a hobby, as a means to relax and perhaps something to pass the time when waiting for other things to complete ... like time spent waiting at the doctor's office or in the department of motor vehicles. Not only would it be an inconvenience to try to tote around most large-scale knitting machines, it would be very difficult not to get kicked out of whatever place you were waiting at. While this may be an extreme example, it does serve to show that machine knitting is not always the best option for people who want to enjoy their passion for knitting.

That being said, there are many smaller knitting machines that work exceptionally well for just such occasions. A great many of these knitting machines are actually sold as "toys' or in the children's sections as they are generally made of plastic and are not overly complex. That does not mean they do not work and while some may question their classification as an actual mechanical device, they are very handy for performing many functions that are otherwise very tedious and time-consuming for some people when knitting by hand.

Some people simply have a difficult time handling the knitting needles for any length of time. While carpal tunnel syndrome may not be a major concern, often the repetitive tasks can inflame arthritic joints or cause swelling and discomfort to occur. The use of these knitting machines can help to alleviate many of those problems before they are ever an issue. As an added bonus, the vast majority of the small, hand held knitting machines are very inexpensive so even if they are not the best-built versions, they can generally be replaced very easily.

If you are going to be getting involved with large-scale knitting production you may be looking at some of the larger and perhaps even more expensive knitting machines. Again there are benefits and detriments but they most be weighted out based on your personal knitting needs and what you have in mind to accomplish with your knitting skills. Some of them are certainly more difficult to master than others but once mastered, will allow you to greatly increase your production of "knitted fabric" to use in just about anything you ever wanted to knit.

Whether you are interested in learning more about knitting by hand or knitting machines, the first thing that you need to do is decide exactly what it is that you wish to accomplish. If you are just learning the art of knitting, you may want to begin with the more traditional knitting needles and yarn. If you have already become a master of the art of knitting, you may be ready to take it to the next level and begin looking at some of the more advanced knitting machines. Like your knitting success, your knitting needs can only be defined by you once you know what direction you want to move in with your personal knitting skills.

Liz Raad is a small business coach and author of the exciting new E-book "Knitting For Profit" that shows step-by-step how to make money from knitting or crochet. This new E-book contains great information, practical advice, tips and ideas for anyone who wants to learn how to turn their knitting hobby into real cash -ideal for starting your own home-based business or for work-at-home mums.

Knitting Jobs Tips

Finding a knitting job that you can do in order to earn a profit may seem like a daunting task at first but the biggest key to your knitting for profit success is going to be networking. Networking is not by any means a new concept and it can be done very cheaply or even free. If you think outside of the box a little bit, you probably already go to a lot of places where you can find paying clients to help you get even more knitting jobs to earn cash with.

If you are serious about your knitting, you probably already know a lot of other people who also enjoy knitting as much or more than you do. Do not discount them even if they are already finding their own knitting jobs to earn money. Chances are very good that if they are making money with knitting work, they will know how you can earn some too. In some instances, partnerships can be formed in this way and more than one knitting company has come about from similar circumstances.

Craft shows, fairs and even flea markets are another alternative market for finding opportunities for knitting for profit. Craft shows are actually much more common than many people believe even in the larger cities. Craft shows and craft fairs have always been an excellent venue for displaying handcrafted goods, selling your existing knitted garments and even for finding more knitting jobs. Make certain that any time you attend any of these events you have business cards with you and hand them out to people who do express an interest in having someone who can handle a custom knitting job.

Additionally, make a poster of some sort (you can even knit it if you feel creative and have some leftover knitting yarn you want to get rid of) that tells everyone who passes by that you do custom knitting jobs. While it is not likely that you will get a new, paid knitting job every time you post your sign, you will more than likely to find enough knitting work to justify the cost of the poster or advertisement. You are paying for a space to sell your knitting work but that does not mean that you cannot use that same space to advertise and look for another knitting job in the process.

Almost everybody has to go shopping right? But when was the last time you stopped and looked at that board outside the grocery store? Did you look at all of the jobs that people are offering and wanting done? Whether you pay attention to these poster boards or not, the reason that they have been a common feature at grocery stores for over twenty years is because they do work. If you are looking for custom knitting jobs, try posting a note at the store. You may have to add a new one every time that you go shopping but again, the returns should far surpass the expense of a single printed sheet of paper.

No matter what type of knitting job you may be looking for, no matter how much or how little profit you are satisfied with, you can find knitting jobs... the only secret is letting every one of the people you meet know that you are looking for a knitting job, you can create custom gifts, patterns or whatever your particular skills are and keep telling people. Knitting for profit may soon not only be a supplement to your regular income but actually replace it altogether if that is what you want.

Easy Knitting Techniques

If you're a knitter, you are either a hobby knitter, making a hat or blanket here and there for gifts, or you knit for the challenge of advancing your skills with every new item. The advanced knitters are interested in learning different skills and are always looking for patterns, charts and techniques. They have their patterns, stash of yarn and supplies neatly organized and ready for action. They frequently have two or more works in progress (WIPs) and find it impossible to be monogamous to one project.

Knitters can create items using various techniques, such as those described below. It is not uncommon to combine methods of knitting, such as constructing the body of a sweater on a machine and then applying a fancy rib by hand.

Hand knitting: When most people think of knitting, they think of the traditional way of knitting with two needles and a ball of yarn. This remains a very popular and common way to knit. Ways to hand knit include using the garter stitch for fast and easy items, as well as using intricate cables, lace pattens, textured stitches and color changes to create cherished heirlooms.




The history of hand knitting dates back to before the 1600s, although this only represents the recording of the art of knitting. There is much controversy about descriptions of items found at archeological sites and in literature about whether they were woven or knit. I am reading A History of Hand Knitting by Richard Rutt. The book does a great job of chronicling the art of knitting and goes in to great detail about the earliest writings and samples of knitted items. The first described hand knit items seem to be stockings made of cotton and silk.

Machine Knitting: Industrial knitting machines seem to have been introduced around 1600 for the purpose of making knitted items faster and more efficiently. The machines were not well received initially because it was thought they would harm the livelihood of poor people who depended on the money they received knitting items at home.

In the early stages of machine knitting, it was apparent that hand knitters had the advantage over machine knitters because hand knitting could more easily change designs with fashion changes. Also, hand knitters could work anywhere at any time. Machine knitters were confined to work only during the daylight hours and had to be in the spot where their machine was.

When those of us who knit hear the word "machine knitting" we think of using either a hobby knitting machine such as the Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine or a more advanced machine such a Brother or Passap to create knitted items. When discussion of machine knitting versus hand knitting arise, there is always someone who mentions their belief that items knitted on a machine are not hand made. Machine knitters are quick to point out that creating an item with a knitting machine most certainly involves setting up the bed of stitches, manipulating stitches for shaping and finishing the items by hand, thus qualifying their items as hand made.



Loom Knitting: Loom knitting appears to be a newer concept, mostly because of the recent development of brightly colored plastic looms found in craft stores and the versatile patterns available to make with looms. However, loom knitting has been around since before the original knitting machines.

Knitting looms were originally known as peg frames. The earliest mention of the peg frame was in 1535. A peg frame is described as a range of pegs on a fixed base arranged in a row or a ring. Stitches are made by treating each peg as a stitch on the needles. Stitches are knitted by winding the yarn twice around the pegs and lifting the bottom loop over the top loop. Stitches can also be knit on a base with the pegs arranged in rows, also known as a knitting board. This creates a fabric that is double sided.

Knitting has a rich and long history. Knitting is still a very popular craft today with various methods of knitting to match the mood and goals of individual knitters.

Loom Knitting Tips

Loom knitting uses a wood or plastic knitting loom instead of needles to knit fabric from yarn. Knitting looms come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In loom knitting, the yarn is wrapped around the pegs of the loom in a simple weaving technique. Different wrapping techniques result in different stitches and patterns on the fabric.

The pegs on a knitting loom correspond to stitches held on the knitting needles. The gauge of a knitting loom is determined by the distance between the pegs and the size of the pegs. Most knitting looms come with a metal hook or "pick" which is used to grab and pull the yarn over the pegs.

Loom knitting requires less dexterity and causes less strain on the hands than needle knitting. This simplicity makes loom knitting ideal for children and those suffering from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Loom knitting can create flat items, such as a scarf or afghan, and round items, such as a hat or sock.

If you are especially handy, you might consider making your own knitting loom. At simplest, you will need a smoothly sanded wood board, metal nails to create the pegs, a precise ruler and a pencil. You will space the pegs from ½ inch to ¾ inch apart depending on the types of projects you want to make. For specific instructions on how to make a knitting loom, see links below.

Knitting Loom Types



Rake- A rake is simply one line of pegs. You can only do flat knitting on a rake loom, and the fabric will have a right and wrong side. Gauge for rake looms is determined by the distance between pegs.

Round- Unlike a rake, a round loom has no starting or stopping point and can be worked continuously. This stitch continuity is the important distinction for this loom rather than the shape. "Round" looms can actually come in different shapes like triangle, square or oval. Circle looms are often used to make hats. Triangle looms can be used to create triangle-shaped shawls. Gauge for round looms is determined by the distance between pegs.



Afghan Looms- Simple afghan looms can be oval-shaped, while many afghan looms are curved into an S-shape or figure 8 to take up less space. They come in single and double-rake varieties, like knitting boards. Some have an adjustable peg to allow for creating round-tubes on each side of the figure. Small looms allow you to create afghan squares which are sewn together later.

Sock Looms- Sock looms come with a very fine gauge and many are adjustable, allowing you to create different size socks for the whole family.

Knitting Boards- A knitting board is two, connected parallel rakes used to create double knit fabric, or fabric that is finished on both sides. Unlike rake loom knitting with a right (knit) and wrong (purl) knit side, knitting boards create a fabric with the purl sides hidden inside, facing each other. Knitting boards are often adjustable to create different width between the two rakes. The gauge for knitting boards is determined by the distance between pegs AND the distance between the rakes.