I made exactly one sweater on it before putting it away for about 25 years. In the younger Sewing Lawyer's usual fashion, the sweater was (a) without any instruction on the use of the knitting machine and (b) multi-coloured. This machine, my friends, is completely and utterly manual. I can hardly believe I did it.
Behold. (Yes, it's rather loud.) I made it from many colours of Regia sock yarn.
Some years later, I found another only slightly less elderly knitting machine at a yard sale. I forget how much I paid but it wasn't more than $20.
Into the closet it went with KNITKING. Until something prompted me to get them both out a few weeks ago.
Here I was on Friday night with my "newer" knitting machine, a Studio SK-303. It's only slightly less manual - it has knobs that select certain needles. I managed to turn out a credible sample by going through the manual. I now have plans to make a much plainer lightweight merino sweater for my husband. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, I finished my hand-knit project.
It's a very luxurious blend of baby llama and mulberry silk. The pattern is Windswept and all details are on Ravelry. It was a pretty fun knit, all things considered. Since it is made top down I was able to weigh how much yarn was left after I had completed the body, so as to confidently make the sleeves as long as possible. I got to 8", which isn't too bad, even using most of my unravelled swatch.Too bad I'll have to pack it away until fall - it's a bit woolly for summer.
Wow, so pretty and the yarn sounds divine Kay.
ReplyDeleteI love it and have considered the idea of a knitting machine -- great job! We have a ton of used machines around Los Angeles!
ReplyDeleteI am impressed! I have a knitting machine, but have not gotten it out to play with it yet. I'm not even sure what kind it is. Though I doubt it is polite royalty like yours. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't feel guilty about one more hobby! Knitting machines are a great pleasure if you learn them step by step. I'm a seamstress myself, but one day the dream for a knitting machine hit me. Once I bought it, there is no way back! Knitted blouses, dresses kept coming into my wardrobe! And so fast! When you get tired of knitting, switch back to sewing.
ReplyDeleteI am the owner of 6 knitting machine and am quite versed on all of them. I've hardly knitted anything since 2009 but lately the urge has been returning. Your post has piqued my urges even more. Maybe I'll have a machine knit garment again soon also. Love your latest hand knit creation.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that knitting machines existed! I cannot knit and have been steadfastly determined never to learn (despite seeing beautiful hand-knit sweaters all over the place online), but this machine thing is intriguing; I may have to look into that. Your hand-knitted sweater is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLovely Windswept! I, too, have a couple old knitting machines. The one I used most is the LK-150, which accepts most handknitting yarn, but I have a standard (fine-gauge) machine, too. Never actually used the latter, even though I've had it for probably 20 years now. Enjoy your new hobby!
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