Choosing a Bulky Knitting Machine

The first decision to make after deciding on a knitting machine is whether to choose a standard, mid-gauge or bulky knitting machine. Hand knitters don't have to make this choice. A pair of knitting needles is not a major decision to make. The average hand knitter develops a range of needle sizes over the years to handle different weight yarns and a variety of projects.

The purchase of a knitting machine, on the other hand, is quite a major decision. The machine is not only limited as to the size of stitch and the weight of yarn it can handle, it is also limited as to the type of stitches it can produce along with the ease or difficulty of adjusting the needles to change the stitch.

The Decisions

When the time comes to choose your machine, think about the types of projects you want to create on the machine. Then when you look at different knitting machine models, look at what they can do well, what they can do easily and what they can't do at all. Understanding that a single knitting machine can't replace an experienced knitter with a good supply of needles, decide what type of project you like to turn out and then consider the type of project you like but might like to "outsource."

If you are the kind of knitter that makes a lot of fine baby clothes but is beginning to find that the heavy sweaters and afghans are getting to be tough on the hands, you should then go for the bulky knitting machine to take the heavy work "off your hands." You can continue doing the fine baby stuff by hand. If the opposite is true, that your family or friends have a continuing need for baby clothes but you love the feel of the heavy yarns as you watch TV on a winter night, don't get the bulky knitting machine. Get the standard machine and make sure to find a model that can handle a few fancy stitches.

If you do decide to get a bulky knitting machine, consider a machine that can work with a punch card pattern or an electronic version of the same idea. Bulky projects almost always lead to a need for a picture knitted into it. As annoying as it is to follow a detailed pattern for romping deer while hand knitting, it is that much more annoying to stop at the end of each row on a machine and reposition each needle yourself.

Let the punch card do that work and before you know it, your bulky knitting machine will be turning out intarsia sweaters and making decorative afghans that are beautiful and comfortable to the wearer. To make this work, understand what your machine can do and what yarn it can work with.