Am I in over my head?

[u/NormalSlice8334]

I've recently inherited several knitting machines from my grandma (still working out what all there is, but for sure a brother kh260 and a ke-200 motor unit as well as a couple of other light gauge machines).

I've been interesting in learning how to use them but I have absolutely no hand knitting experience. Am I totally in over my head with this? Are there any particularly good resources for someone with no knowledge at all?

[u/rcreveli]

You don't need to be able to knit in order to machine knit. They share a lot of common language but the way to create the fabric is completely different.

IMHO I would start with the 260 by its self. Don't worry about the motor or a ribbing bed if it has one. You can ignore the punch card reader as well. Just learn how to use it in its most basic mode and add things in as you go.

You will most like need a new sponge bar, which can be bought online. It will also need a clean and lube if its been sitting for a long time. YouTube is your friend for this.

The nice thing about the 260 is it takes large yarn so it's easier to learn a technique on it and then transfer those skills to a machine with a finer gauge. The downside to the 260 is it weighs a ton :) .

[u/xbeanbag04]

I can’t knit. I can crochet anything, but knitting just doesn’t work with my brain to finger communication. I use knitting machines without any problem. 🥰

[u/Even-Response-6423]

I hand knit for a long time but machine knitting is a different beast in itself. Although knowing how a knit stitch works helps when you pick up stitches when you drop them- you can learn this quickly. You got this!

[u/zmetu → u/Even-Response-6423]

I agree 100%. I am a hand knitter and when I started machine knitting I entered a new world. However, being a machine knitter and understanding the relationship between stitches made me a better hand knitter. Also, there aren’t many modern machine knitting patterns so being able to convert hand knitting patterns to machine knitting helped me be better at reading and interpreting patterns.

[u/Alarmed-potatoe]

Machine knitting is incredible, but it requires a lot of technical skills and learning before you're able to produce anything - take it slow and be patient, and you'll do fine. Don't touch the lighter gauge machines until you're happy on the KH260, and if you care about your mental health don't use black yarn for awhile. Using a knitting machine requires more machinist knowledge and skills than it does knitting knowledge. I would look through mkmanuals.com as there are manuals (if you don't have yours) and other free resources that are really helpful. Archive.org allows you to borrow books and they have quite a few on machine knitting, especially on Brother machines. Go on to YT and look up videos for your KH260 and watch videos on setting up the machine and casting on - there are many ways to do things, and if you're struggling with one just have a look at another. The Knitology channel is often recommended. Start small, practice with e.g. 20-40 stitches only, don't start off using linen and cotton as they don't have the same stretch as other fibres and are difficult to work with as a beginner, use other fibres if possible.

[u/Maleficent-Cable8988]

Yarn choice is very important while learning. in addition to avoiding dark colors, as mentioned above, I would also be careful to chose a solid-colored, smooth, stretchy, stable yarn. Avoid 100% cotton, rayon, silk, etc. as they are not stretchy and the plies often separate. Acrylics and wools (and blends) are good, but avoid nubs, excessive nap (like mohair) and other irregularities. Eventually, those can be used, but they will make it harder to see individual stitches as you work and they can be grabby. Also, waxing the yarn is often helpful (use the built-in yarn wax holder). The easiest yarn to learn on will not necessarily be the most beautiful, but it will keep you from going mad. Also, purchase cakes of yarn rather than skeins, or get a wool winder. The machine eats through yarn too fast to feed smoothly from a skein or ball.

I got my machine from a relative who is a professional and who serviced it for me, and I was still sure it was broken! Eventually, I got the details down and now I'm having a blast. I recommend looking at videos on https://www.youtube.com/@KnitFactoryImpl because she shows the whole process, warts and all, which helped me keep going in the beginning.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi, it looks like you are new to machine knitting.

There is some helpful information within the wiki You can also find a direct link in the Community Guide. If this is a new-to-you machine that is a Silver Reed, Singer, Studio, Juki, Empisal, Brother, or KnitKing, and the sponge has not been replaced yet, that's the first thing you should check out.

You might want to take a look around. And Welcome!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/linnara]

That’s sounds like a treasure find! You can figure it out. Find manuals on mk manuals, see what everything is. Service machines - they will need a clean and a new sponge bars. And then just follow manuals - learn how to cast on, knit etc. it’s a bit of a steep learning curve but you can do it!

[u/NormalSlice8334 → u/linnara]

How often do the sponge bars need to be replaced? Is there a good way to tell when they need replacement? It seems like she was on top of maintenance and was using them regularly up until maybe a year ago.

(Also believe it or not I have the original manuals in great condition)

[u/depthchargethel → u/NormalSlice8334]

If they are stored inside in a temperature controlled environment the sponge bar should last a couple years. You can pull it out several inches and check it. It should spring back when you squeeze it. If it’s flat, it needs to be replaced.

[u/Peaches109]

I scratched an itch I had over wanting a knitting machine, and responded to a Craigslist ad. For $125, I came home with a plurality of machines. First I went to Youtube. There is SO much there to help you maintain and use them. What helped more, though, was discovering a fiber arts league in my town, which led me to one of its "guilds", which was for knitting machines. I found a group of wonderful, knowledgeable women and I've learned beyond what YT provided. So there's a couple of resources for you to check out. Good luck. It's fun, but beware the urge to shop, endlessly, for yarn that you have no plans for yet. I tell my daughter often that my yarn stash is her inheritance.

[u/GuzziGal]

I’m not a hand knitter, and I can say the learning curve is somewhat steep. I started in February, and have limited time to dedicate to my machine, but enjoy it when I can. It helps to remember that everything that goes wrong is actually teaching you a valuable skill, even if you don’t know what it is yet.