why you should NEVER buy a knitting machine

Should you ever consider investing in a knitting machine? Let's chat!

Some channels I watch for knitting machine info!
@theanswerladyknits
@RobertaRoseMeads
@KnitFactoryImpl
@Knitology1x1

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-- My Channel --
Engineering knits is a place for people who enjoy all kinds of vintage and antique crafts - from sewing to knitting, crochet to embroidery I like to try it all. I definitely have a preference for historical fibre crafts, and it is my dream to one day make an entire outfit from sheep to sweater. I hope you enjoy watching me and my favorite companion, Nutella, struggle through some fascinating projects!

[JordanLeigh]

The good news for me is I’m too broke to buy knitting machines

[GlitchyFibers]

My partner is a machinist if you are interested in specialized parts. He gets it because I have many flat and csm machines

[omaeve]

I took lessons on the knitting machine at my local yarn shop for three months Christmas morning my husband carried in a very big heavy package for my Christmas present. He bought me knitting machine, knitted sweaters for every single member in my family when we went home to visit them for Christmas. I sewed the sleeves in and finished it all3000 miles from the West Coast to the East Coast

[raycreveling]

I have six flatbed machines and I feel attacked!
No frustration is greater than having a huge panel of double bed jacquard falling off the bed.

[kristenpeters]

Your warning is similar to the one I give people buying their first vintage sewing machine. We’ve lost so many features that used to be standard, that when you first use them, you realize in some ways they’re much better than what we have today. And then they somehow start jumping into your car & multiplying 😂

[DanLizotte]

A while ago I borrowed a rigid heddle loom from a friend for stashbusting and now I own a 45" wide vintage counterbalance floor loom. I feel like this video is documents the alternate reality where she loans me an addi instead.

[janehealy]

I can't afford to even think about buying a knitting machine 😂
But, lucky for me I am subscribed to your channel, so I can vicariously go through all of the joy and pain with you! Thanks so much for allowing me to do that ❤️😘

[TheSubtleCow]

My late mum had a knitting machine which disappeared after she passed. It warms my heart to imagine her machine with someone who cares about them like you do!

[vulffwardgarr]

In the past I DID own two flat-bed knitting machines, like you, one to work heavier/thicker yarns, and one to work lace weight/thinner yarns. However in your 4th reason to get a machine, you illuminated the reason I discovered NOT to own one. I went through my yarn so quickly that a leisurely week machine knitting would be followed by weeks or even months when I had nothing to knit. I simply ran out of yarn budget! Now I hand-knit nearly everything as it keeps pace with how often/ how much yarn I can purchase at any one time. I do have a Sentro rotary machine on backup, just in case I need a quick simple gift for family and friends, but not a whole lot of time to execute it. Thank you for all your thoughtful and entertaining videos!

[martalewinski]

Thanks to your Videos, I decided to buy a used brother doublebed knitting machine in pristine condition. The owner was an old Lady who passed away. She was a machine knitter for her whole life. I got a lot of accessories, additional needles and even step-by-step books, I've never heard of before.
I love to explore the machine and it makes me ridicoulously happy to see this ingenious piece of human brainwork produce fabric and knitted items.
Two years ago, I found - probably it found me - an pattern book from 197, for machine knitters on my holidays in Poland. Was waiting there for me in a second hand book shop. It's in polish and I have some struggle to translate some of the terms, but my goal is, to work through some of the patterns I really like.
Your Videos keep me motivated ❤ I enjoy them so so much. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Marta from Germany.

[melimsah]

xD I have enough hobbies, I already knew I wouldn't be buying a knitting machine. Helps seeing folks like you struggling with your knitting machine lol.

[hannahv]

Crafting is a delightful slippery slope. I starting knitting when I was little, Mum taught me English style and I tried again in my 20's but it didn't stick. Then in my early 30's I picked up Crochet, it's all thanks to YouTube, honestly it's an amazing resource for visual learners like me.
I started knitting again because I like the stockinette fabric for garments a couple of years ago, this time learning continental knitting from YouTube. Now I'm making socks and colourwork. I've been watching weaving, sowing and embroidery allot lately too and am comtemplating some courses to get me started. But now the knitting machines have me intrigued

[KristenPeacock]

I inherited one! My uncle was moving, and he had been holding onto my great grandma's knitting machine. He didn't have the room for it, so he asked if I'd want it (uhm YEAH!). I'm scared to use it because it is OLD. It's a Brother El Dorado 85 (I believe that's the number), and it's monstrously huge and in immaculate condition. I'm a being made of pure chaos, so I'm scared I'll break it! I want to bust it out one of these days, and I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel! I hope to learn a lot!

[morganunraveled]

love your videos!! as a candlemaker watching your q&a section, I wanted to say if you decide to start waxing your yarn please look into natural waxes - not paraffin! try soy wax or beeswax if they are compatible with the fibers you are using. paraffin wax is cheaper and most commonly used for coating literally everything, is the wax in the majority of store bought candles - even if they say “soy blend” they usually are still primarily paraffin and can cause a lot of health concerns overtime. even present in many foods. it’s not good stuff. but feel free to do you own research and do what works best for you! highly recommend a natural wax like soy or beeswax! and when you are shopping candles look for pure or 100% natural wax labels!

[JaimeRL]

Yes to a Nutella Regency dress video!! She’s such a gorgeous, good girl. I would love to see a video devoted her ❤

[moonbasket]

I would love a Nutella video and I love the new Q&A segment at the end. I'm so glad you've found a way to interact with the comments that feels safe for you. Safety and accommodations are so important.❤

[Ella-ivfk]

I only started learning to knit last winter and found my first proper pattern so confusing it put me off so I'm extremely unlikely to ever get knitting machines.
I appreciate you answering questions at the end of videos and explaining why you don't reply to comments, sometimes it feels a bit like typing into the void commenting on videos

[cassmacdonald-perfectlyimp]

I was on the Sirdar website the other day and, if memory serves, they’ve got some 1950#s machine knitting patterns. I was also looking on Ravelry and apparently there’s a whole load of vintage knitting patterns from Australian magazines on a site called Trove, but you need to know where to look for it. I bought a book which provides instructions on sizing up vintage patterns and also making modern patterns more vintage looking. I own the Jane Waller/Susan Crawford books too, so using them as a base to size up vintage patterns seems like a good plan too!

The only argument I can see for cannibalising other old vintage machines would be if they had so much wrong with them they were beyond repair completely, but I totally get your point and I hope that those in the comments can help source some of the metalwork

[angelinacrafts]

A fellow knitter had been fixing up a beginner flat bed machine and now it has landed in my lap. Due to your videos I knew all about and how to change the sponge bar (the only item left to fix up) and now I am excited to give it a go.

[kjtherrick]

It's a joy to watch your adventures on your vintage knitting machines, but I have neither the space nor the engineering background your have to own, store, use, and repair my own. I completely appreciate your review of the pros and cons that help me to cement this choice!