What? A machine to do the knitting for you? That sounds pretty darned cool -- you could pick your yarn, colors & style and let the machine make it for you...! I had never heard of that, but I googled it and found this article that may be helpful if no one else responds.

Here is a link that might be useful: info on knitting machines

They used to be very popular ten or fifteen years ago Walmart even sold them. I always wanted to try one. I think threading the machine is the only problem you'd have until you got used to it. this link has a photo of a similar one they used to sell. You might try Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I think I saw one in there recently about $100

Here is a link that might be useful: Bond America® / Ultimate Sweater Machine®

Red, this is something I looked into a few years back because I HATE the slowness of knitting & can only do 1 stitch, but LOVE the look. I can crochet fast, but prefer the look & feel of knitting.

You'll want one that you can buy extenders for. Cuz once you get started, you'll probably want to make bigger projects. :) I'm sure it's addicting.

I ended up not buying one because I didn't have $$$ to invest in another craft machine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Yarn Store

I do a bit of both and actually looked into getting a machine several years ago. I found the less expensive machines just didn't do well at all and even the demonstrator spent far too much time fixing missed stitches and tangles. I just couldn't afford the more expensive machines which seemed to work only marginally better. Just wasn't worth it to me, rather be sewing.

beverly

Red, I was passing thru and wanted to just mention something. My mom had a REALLY nice knitting machine, but not the automatic one, meaning you had to manually push the carriage back and forth. I tried it, but with my carpal tunnel, it killed me! I know you have problems with your arms too and didn't want you to invest in something you might not be able to use!
Lisa

Red

I used to have a Knitmaster and a Bond knitting machine. With the knitmaster I generally used 4 ply or finer wools, double knitting wool was a bit on the thick side on that machine. The Bond was a cheaper type of knitting machine but it knit the chunkier wools. On both of these machines I had to push the carriage by hand, I found them quite easy to use but it was a very long time ago. I had these when my daughter was a baby and she's 41 next month. I've no idea what the present day machines are like. There are some gorgeous wools in the shops right now and occasionally I'm tempted into buying some but I knit it by hand. I gave the machines away years ago.

Thanks everyone Minnie and Marian that was the one we were looking at! I just wondered putting the pieces together wouldn't you need to know how to Knit or crochet? example making the sweater adding the arms??????????
Red

Red

I used to knit a lot at one time and following patterns, sewing up etc just came easily because I was used to doing it. For a non-knitter, I feel you would need to understand how to read knitting patterns and to be able to sew them up correctly. I've seen people knit beautifully and then ruin it all by throwing it together. There are machine knitting books with patterns although you can follow most hand knitting patterns.

I don't think knitting machines are the "in-thing" at the moment and perhaps you could pick up a cheap used one or see if you can have a demo at a shop, get them to demonstrate it to you and have a try on one to see if it's what you really want from it.

I had a simple Brother knitting machine years ago. It required me to move the carriage by hand. It was capable of making a number of fancy stitches, but I used it almost exclusively for doing the plain-knitted parts of sweaters, while I knitted the cuffs and any other K1P1 or K2P2 parts by hand. That way the whole thing gave the impression of being hand knit.

As for Fair Isle patterns or any fancy stitches done in one color, I enjoyed doing them by hand much more than on the machine. There is something restful about hand knitting.
I kind of regret that where we live now there isn't much use for heavy sweaters.

You might want to check out ebay and see if they have any just for pricing

Well I checked on ebay tonight and for not being "in-thing"
sorry Marian hehehe they are selling like hot cakes..LOL
Since our library closed for the summer LOL I can't even check to see if they have any books on the subject so I have been searching the net...........Thanks Marian I never thought about how to read knitting patterns which I don't know how to do..........but my son thinks I am "smart" LoL
I told him I have no experience in knitting or crocheting but he said you had no experience in quilting or embroidery and look what you can do now all self taught...he really is trying to "butter me up" LOL....
I have been looking at a lot of different brands and some are no longer made so buying a used one may be hard to find parts.....for me this is like looking for a needle in a haystack since I never did this craft!
Red

Well I spent some time on the phone asking queations
about machine knitting I sure hope this poor women I talked to had her morning coffee before she talked to me LOL..I had a list of things I asked her...she was very helpful and really answered all of my questions............she even put my fears to rest so that is saying a lot.........

Red

Well Mary, I must be the one that's out of date hehehe. I've seen a few fashions returning over and over again.

I fully agree with your son, you would make it your business to master it and he knows you better than we do and he knows you can do it. If I cast my mind back I made plenty of errors but you learn a lot from those mistakes. I had a ribbing carriage with the Knitmaster and it made perfect ribs. If there isn't a ribbing carriage you set it up on every other stitch/needle and make the rib twice as long as needed and then you double it up and fasten it onto the alternate needles and that's an alternative rib - hope this doesn't sound like a foreign language.

Okay I did it I bought the Bond America® / Ultimate Sweater Machine I bought mine Brand new in the box off ebay
I also ordered a a DVD from Knit world made for this machine Making your First Sweater DVD and 2 claw weights
kinda excited about doing this.
Red

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

Let us know how you like it and don't forget pictures along every step of the way!!

I agree, lots of pictures ! I could never understand how those machines worked..I can crochet but I never could knit,every time I tried it looked like a little tube! I just gave up!

Good for you Red, it looks very modern and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with it too.