Knitting machines

Does anyone do machine knitting or know anything about it? I know a machine is expensive, so if I get one it will be a well considered purchase. Where do you get patterns from and is all the wool on those cones?

I did look at one some time ago, but all the patterns I found were horrible old lady things, I'd quite like to be able to design some of my own patterns, but don't know how or if this would work. Theres nowhere nearby that sells them so I can't go and look at them. I don't want to look at them on you-tube either as I just end up annoyed with none of my questions answered.

  • Thank you for your advice. I have plenty of old patterns, so maybe I will add this to my to do list.

  • Lack of computer skills would do for me too and I don't have a printer, I think it's a bit of a swizz to make you have to print off your own patterns, some of the ones I've seen aren't particularly cheap either.

    Changing hand knitting patterns is fairly easy, measure your arm either from the top or bottom of the sleeve depending on what sort of sleeve it is, it would bottom of the arm for a raglan sleeve and top for a simple inset sleeve, then see how many centimeters you'd need to lose, if you needed to lose 4cm, and you were using a 5mm needle then you'd knit 8 rows less for a simple inset square sleeve and 8 less below the arm hole for a raglan, I think

  • I was wondering recently about knitting machines, as I am slow at completing patterns by hand. I also wondered if you could amend patterns for shorter sleeves as shop bought knitted items always have sleeves that are too long.

    1. When I saw your post I googled to see what I could find out. I can see there are places that do patterns and apparently you can convert hand ones. It seems now that if you buy a pattern you get something that you have to print off yourself. Then I saw somewhere that it is more complicated than hand knitting and knowing my lack of IT skills I think it might be too complicated, unless anyone knows otherwise.