Knitting Machines
Knitting Machine Workshop
3-Part Knitting Machine Workshop Materials Fee: $26
Text: Hand-Manipulated Stitches for Machine Knitters by Susan Guagliumi
Pre-Class Homework
Guagliumi, Ch. 1 pages 1-19.
Class 1 Syllabus
Class 1 Homework
- Read Guagliumi.
- Review Ch. 1.
- Read Ch. 2 on casting-on and binding off, pages 33-36, 44-48. We will do e-wrap cast-on (p 36) and back-stitch bind off (p 48) next class.
- Knit two tension swatches.
- Review the manual before using the machine. Please follow each step in the manual until you have the process memorized.
- KH930 (standard) section on basic knitting, casting on. pdf pages 20-23
- KH230 (chunky) section on threading machine, basic knitting. pdf pages 9-13
- Recommended reading: Brother Knitting Machine Techniques Book. Section on knitting a tension gauge. Pages 72-73. Download here.
Copies of the manuals are available at the space. You can also download the pdf's
Class 2 Syllabus
Measuring tension swatches
Review Guagliumi's charts on page 7 & 8: formation of tuck stitch and slip stitch. Swatch 1: Slip Stitch & Fairisle
Swatch 2: Tuck stitch
Swatch 3: casting on/off
- E wrap cast on
- increasing stitches
- decreasing stitches
- Ravel cord cast off, back stitch bind off.
Class 2 Homework
- Knit two tension swatches.
- Create or find a 2-color image for fairisle knitting: 40 to 60 pixels wide, and about as many pixels high. You may want to keep in mind how long the floats will be. Longer than 5 stitches can be tricky. File format: 1 bit b/w bitmap is ideal.
Reading Homework:
- Read Guagliumi 49 - 53 on holding stitches. (Suggested additional reading 54-81.)
- The KH-930 Manual
- Loading patterns: Pdf pages 38 – 41.
- Programming your own patterns, Knitting Patterns: Pdf pages 83 —87. (Suggested reading: Variation Keys 47-56)
Don't worry about the section about the divided neckline on page 4.
If you have a Mac, I suggest installing the software and walking through it per the instructions. FYI, the sequence of button presses is the same as the sequence described in the Brother manual on page 3.
Class 3 Syllabus
Img2Track fairisle. Holding and shaping stitches.
Class 3 Homework
- Produce a knitted swatch using the img2track software for patterning. Bind off the stitches. Due within 2 weeks of Class 3.
Useful Links
Chart to determine tension dial setting.
Diana Sullivan's Video Tutorials the "Diana Natters On" series.
Order your own weights.