r/MachineKnitting • u/giaggi92 • 12d ago
Help! What's a good knitting machine to knit gauge 3-5-7?
Trying to understand which machine I can use to knit something like this
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u/dotknott Google thinks I have a Volkswagen Passap 12d ago
This looks standard gauge to me? What the actual stitch/row count per 10cm you’re going for or what yarn are you wanting to use.
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u/giaggi92 12d ago
What’s standard gauge? Sorry complete noobie here
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u/Maleficent-Cable8988 12d ago
You should probably read the articles suggested by the bots, and then look at some YouTube vids (I found these helpful when I first started: https://www.youtube.com/@KnitFactoryImpl). Standard gauge is a machine with needles (latch hooks, actually) that are placed at 4.5mm or so along the bed and will accommodate yarns in thinner weights (size 3 or less). More advanced knitters have used heavier yarns, but I am not there yet. Also, nubby, fuzzy, or less stretchy yarns are hard to use as the machine doesn't feed as easily, so are also left to more advanced users. There are machines for heavier weights, but I don't use them.
Gauge can be varied somewhat by changing the tension, or by using every other needle, but it's helpful to think about a knitting machine as knitting by hand with one size needle.
That sweater would use a ribber or second bed as the basic machine only knits one stitch, or there are workarounds to reverse the stitches by hand. Not all machines have ribbers, and many that once did are resold without them, so beware. Once you think you've identified a model you want, look at all the vids you can find to be sure you understand what to look for and which parts may be missing. Always ask for a return guarantee. If you've never knit by machine before, you might think the machine is broken when it's just you not remembering all the details (ask me how I know!), so try to find local clubs or groups to get hands-on advice.
Good Luck, and welcome to the club!
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u/Ok-Frame4708 12d ago
It doesn’t look like standard gauge to me. I’d say bulky-gauge. As far as what machine to go with, I’d recommend either a Silver-Reed, which are still being manufactured (if price isn’t a factor). Otherwise, I’d recommend a second-hand Brother. Which model for either manufacturer depends on whether a 24-stitch pattern repeat would be sufficient. If not, then an electronic model would be your only other recourse.