Knitting Machine History and Information about knitting machines in a nutshell: Knitting machines (also called knitting frames) were invented in the early 18th century in England during the Industrial Revolution. What started as a simple row of notched pegs to speed up the process of making the knitted loops has developed in the 20th century as a mechanical marvel, with knitting machines capable of producing yards of fabric in just minutes!! A variety of knitting machines are available.

Above is an animated version of a knitting machine. Although it is not shown, the yarn feeds into the knitting machine from a tension mast above the knitting machine. The knitting machine shown is a Brother knitting machine that is about 42 inches long and 10 inches wide, designed to be mounted to a table for home use. Most home knitting machines are approximately this size. Knitting machines are designed to be clamped to a regular table or knitting machine stand. If you have a knitting machine motor, a knitting machine stand is recommended. Most knitting machines are fairly heavy. A study knitting machine table is a good investment.

The knitting machine in the animation is a standard gauge knitting machine, with the 200 needles exactly 4.5mm apart. This distance, or pitch, typically produces stocking stitch fabric on a knitting machine at a gauge of 7 to 8 stitch per inch, and 10 to 12 rows per inch using fingering weight yarn. There are different pitch knitting machines starting from 3.6mm up to 10mm for home use, but the 4.5mm standard gauge knitting machine is by far the most popular gauge of knitting machine. If you want to knit hand knitting yarn on a knitting machine, then the mid-gauge knitting machine and bulky gauge knitting machine will be the knitting machine you will want to select.

Each pass of the carriage is a complete row of knitting (up to 200 stitches). As you can see, using a knitting machine results in a quantum leap in the amount of knitted fabric that can be made! This speeds up your production.

The standard gauge knitting machine can take yarn from industrial lightweight (4000 yards/lb. or finer) normally used on factory knitting machines, up to Double Knitting weight (about 1200 yards/lb.). The bulky gauge typically 9mm and 10mm can take from Sport weight (about 1800 yards/lb.) up to chunky weight (about 500 yards/lb.). Knitting machine gauge or pitch dictates the yarn to be used as well as the knitting machine to select.

Each knitting machine comes with a variety of accessories. Here are a few of them:

1. Ribber - this allows the knitting machine to make purl stitches for ribbing of all sorts. It also allows for double bed knitting (a floatless way of making multicolor fabric) and Fisherman's rib. The ribber is a second set of needles like the main bed.

2. Motor Drive - this allows you to knit without a person having to push the carriage back and forth. The motor attaches to the main bed carriage. It will operate the ribber carriage as well if it is attached to the main bed carriage.

3. Automatic Knitting or Garter Carriage - this is a mechanized carriage that moves back and forth across the knitting machine bed automatically. It's main advantages are that it does not need to be pushed across the knitting, and it makes both knit and purl stitches. However, it is quite slow when compared with the manually pushed knitting carriage. The Garter Carriage is available exclusively for the 4.5 gauge Brother knitting machine.

4. Knitting machine stand - With the exception of the plastic bed knitting machine, knitting machines should have their own table or stand. Our knitting machine stand is a table type. The other stand generally available is a saw horse type. Our stand is extremely sturdy and steady. You won't have to hold it down with your feet when you knit. As you knit, the knitting will not catch on the legs of the stand. Your knees will not hit the cross-bar found on sawhorse stands because our stand has a back brace that is out of the way of your knees. Our stand has a table top that any clamp on style knitting machine will fit including the plastic bed machines. A tray is attached to the back of the stand to store tools, combs, weights and other items. Our universal stand is a wise investment. Passap machines have a special knitting machine stand that they fit onto. You have to use the Passap stand for Passap knitting machines. The RT-63 sawhorse type stand and T600 series table stand are available for Passap machines

Knitting machines come in all price ranges. A simple plastic bed knitting machine capable of stocking stitch and other hand manipulated stitches like cables runs just a few hundred dollars, which a full bed electronic knitting machine with motor and all accessories will be several thousand.

Distinctive Knits carries all major brands of knitting machines, and provides full support and individualized service. Machine knitting is a fun and worthwhile endeavor, whether for hobby or profit. The creative possibilities are endless. The brands we carry come from Brother, Passap, and Artisan . If you want more information, advice about selecting a knitting machine, a dealer, a seminar, repairs, accessories, please contact us by e-mail.

If you have decided a knitting machine is for you, here is what most dealer's offer new customers. The dealer will set up your knitting machine, showing you how it is done so you can assemble your it yourself. Lessons should be included. Up to 8 hours of lessons should be available as part of the package. You probably won't need that much teaching time to learn. However, there is a learning curve. Help with your knitting machine is important. You don't want to damage your knitting machine accidentally. Your dealer is experienced and will help you "get it right" the first time on your new knitting machine. They can also recommend publications, videos (your knitting machine may come with a video) as well as seminars and clubs you could attend.