Knitting is a favorite needlework of many women. Someone is engaged in the manufacture of only small things - socks, mittens, scarves. Other craftswomen go further and make sweaters, skirts or dresses to order. To facilitate their work, such women should definitely buy a knitting machine and learn how to use it.
Today, there are various models of such equipment on sale that differ in functionality, device, degree of equipment, etc. In principle, a device such as a knitting machine is not too complicated to use. For beginner needlewomen, almost any model is suitable. But it is better, of course, to try your hand at equipment that has the simplest design.
Types of Knitting Machines
In the modern market, only two main types of such equipment are offered: industrial and intended for domestic use. All machines used at home are flat knitting. At the same time, they can differ:
By the number of needle beds. For knitting things can be used single-contour and two-contour machines.
By grades. Each model is designed for a specific range of yarn thickness.
By type of management. Distinguish between ordinary mechanical machines, punch cards and computer.
Single-circuit machines: design features
A typical representative of this type of equipment is the domestic Neva-5 model familiar to almost all experienced needlewomen. This knitting machine for beginner needlewomen is best suited. The design of this device is very simple. The machine kit includes:
Thread guides and thread guides.
The carriage, which is responsible, in fact, for knitting.
Row counter.
Metal needles with reeds.
Rail plates on which the carriage walks.
A single-loop machine can be fixed on any table with the help of special screws.
Single-circuit machines: principle of operation
This option for a beginner needlewoman will be just perfect. Single-loop machines can be used for all basic types of knitting. Learning to work on such equipment is not difficult. The technique of manufacturing products using single-loop machines consists in approximately the following:
With the help of a special ruler, the required number of needles is advanced.
The yarn is not too tight on them (otherwise the carriage may tear it).
Using a special screw, the required density of knitting is set (depending on the thickness of the yarn).
The carriage levers are in working position.
The first row is knitted.
In order to prevent the loops from jumping off the needles during further work, a pull comb is suspended on them (not in all models).
If you just slide the carriage left / right, you get the usual surface. To knit an openwork thing, you need to use a special tool, a decker, to re-hang according to the pattern pattern of the loop from one needle to another.
What single-loop model is worth buying
Neva-5 is a very easy-to-use knitting machine. For beginners, in addition to this popular model, “Severyanka” is also a good fit. Unfortunately, at present the production of knitting machines in our country is completely discontinued. Therefore, you can buy a domestic model, including the Neva-5 or Severyanka, only by hand. Those needlewomen who prefer new equipment should take a closer look at imported single-loop models Toyota or Silver. Knitters also enjoy a good reputation with Brother equipment.
The advantages of double-circuit machines
Using a model with two needle beds allows you to knit better things. The fact is that on a single-loop device, only flat parts can be manufactured. Sleeves and sides at the end of knitting have to be connected using a sewing machine. In addition, products manufactured on such equipment have both a face and a wrong side. So, on the reverse side of things associated with the use of threads of several colors, ugly broaches remain. Such products will not be particularly comfortable to wear. Putting on, for example, an ornamented sweater, the broach can be easily hooked and pulled out. An ugly dent is formed on the front side. It will not work to knit gum on such a machine (only snag).
Dual-circuit models are devoid of all these shortcomings. Knitting on a knitting machine for beginner needlewomen in this case will be more difficult, since there are two needle beds in devices of this variety. However, having adapted to such a model, it is possible to make things in which both sides look like faces. Also, with the use of a two-loop machine, rubber bands are knitted. The procedure in this case will be quite lengthy, and many operations will have to be performed manually. However, the gum associated with the machine is much more even and high quality than those made using knitting needles.
The best models of double-circuit machines
Structurally, such equipment differs from single-loop equipment only in that it has a special prefix that allows circular knitting. If desired, such an addition can be purchased to all brands of knitting machines discussed above, with the exception of the Severyanka and Toyota models.
Knitting Machine Classes
Of course, before buying a knitting machine, it is worth deciding on what exactly it is needed for. The fact is that different models are designed to work with yarn of various thicknesses. If you want to knit only socks, mittens and thick sweaters, you should buy a third-class machine. Such models are designed to work with yarn 100-200 meters / 100 grams. These machines can take such a thick thread due to the fact that their needles are located far enough from each other.
Class 5 models are designed to make both fairly thick and thin things (300-500 meters / 100 grams). Such a knitting machine for beginner needlewomen is best suited. With its use it will be possible to produce both mittens or socks, and sweaters or scarves. For example, the same Neva-5 belongs to this group.
Class 7 machines are designed for the manufacture of only very thin items from 500-600 meters / 100 grams of yarn.
What is a punch card model?
Today, there is also quite convenient equipment in use that can be used to make very beautiful products with patterns. A punched card model is also a good answer to the question of which knitting machine to choose for beginner needlewomen. In a device of this type, the selection of needles is performed using special cards with holes, the location of which corresponds to the pattern. In addition to the basic elements, the design of models of this variety includes a special device - a puncher, into which the card is inserted.
Computer machines
Equipment running on a PC is, of course, the most expensive and convenient variety. Needles are controlled in such machines using not a punch card, but special software installed on a home computer. The convenience of electronic models lies in the fact that it is possible to knit a variety of patterns on them without limiting loops and along given contours.
Reviews about the Neva-5 and Severyanka models
Cars of these brands, as already mentioned, are perhaps the most popular in the territory of the former USSR. The start of knitting on the Neva-5 and Severyanka knitting machines will certainly be successful. Reviews about these models are mostly only positive. When using threads of permissible thickness, devices of these brands work like clockwork and allow knitting even smooth things. Many craftswomen believe that the Neva-5 is a little more convenient than the Severyanka. However, everything, of course, is very subjective. Someone still likes the "Severyanka."
The absolute advantage of the Neva-5 model is only that in addition to it you can buy a prefix for circular knitting. This device is called "Ladoga". In general, this is just the perfect knitting machine for beginners - Neva-5. Having mastered it, later you can buy a prefix and continue to train on the manufacture of already more beautiful and high-quality things.
Reviews about cars "Silver" and "Brother"
These brands of cars domestic needlewomen are also very praised. The length of both models is slightly less than that of the Neva-5. However, they can be knitted quite wide (up to 95 cm) and at the same time quality things. The technique of working on this equipment is similar to the technique for manufacturing products on Neva-5 models.
Knitting machine for beginners: what you can do with your own hands
You can use this type of equipment for the manufacture of a variety of things. In addition to socks, mittens, sweaters and scarves, on a typewriter you can knit, for example, children's tights, dresses and hats. Sometimes such equipment is used for the manufacture of more complex original things. It can be, for example:
Handbags
slippers;
frills and ruffles;
voluminous flowers;
beautiful belts;
openwork tops, etc.
How to start knitting on a knitting machine? Of course, the simplest products should be the first. It is best to try your hand for the first time on a regular scarf tied with a stitch. You can decorate it later with a hook. The number of rows, as with manual knitting, in this case is determined by the required scarf length. How many times the carriage went through the needles will show the counter available in each model. The required number of loops is also not too difficult to determine. To do this, you should knit a small sample on the typewriter, calculate the number of loops in a centimeter and multiply the resulting figure by the required scarf width.
So, hopefully, we answered the main question of the article - which knitting machine is better for beginners. The most suitable options are Neva-5 or Severyanka. But you can learn to knit on machines of a more complex design - double-contour, perforated or computer. The main thing is to show a little patience and perseverance. And then everything will surely work out.