Knitting Machines?

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Knitting Machines?
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sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 5:42 am Post subject: Knitting Machines?

I'm toying with the idea of buying a cheap second hand knitting machine to help me wade through my current job lot of wool and churn out a few thingymas presents. Although I had a go on one about 20 years ago, I havent used one since. Any machine knitters here? Can anyone offer a few pointers when I go round teh charity shops and car boot sales looking for one. Ideally I want something compact (so I can stuff it under the bed when I've finished) and able to deal with both 4ply and aran if that is even possible on teh same machine (if not- how do I tell what its set up for??)
any hints at all...

Miss BunnyKiller

Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 52
Location: Brixham, Devon

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 3:16 pm Post subject:
looking forward to seeing the replies on this. i have been looking at them the last couple of weeks, but they look quite confusing. but like you sally im not sure what i should look out for.

culpepper

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 3:28 pm Post subject:

I've got an ISM (Incredible sweater machine) also called the bond sweater machine I think,which is collapsible.
It takes 4 ply and DK and I think can handle chunky too.
It has jigs which you fit into the handle to change tension instead of dials and the wool just sits behind the machine on the table or floor.
Very simple to use,mine came with a video which was just as well as the instructions were in german.
My sister has just bought one the same from ebay so they are still available.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 4:04 pm Post subject:
Just had a look on ebay and see several Bond Classics- are those the right ones?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 4:17 pm Post subject:
Further to that, have spotted one in an ad elsewhere- it says 'offers'- how much might I expect to pay for one of these??

culpepper

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 4:48 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the bond classic might be it. If you google for Incredible Sweater machine you should find some sites with pictures so you could compare.
This one https://www.bond-america.com/products/usm.html looks like the same thing although I think it is probably a newer version than mine.

I paid £5 for mine in a charity shop but I think I was very lucky!
I think my sister paid about £20 for hers.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 4:50 pm Post subject:
Sounds like my price range

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 8:19 pm Post subject:
It's a lovely machine Sally, easy to use and very quick to master. I made my first ever sweater on a simple Bond. You can also use chunky wool on the bond - remember a lot of the twin bed machines can only take very fine wool. I've had a Singer twin bed and a Singer chunky simple for 6 years and I knit about 20 kilos of wool up every year. HWH

Goxhill

Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 245
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 10:19 pm Post subject:
I'm not sure whether I've still got mine - one of the older generation, same as its owner. Otherwise you would have been welcome to have it, although there's a fair distance between us!

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 9:24 am Post subject:
Can you make socks on the Bond Classics?

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 12:36 pm Post subject:
Yes Stacey, The pattern I've put in here can be used for the Bond. You can't do circular knitting though. If anybody needs them, (say if you buy a 2nd hand Bond) I've the instuctions for the bond which I can send by e-mail. HWH

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 2:58 pm Post subject:

hardworkinghippy wrote:

You can't do circular knitting though.

HWH

Does that mean you have to sew them together?

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 3:20 pm Post subject:

Yep.

But, it also means that you can make the soles or just the toes and heels with a thicker or different yarn.

For me the perfect sock has to be beautiful, warm, made from natural fibres, easy to get on and off, hug the form of the foot, not slide down in wellies, and be able to be worn for several days without feeling yucky.

In my search to make the perfect sock, I decided that the flat bed method was the best because socks knitted with a simple circular machine are very difficult to reinforce where you need them strong.

I've used about eight different sock machines and I just can't get the right combination of comfort and strength using them - they're great for acrylics and wool mixes, but bodies - especially my feet, and acrylic just don't mix.

It only takes a few minutes to sew up the socks, and it's quite romantic doing it sitting by the fire in the evening.

HWH

Stacey

Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 4:05 pm Post subject:
Sorry HWH - it's like 20 questions Do they cope with handspun yarn? I'm looking for something that would let me churn out a few pairs of socks from my handspun as it wouldn't be cost effective to handknit them and handspin them. Sewing them up isn't a problem, I was just wondering if it was a very visible seam. I supose it would depend on my sewing skills

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 05 5:31 pm Post subject:
Stacey, I've knitted handspun on the Bond, it's wonderful for uneven yarn because the needles are so big. But, for socks to last (for wearing in boots & wellies) the yarn must be really tightly spun. To sew them up, as long as you pick up a stitch at the end of each row and join it with the other side, you can't go wrong. HWH

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