Wicked Woollies

beginners guide to machine knitting

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Machine Knitting: Increasing - 2 ways

This post shows two ways to increase; a fast quick method and a slower fashioned method that creates a straighter prettier edge.

Knitting garments usually involves shaping and that means you will need to increase or decrease stitches. In hand knitting is easy to increase and decrease stitches across the row but in machine knitting it is really only possible at the ends of the row. If you need to increase multiple stitches then this is basically casting on and you can cast on stitches at the carriage edge using whatever…

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Shaping: Increasing

Garments usually involve shaping and in this post I discuss how to do a simple increase or fashioned increases. To increase multiple stitches you need to do an e-wrap casto-on.

Unless you are knitting a square or rectangle (e.g. scarf, blanket etc) you will need to incorporate some form of shaping. This will be in the form of increasing stitches to make a shape larger in width (e.g. arms of sleeves) or decreasing stitches to make a shape smaller in width (e.g. necklines and tops of sleeves) You can also use the method of short rows to add or shorten parts of knitting…

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Creating a Two-Toned Effect

After admiring a two-toned effect jumper I set out trying to reproduce the same effect. I had to try 6 different methods before finally I had something that I liked. It was a good experiment.

Recently I saw a jumper that I liked and I wanted to try and create a similar two-toned effect. The knitter said that they had just used two colours together in the machine so I wondered if I could create a similar effect. two-toned jumper I have lots of thin industrial yarn, some 2/30 and some 2/28. Two strands of 2/30 can make a fine 3 ply and 3 strands can make a 4 ply. Two strands of 2/28…

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Casting On: Using Cast-on Rag and Ravel Cord

This post explains how to use a cast-on rag with ravel cord to create both an open loop cast-on (good for folded hems) and a closed loop cast-on (e-wrap or latch tool).

In the previous cast-on methods, you need to knit a few rows before you can add weights, otherwise they can damage your knitting carriage. This can be difficult when you are knitting a textured pattern such as tuck or slip stitch, or when you are doing lacework. A great solution is to use a cast-on rag before you start knitting. You can hang weights onto your rag. To separate the rag from your…

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Making a Cast-on Rag

This post shows you how to make a cast-on rag that enables you to cast on with weights. The rag can also be used to protect your garment when partial knitting.

What is a cast-on rag? A cast-on rag is a long thin piece of knitting which has loops on one edge that you hang onto your needles. You can then hang weights on this rag. A cast-on rag is used with ravel cord. After hanging the rag, you knit 1 row stocking stitch with ravel cord. Then you can start your knitting either plain or patterned. When you have finished your knitting and have removed the…

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Casting off: Using a Transfer Tool (before/behind sinker posts)

You can use the single-pronged transfer tool to cast off in two ways: in front of or behind the sinker posts (gate pegs). The first is quick and easy, the second gives a better finish.

There are two methods for casting off using a transfer tool.

The first method is the usual way for decreasing stitches and is carried out in front of the sinker posts (also known as gate pegs). You many find this being described in your operation manual. It is a quick and easy method of casting off, but can be difficult to make even.

The second method is a bit more difficult as it occurs

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Casting On: E-wrap

An e-wrap cast on is a very easy and quick method that can produce a nice closed edge. Needs a bit of practice to get it even, but you can make it looser if you want a stretchier edge.

One of the most common ways to cast on is called an E-wrap cast on. This cast on method gives a nice even edge

It is a simple cast on method where the knitter winds the yarn around the needles. By winding loosely, tightly or somewhere in between you have some control over the tightness of the finished edge. If you have a garment that needs to stretch then you can do a loose wrap.

The…

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Got my Knitting Machine...Now what do I do?

When you first get your machine, unless it is new or newly refurbished, you need to carry out a number of checks to make sure that your machine will work. Find out what to do in this post.

Your knitting machine has just arrived. Congratulations. This is the start of a wonderful new hobby.

Carefully unpack your machine. Hopefully it has arrived safely and everything is as it should be.

You will probably be excited to start knitting straight away but it is best to check that everything is working or else you may cause damage to your machine.

There are a few important…

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Setting up Your Knitting Area

It is a good idea to create a wonderful knitting workspace for your new knitting machine to ensure successful knitting. You will need a table and chair, good lighting, space for tools, yarns, accessories and patterns.

You have decided to try machine knitting and have successfully found your machine. This might be new, refurbished or second-hand or given to you. In order to get the best out of your machine I strongly suggest that you get your knitting area ready for the machine’s arrival.

The following post gives information on all the things that you might want in your working area to make your new hobby…

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Casting Off: Using a Tappet Tool

If you are able to increase the stitch dial by 2* or more then you can cast off using a tappet tool. This gives a nice even chain effect edge.

You can use a tappet tool to give a nice chained edge to your knitting. The tappet tool should come with your knitting machine or you can purchase one online. They come in different sizes matching the gauge of your knitting machine.

You can only do this method if you can increase your stitch dial 2 or 3 numbers higher. You also need to be careful not to drop a stitch or your knitting may…

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Casting On: Using a Tappet Tool

The tappet tool can be used to create a nice crochet chained cast on edge for your machine knitting. This post shows you how to do it.

Casting on with a tappet tool is often called a crochet cast on (although no crochet hook is used). The tappet tool is also known as a latch tool, so you may find this cast on method sometimes called latch tool cast on.

The tappet tool comes in four different sizes corresponding to your machine; fine gauge, standard gauge, mid-gauge and chunky.

The tappet tool is one of the tools that…

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Casting Off: Using Darning/Tapestry Needle

You can cast off your knitting using a darning or tapestry needle. Method 1 uses a quick running stitch which is good for swatches although a the edge is a little uneven. Method 2 uses a back stitch which is slower but gives a neater finish.

This is a quick and easy way of casting off (also known as binding off). Method 1 is quick and gives a loose edge that can be gathered. Method 2 takes longer but gives a nice firmer edge..

Method 1

I use this method when making swatches and tension squares.

Pro: The method is quick and easy. You can stretch or draw up your hem to the size you want. Good for pieces of a garment that…

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Review of 5 low-priced manual wool winders

Wool winders are an important tool for machine knitters of fine industrial yarn. I have acquired five wool winders of the past couple of years. I thought it was time to compare and report on their performance for knitting with fine yarn.

A wool or yarn winder is a very useful piece of equipment for machine knitters that want to knit with more than strand of yarn or for rewinding yarn from a ball or skein into a ‘cake’ . I give more information about using wool winders in my previous post.

Over the past couple of years, I have managed to acquire 5 wool winders, two are second-hand and three were bought new. They all cost me…

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Twisting Stacks for machine knitting with fine yarn

If you are machine knitting with fine yarn a twisting stack that enables you to loosely twist up 2 or 3 strands of yarn is a very useful item to buy or make.

If you are knitting with yarn that is too fine for your type of knitting machine then do not despair, you can still knit with it. What you have to do is use two or more strands together as mentioned in the previous post. You can do this by buying two cones of yarn or by using a wool winder to wind off some of your yarn onto a new ‘hat’.

two strands apart

It is possible to knit with two…

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Machine Knitting with Fine Yarn (winders & home-made hats)

You can knit with fine yarn by using more than one strand together. Wool winders and twisting stacks can make this easier to do. Home-made hats can make this less expensive.

Fine yarn is usually considered a thin yarn such as 1 ply (cobweb or lace-weight yarns). For fine gauge machines you can knit with 1 ply if you use a fine knit bar. For standard gauge machine, 2 ply is the finest yarn you can knit with if you use a fine knit bar. You may also find that you do not have enough needles to create a large garment on a standard gauge machine (the fine gauge machine has…

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Lidl (shoe) Yarn Organiser!

I bought a cheap Lidl shoe carousel from my local store and then successfully used it to store coned yarn from my stash. A yarnaholic always needs good yarn organisation ideas.

Yes it is a lid shoe carousel, but I discovered, on Facebook, that you could use it as a yarn organiser. I was intrigued and when I found one in my local store, I thought I would give it a try. You will have discovered, in a previous post, (here) that I am a yarnaholic and my practice yarn has got out of hand and needs some organisation.

Box Contents

I could not visualise how something…

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Coned Yarn on Sale! I succumbed!

Happiness is getting new yarn at sale prices. I am ready for any second wave. I have LOTS of yarn to knit with.

If you have read my previous post, you will know that I am a yarnaholic and love being surrounded by yarns of different colours. Every now and then (well all the time!) I get the urge to acquire more yarn. However, as I am on a tight budget I need to curb my urges. Unless I find yarn at sale prices! Happiness for me is coned yarn on sale!!

Well, I found yarn at sale prices and, as hard…

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