KnitKing 4000 / KnitMaster 4500-esque

My new-to-me knitting machine has arrived! It's a KnitKing 4000 (at least that's what my research suggests), which is very similar to a Knitmaster 4500. It's the perfect machine for intarsia knitting. I simply lay the yarn across the needle hooks and slide the carriage across the bed. Changing colors is as easy as grabbing a yarn end. It's that simple and I love it.

Here's a sample I did about a day after receiving he machine:



The machine came with some great tools too. Having two of each triple and double transfer tools make for easy cable knitting.



Multiple transfer tools: this one capable of handling 33 stitches! The other is an adjustable needle pusher capable of pushing up to 33 needles in any configuration.



And finally, the piece de resistance! A Knittax pattern cam that slides across the needle bed to select needles for patterning. It came with a set of 4 cams ( one is loaded inside):





Although the machine did arrive with some damage and the incorrect needles (which I repaired and the seller rectified) I'm delighted with this new machine.

CSM Traveller Workcase - have CSM will travel!

I've had been looking for an easy way to travel to and from events with at least one of my very heavy, antique Circular Sock Knitting Machines. After purchasing my favorite CSM, a 1914 Gearhart from a seller on eBay, I decided to check out the link to her business site - The Appalachian Sock Company. This is where I first caught site of the CSM Traveller Workcase.
Each case is handcrafted from solid wood and built to your brand specific machine (i.e. the wood machine base for a Gearhart CSM will be slightly different from that of a Legare CSM).

Not only can my fully assembled Gearhart fit inside its CSM Traveller, but it comes out easily, still attached to the wood machine base, then securely fastens to the workstation with no screws to turn - just slide the base onto the workstation and slide the bolt into place. Done! Now, not only do I have a great way to securely travel with my CSM, but I no longer need to bring a table or stool to clamp my CSM onto. The CSM Traveller does it all, and in a nice neat little workcase that is very portable and extremely light for an all wood item.

Thanks Kim and Greg!

CSM Eye Candy

I put together a small slideshow of some of my CSMs for someone on Ravelry who's conducting a CSM survey. I figured I'd share it with you all :)

As Promised...

Ok, so as I mentioned, I spent most of my Friday night practicing CSM sock patterns from Jenny Deter's book, "Unique Fancy Sock Patterns". Here's a pic of my practice tube. Can you make out the patterns? A Heart, Candy Canes, Diamond, and other random shapes (sounds like a box of "Lucky Charms"). I'm thankful Jenny actually wrote out the directions and didn't force her readers to rely on a graph for following the pattern. It was so simple I thought I was doing something wrong. Before I knew it, I was making up my own patterns (hence the randomness of my tube's designs). I said it before and I'll say it again, you can't go wrong with this book - get a copy today. After you finish reading my blog of course.

Whats Up?

Hello again. I've been so busy I haven't had time to write. My daughter and I took Biggs, our Chihuahua to his play date. He spent the day with his Chi friends, running, jumping, peeing and growling at another dog who was 10 times his size and weight. Fearless or stupid?

I also spent some time working my new NSI circular knitting machine. I gotta say, I was really excited when I got it. Now, not so much. I've managed to knit a few pieces but quickly began ripping them out again. Still, I can't get by without dropping stitches. The first try was my mistake. The yarn got tangled on the needles and I continued to crank away forcibly. The second time around (no pun intented), I was ever so careful not to get the yarn caught up, but, when I finished my piece it could have been mistaken for a chunk of green hairy swiss cheese. What a drag. I'll pick up the crank again soon...

I'm expecting a new circular machine, a vintage Mattel Knitting machine from the 70s. I won the auction on eBay, actually it was a best offer. The woman took forever to ship it and now I must wait - check FedEx - wait some more - check FedEx *ugh!*

Oh Sh-knit! A New Addiction!?!

Ok, I say, "new" because I obsess over things in series. Right now, my new obsession is knitting machines. Not just any kind, but circular. I've recently been given a commercial circular knitting machine circa 1940s, made by Scott and Williams Inc. of Laconia, N.H. I've conducted some research and found that the company had a mill in Laconia which was purchased by an organization who fought to save the mill from destruction.

I've also learned that the machine was used to make "Surgitube" medical gauze. From what I've found out about these antique circular machines so far, most of the personal machines are or were used to knit socks. This machine however, has additional parts that allow the machine to run for hours with self feeding mechanisms and the addition of an after-production motor. Ok, so will I ever need to make yards and yards of any knit fabric? Probably not. But, I do know that I can remove some of the added devices and take the machine back to its original form for knitting circular tubing without automation.

The pictures above are of the machine, as you can see, the yarn mast holds up to 6 cones of thread/yarn. Pretty cool. Instead of a crank, I have a wheel - I'm hoping to find a replacement crank online that will fit the machine.