Knitting machines: easy to work, save money

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34044, 7 January 1976, Page 6

Knitting machines: easy to work, save money

Mool is so versatile, it is no wonder that it has ne\er been surpassed in the world of fashion. From the sheerest gossamer to bulky garments of great warmth, wool is used tn all its tremendous varieties of colours and textures to create clothing to suit the most discerning fashionconscious women to such prosaic garments as singlets and scarves There must seldom be a day when there isn't one member of a family who isn't wearing something knitted in wool, even if it is only a pair of socks. Ginipub-r shaping for a family considerable savings can result if a knitting machine is used. Garments can be made for a fraction of rhe cost of a manufactured article. Wool goes a long way on a knitting machine and it is possible to use various types of wool, such as knobbly and triple knit. Tension is even all the time and is not governed by the knitter's mood, which is

[ sometime-' relaxed, making j stitches looser or tighter. Another advantage is the 1 speed with which an article' can be knitted. Instead of

considerable time looking round the shops for] a suitable item, you can: translate a magazine illus-l tration ; nto an actual replica! by drafting a full-size pat-; tern on to graph paper —! and it doesn’t even matter if, \ou are an unconventional,' shape or size. A built-in computer saves] you the trouble of making' calculations — it automatic cally does the shapings at] the right time. By using] water-soluble ink, the graph 1

: paper can be used time and ( time again. The graph paper is inserted into a roller behind! : the bed and clicks over after; every row’. As you knit, the ‘outlined patterned paper indicates what to do. If you own a knitting machine, there is no need to] go on a frustrating hunt around the shops. It’s a tempting thought. Mind you. a knitting machine which will draft an ;actual pattern specially’ for; (you is a more sophisticatedl ; model and would cost about I $355. But that amount com-! pares more than favourably! with the cost of any other' household appliance. To experiment with, how-’ ever, a less expensive knit-, ting machine may* be all that! ;is required and a basic; ; single-bed model that does i stocking stitch and imitation’ rib can be bought for about SIOO. If all you want to make is i school jerseys, a simple! machine is quite sufficient.! (Ever the cheapest machines: ' include free lessons and! I most machines are guaran-l i teed even for as long as 25* ; years. 1 Most knitting machines!

, require little servicing. I have been told it is actually; easier to replace a knitting-! machine needle ihan to get a’ new one for a sewing machine. "It takes about three hours for the average person! to learn to operate a knit-* ting machine,’’ said a dem- ; onstrator. "And it makes no difference if you have never knitted before. My own] daughters were taught to knit by friends because 1 : didn’t have a clue about ; hand-knitting. •‘I have taught a 73-year-* : old woman to use a knitting .machine and also a 65-year-l 'old man who was looking for a hobby. Now he is taking orders.” Another person I spoke to; i had bought a knitting mach-, ,ine because she had arthritis! ■in her fingers and could no ‘longer knit by’ hand. Most dealers supply a range of garment patterns! specially designed for their .machines. These are good to! ! begin on as the instructions i apply to the particular; (machine purchased. With ex- ! perience, it is possible to ’adapt hand-knitted patterns. Basically, a knitting maI chine is a frame on which needles are laid side by' side in a row of slots called a

I bed. Needles required for! I any piece of work are’ brought forward into the knit position and. to knit, it isl ! only necessary to push a slide carrying the yarn over these needles. > When the slide has been pushed from one side of the bed to the other, a row has been knitted—as quickly as! 'that. Cheap socks Double bed machines have! two needle beds facing each ’ other and on these it is pos- , sible to do purl-plain rib as! ’ well as circular knitting, lace.; picot edging, fancy necks, I braids, buttonholes, fair isle.: and even weaving. Each dif- i ferent stitch pattern uses a different selection of needles , and, on the more expensive! machines, these can be automatically’ selected. The variety of work de-; pends on one’s imagination, i There are hundreds of differ- * ent combinations. Circular knitting makes it; possible to knit socks that are identical to manufactured!; ones — and very much;, cheaper. j; Colour figure knitting in-!, eludes animals, fish, and! flowers, as well as figures.] This sometimes results in!: loops forming at the back of! the work, but these can be i covered with cheesecloth or! 1 taffeta which is bonded to I the knitting with a polyamide;! resin which, when heat is! applied, will fuse the two] fabrics permanently. Fine commercial yarn is; particularly suited for bond-; ing. resulting in a light. dur-|, able material which can be*, cut and sewn. Knitted pieces! can be made very quickly as,, ino shaping is required. Combining a lurex thread!. • with wool makes a striking]* material for evening wear,; and it is possible for an experienced operator to make a ball gown in a day. A woman I know began knitIting a day frock about nine 'o’clock one evening and wore lit to the office the next day. With two-yarn feeders, two colours can be knitted automatically’ as fast as doing ordinary stocking stitch. For the enthusiast, a machine with a full range of!, attachments, including its] own stand (so that it can be* left permanently set-up) will cost only about $355. There is even a special grafting technique which means that garments need ( not be sewn together by ' hand. A knitting machine will < provide hours of pleasure in ' an absorbing new interest : that is both creative and use- ' ful. J

During the summer holidays many home knitters bring out their wool and needles to make a start on winter garments for their families. In this article, Rita Thomas, of Lower Hutt, recommends the use of knitting machines to - save time and money now that manufactured knitted clothes have risen sharply in cost.