Bond Knitting Machine - Original/Classic/ISM/USM - Intarsia Keyplate

[@KarenParker-t1l]

Alex I am so glad I found you! You explain everything so a beginner like me can understand, both with the Bond and other machines. My intasia kept falling off 🤦‍♀️! Watching your video i can see clearly how to do it. Thank you!

[@susanzapletal5299]

What an amazing machine the Bond is. The simplicity of the mechanism is positively brilliant. I have several machines and often wonder how anyone would manage with a more sophisticated machine if they don’t have some knowledge of basic maintenance, because they certainly do require it. The Bond is a magical little unit that I think most people could master and your tutorial is absolutely terrific. You are very thorough and concise in your explanations and this would be invaluable to someone that is learning how to machine knit on a Bond. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Thesweaterfactory]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am not sure about concise! I do tend to witter on! Lol. I do try to be as helpful as possible because I know there is far too much vague information out there. Glad you enjoy, I appreciate your feedback. ❤️

[@wendypetersen7529]

I have one of the original Bond machines -it's just about 40 years old now. I would say it's about as original as they get, but I never had an intarsia plate, there again, I bought min in England when I was visiting family. I would like to see you do a picture to see how you manage all the yarn and keep the stitches on the needles.. I've never had much luck as when I slowly move the carriage over, it invariably drops stitches. You might find s magnet metal clip you can use on the fridge. They are heavier

[@lizzieburgess674]

Nice video. I use my intarsia KP extensively and I do 'weight' the yarn very slightly with plastic clothespegs. Sometimes I will have a score or more yarn ends dangling, so need some means of keeping them all in place as I knit! As long as I use identical pegs on each yarn, as long as the pegs are really lightweight and as long as I keep an eagle eye on the pegs as they rise up towards the needlebed as I knit (so I can stop and lower them to allow more yarn to flow) I don't find the very slight tension on the yarn makes any quantifiable difference to the knitting and it certainly makes life a lot easier for me. I think the Bond is a much under-rated machine which people delight in condemning; I find it to have been a very useful 'gateway drug' to the world of machine knitting and design in general, and despite owning a couple of much more sophisticated and supposedly-'better' machines, the Bond is the one I have out and ready for use almost all the time; rarely a day goes by when I don't do something on it! I can understand people's frustrations with it, though; purely because it is so simple it does need a little more 'assistance' and 'understanding' at times which people often don't realise; the corollary of that, though, is that there really is little or nothing to 'go wrong' with its mechanics unless something physically breaks through force.

[@GolfPrincessCL]

I agree! The Bond deserves more love even though it has a hella steep learning curve LOL

[@Thesweaterfactory]

If you’re using more yarn ends, you definitely need some way of keep them under control. I don’t like clips or bobbins to hold the ends down, when using multiple colours I just take my time and guide each yarn end as I approach them with the carriage, to ensure they don’t get loose or jump out the hooks, I try to make the yarns as free flowing as possible though. I totally agree with you about the Bond though, people are so dismissive of it! I adore the Bond, it is a great machine! It is definitely a but different and more finicky than the fancier machines but when you’re used to it’s quirks you will be able to have it knitting for you, faithfully. My Bonds have never given me any trouble and they are real work horses, with nothing to go wrong!

[@jaeartist9316]

Just found a file to 3d print an intarsia plate for the Bond Knitting Machine on Thingiverse. Off to the library to get one printed out - exciting times we live in.

[@knit1924]

I love this video, I want to find an intarsia book for the Bond. I am not good at making my own designs. Excellent video, A....

[@vernabohnert635]

Thank you for sharing, I have done a little intarsia but I was trying to hold the yarn, it was kind of difficult! I will give it another try using your method 😋

[@Thesweaterfactory]

You’re welcome. 😀 You can hold the yarn if you like and infact the more colours you add in, the more imperative it becomes, just take your time and guide the yarns as you pass the carriage over them but don’t add any extra tension to them. Slow and steady wins the race. Intarsia is a slow technique in knitting on any machine and certainly slower on hand needles. You’ll get there and it can be lots of fun.

[@GolfPrincessCL]

Very helpful! Thanks for this video instruction 🧶 Stay safe 😷💕

[@Thesweaterfactory]

You’re welcome, glad you found it useful. ❤️ You too. 🥰

[@JulieJasiota]

Hello Alex, Not sure if this is the place but “Intarsia Carriage Tricks” by Anna Haferman on KZbin shows a way to do mosaic knitting using an intarsia carriage. Do you think we do this on the Bond?

[@jessiesoto8076]

What if you don't have the plate . Can you still do this? I'm buying one of these next month.

[@lanachevez2778]

I'm considering buying a used bond classic, but it's missing the key plates. Can I use the bond ultimate knitting machine green keyplates on the bond classic?

[@dinglebat63]

Hi, which in your opinion is the best/most versatile bond machine? I love intarsia, do they all do that? Thanks

[@Thesweaterfactory]

They will all do intarsia, yes. I like all the Bonds. The early USMs were good too. I would stick with a UK original machine, like the one in this video, if you’re after one.

[@prlidg]

I have an older Singer Bond Junior, but the key plates are missing. Watching your video I noticed the Incredible Sweater Machine key plate carriage looks a lot like the carriage for the Singer Bond Junior. Can I use the Incredible or Ultimate Sweater Machine key plates with the Singer Bond Junior? Do you know any other brands key plates I could use with the Singer Bond Junior?

[@Thesweaterfactory]

You can use the regular clear Bond keyplays and the clear dot keyplates (ISM) as they are single sided and will work with the handle that fits ontop of, like your Singer Bond Junior. The green Dot keyplates that came the USM, will fit in the carriage but the handle won’t fit on, if using the double sided 2 and 3. Hope this helps.

[@prlidg]

@@Thesweaterfactory Thank you for your response. I will try it out.

[@Thesweaterfactory]

@@prlidg You’re welcome, anytime. 😊

[@vernabohnert635]

Can the row counter still be purchased for the bond that you are using? I have this and really like the carriage better and tried rigging up a counter but it didn’t work, thanks

[@Thesweaterfactory]

They are no longer in production I’m afraid. The counters regularly crop up on eBay though, so keep an eye out. Just bear in mind that if you have any Bond that is not a USM, you will need to get a counter thar comes with the tripper spring, which is basically just a piece of shaped wire that fits on the back left or right side of the carriage, which trips the counter.

[@123dawney]

I've just brought a bond machine and I knew 3 plates came with it, then saw this plate n I was thinking if u knew anything n hey prestow