I Found A Vintage Knitting Machine And Now I Have To Learn How To Use It (Feat.

Join me on a journey into the realm of vintage crafting as I navigate the learning curve of the Singer SB100 knitting machine, sharing insights gained from trial and error. With the expert guidance of Carson from @KnitFactoryImpl, we tackle challenges and celebrate breakthroughs. Whether you're a seasoned knitter or a curious beginner, there's a lot of fun to be had with a knitting machine - or just from watching my mistakes! Stay tuned to see if I actually manage to make anything by the end!
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Welcome back to the channel, where we embark on another adventure in the world of crafting! In today's video, I delve into the fascinating realm of vintage knitting machines with my latest eBay discovery, the Singer SB 100. If you've ever wondered how to wield this marvellous piece of machinery to create beautiful knitted garments, I'm excited to learn together.
Join me as I navigate the learning curve of the Singer knitting machine, sharing my journey of trial and error. While it promises to make the knitting process much quicker, mastering its quirks proves to be no small feat. However, as with any skill, practice makes progress, and I'm here to share the lessons I've learned along the way.
But I'm not alone on this journey! I've enlisted the expertise of Carson from KnitFactoryImpl, who graciously lends a helping hand and shares invaluable tips to ease the learning process. Together, we tackle challenges, troubleshoot issues, and celebrate breakthroughs as I attempt to create my very first machine knit garment.
And what better way to cap off our adventure than by putting our newfound knowledge to the test? Stay tuned until the end to witness the fruits of my labour as I attempt to craft a cosy hat using the Singer knitting machine. It's a satisfying conclusion to a journey filled with discovery and growth.
So, whether you're a seasoned knitting enthusiast or a curious beginner, join me as I explore the world of vintage knitting machines and unlock the secrets to mastering this underappreciated craft. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more crafting adventures!

[@Tisiloves]

"Of course we're using yarn, Ash, this is a knitting machine" - big mood

[@kristenpeters4434]

“Does this have cat hair on it already?!” is a regular chorus in my house, too 😂

[@azteclady]

"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" oh I love that from the belly sound of discovery, when something in the brain clicks and things make sense in a new endeavor.

[@barrowswights801]

Welcome to machine knitting! It's a lot of fun once you train your brain on the prep work. I used Sally Melville's Knitting Pattern Essentials to learn about the math for drafting my own sweater patterns. All her sweater designs in that book are knit flat and seamed, so it's relatively easy to convert them to machine knitting. I figured out a basic set-in-sleeve sweater pattern that I've used for most of my machine knit sweaters that I tweak to improve fit as I draft a new pattern. And I'm one of those nerds who sets up spreadsheets for everything, so I made myself an excel template for this sweater pattern where I can plug in the gauge from my swatch and it'll do all the basic calculations for me. I usually have to massage the numbers a bit to make them even, but it's something I really enjoy about the process. I think a knitted sweater vest would be a great place to start with garments!

[@nekogalchan]

A comment laid upon the altar of the algorithm, may it be kind

[@feltaria9177]

Have you seen the Shetland jumpers? Often they’re knit bottom up on a knitting machine and the the fun colourwork is hand knit. Charity shops are a good source of older craft books - you may find some machine knitting ones there (as well as coned yarn)

[@joannejohnson6393]

Machine knitting is such a different craft, indeed. So different, in fact, my textile insane brain has led me to have two machines and ribbers and various other assorted bits.

[@angieallen7363]

This reminded me of my first days of trying to use my knitting machine 🤭. But, hang in there and it will get easier!

[@gigi3242]

Thanks for sharing; seems like the learning curve is steep, but you are up to the challenge. Have an awesome week.

[@judalea17]

the white cord at the start is used to anchor the bottom of the piece (I have a Bond machine that starts the same way) you lay it across the hooks (securing the ends, I use a peg to clip them together) and the knitting "attaches" to it and can be pulled out later, it sort of makes a provisional cast on with live loops along the bottom edge of the work watching further, this machine operates in a similar way to the Bond (manual but with yarn antenna so you just have to move the carriage across, though you can lay the yarn across the hooks for each row if doing colourwork etc). The Bond has drop-in gauge plates that go into the carriage, I think there are four sizes Mum had a Singer that had tensioning antennae to guide the yarn, with punch cards for patterns (lacy or two colour); there's also a ribbing attachment but I don't think she ever used it you can also use the tool with the holes in the prongs to run along the hooks to flip the latches open

[@stevezytveld6585]

You, Dear Human, are brave. My Mum tried one of those contraptions back in the 1980's - YT really does make these things possible. Because, without the instruction book, life descends into mayhem in short order. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Hey Cathy! Good to see you. Hope and yours are doing well! No one around me as a kid tried the knitting machines. My grandmother and great aunt were amazing and fast knitters so I guess there wasn't any point. Really after all of this I'm not sure I want to try. A friend talked me into buying them years ago but never came back to teach how to use it!

[@lizzyrbits1283]

You are one more voice singing the siren song of knitting machines! (I don't think I'll hold out much longer) 😂

[@emilysmith2784]

Loved watching this. Glad you didn’t make it look easy. So many people think knitting machines are like printing clothes but really they are a skill and craft in their own right. Highly recommended Diana Sullivan and knitology101 channels for flat bed machines. I think knitting machines are getting more popular with the introduction of the sentro and addi machines. I love my sentro and my channel is all about trying to get your sentro to work like a flat bed machine 😂.

[@hilaryblyth7798]

In my opinion, after 60 years of struggle,hand knitting is the one with a steep learning curve too: I am like you, one stitch at at time. Compared to that, the learning curve for my 1970s machine was positively shallow!

[@cassmacdonald-perfectlyimp2486]

There is an excellent Colourmart Ravelry group (I went to the website your excellent guest mentioned) and Engineering Knits here on YT has several knitting machines and is an excellent resource I think. Rachel Maksy also decided to get busy with her late grandmother’s machine recently too. I re,ember being a young child and my late mother trying to decide whether she’d get one or not (she was fairly big on getting craft gadgets) and discussing the idea with me. Oddly, she never taught me to knit or sew, despite having the skills etc, because I was left handed, so her stepmother taught me to knit, but when I got back into it, I largely taught myself to do this and to sew (with one machine lesson to get me over my fear of them), but one of my best memories is of her teaching me how to do short rows, although she tried to do it for me (I was in my 30s), looking so fond of me as I struggled through my first pair of socks and she knitted a hellishly complicated knit dress for my sister.

[@Yirggzmb]

This is reminding me so much of my struggles with the machine my sister and i bought together back when I was in school. Got it to work most of the time, but then sometimes you'd do a row and the whole thing would fall off and hit the floor even though you didn't do anything different. I think I still have, somewhere, the three quarters finished sweater I started, crammed deeply into a bag after I got very very annoyed with it. Someday I'll drag the whole thing out again...someday lol

[@raycreveling1583]

I actually own the same machine. It was also sold under the brand name White. You probably know what I'm about to say by now but if not. Your machine is a 5mm standard gauge. Japanese standard gauge machines have the needles spaced 4.5mm apart. The machines made in Europe have the needles spaced 5mm apart. The cord in your box is called ravel cord. It's meant to be a removable space between your final product and any waste yarn being used. Machine knitters use wast yarn because the first few rows can get really buggered up when casting on and hanging weights. Waste yarn can be saved and reused for future projects.

[@debbiel7736]

I think you picked a hard machine to learn on. That being said you did amazing. Since you said you bought another machine I think you will move right along and soon have a closet full of sweater vests.

[@susanjames2994]

Hats off to you (pun intended) - I would have opened the box, put it together on the table, opened the manual and then headed off for a cup of tea. Maybe after staring at the manual for days I'd have had a little go but that looks way too complicated

[@joanalden8767]

Welcome to the art of machine knitting. 🎉 Ive got my 3rd machine not long ago. Practise and take lots of breaks. Mk community if you join it its fantastic. It has everything from first timers to advance levels. Lots of videos, etc. Your machine looks like it needs cleaning and oiling for a clean pass. Good luck xx

[@mxheathcliff]

as a handknitter, knitting machines are so alien to me! I really enjoy the process of knitting big garments though, and *usually* am very good about continuing at one project and bashing it out (excepting my recent jumper attempt - I blame the fact that it's a colour I don't usually wear). Looking forward to more shenanigans from you and these knitting machines though!

[@Mommamacnz]

You have may inspired me to get out the knitting machine my mother and the one a previous landlady gave me and try using them. I have used Mum's one as a teenager but not set it up since she gave it to me over 20 years ago. Time to get it (and the other one) out and learn to use them. I find hand knitting tedious and it takes me years to finish garments.

[@arielscrafting4965]

Hooray another person with a knitting machine! Thou i find the comments quite funny, everyone is talking about how fiddly it is and i cant help but say Of Course! It is a new craft you are learning its MUCH less fiddly once you get used to it.

[@rosacanisalba]

If there are lots f 1970s patters about then your sweater vest desires could be fulfilled! They were worn a lot then (source, am old, can remember). Also look out for cones of yarn which you can often find for very cheap in joblots on the internet and in charity shops and scrap stores.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Darn that looks complicated!! It's a shame your not close I have a machine or two in the basement that I don't know if I will ever figure out! Watching the I'm guessing not! Too many crafts and ideas not enough time!

[@IreneFriederike]

I enjoyed doing some handknitting (trying out the banana socks for people whose feet are still growing) while watching you learn to use your machine. Reason why I will not be getting a knitting machine any time soon: there would be too much cursing in the vicinity of people whose feet are still growing.

[@allie9855]

Friend, you are braver than me. I am terrified of machine knitting and I'm a basic, basic hand knitter. 👏👏 good job!!

[@aussie_vonnie]

I loved playing with mum's knitting machine as a kid, kinda sad she got rid of it before I got interested in using it . . .

[@MariaMartinez-xm4fl]

Love your try and error... 🤭... Thanks for the insight! 🕊️🤍

[@pattiwicksteed3731]

My Mum got a knitting machine in 1974 or thereabouts. I remember that pushing the slide took real muscles which felt very weird. And I was a bit confused because you didn't have the cast on comb at the beginning. All the dicking about with the needles seemed really tricky but she got the hang of it after a while. And large bits of knitting are definitely faster by machine! This is the start of yet another quest for you, grasshopper Be well, midear!

[@JackRabbitLondon]

OH MY GOODNESS 😮 this is the exact knitting machine I own! I am a newbie to this as well. So surprised that someone else got the same one.

[@dadduck69]

I would love to see more!

[@coalsparks]

All hail the sweater vest!

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

My mother used to knit all our school uniform jumpers on a very similar machine!

[@michellecornum5856]

Ok, so now I'm super curious to find out what the second knitting machine looks like. The lady who taught me how to use a server had a knitting machine like yours. She gave me one far simpler than either what you or Rachel Maksy have. My mother has a much older one with two masts, that she only ever used once, and decided that hand knitting was a lot easier and faster. Can't wait.

[@laurelbonnin954]

Nicely done 👍. Admirable.

[@manitobasky]

Your machine is 5mm gauge, I have a Superba S48 the same gauge. Fingering/4ply/yarn weight #1 are these machines happy place, I have used a light sport weight without much drama.

[@DebGeeDee]

Well… I’ve been fantasising about getting a knitting machine for quite a while now but after watching this I’m not so sure, it does seem a bit too fiddly for me. I look forward to seeing how you get on as I would also love a collection of hand knitted vests. Bless 🤗😘

[@MiffoKarin]

Thank you for taking us on this learning journey with you. The hat turned out great! Machine knitting definitely looks less daunting than I feared (at least before adding any colour change shenanigans). I already have a saved search for knitting machines on my auction site of choice, this isn't helping me resist its siren song! 😅

[@dottyfulcrum]

Well: I had been considering a knitting machine. Now, I don't think so. I'll just struggle with my crochet projects (that I have to do extra arithmetic for because my guage is always 70% of the requested guage). Only one more sweater to go---so, of course, I have been sewing instead.

[@cherylrosbak4092]

Another KZbinr who does a lot of machine knitting is Engineering Knits. She might be able to help a bit.

[@rosacanisalba]

And like Carson, she's another computer engineer! Clearly it's a common area of interest.

[@Stew_Ped]

it has been so long since i used my knitting machine that i’d have to start over as a beginner😅 i only ever used it to make scarves tho

[@DustBunnyHerder]

Oooh a Tudor knitted petticoat

[@vickymc9695]

I'm only really used to industrial electric punch card machines, so this is fairly interesting. My dad used to get me to adjust the punch card ribbon to teach basic pc coding

[@haakdraakje]

I truly love handknitting. My MIL offered me her machine and all i could say, was: now why would i use that?!

[@Absintheskiss]

The naughty larper in me wants to suggest string mail for a laugh. I wonder if there are historically adequate stocking patterns, though?

[@rosacanisalba]

There are! Engineering Knits made some victorian ones.

[@cloudiefluffs]

Oh jeez do I relate to that intro 😂

[@vaaarna]

enjoying the video, the audio of the video call is very rough and quiet tho

[@thefoundbird9862]

Watching it now, there’s only background music for the entire call. I can’t get any of the audio of the call at all 16:10 😢

[@TracyKMainwaring]

knitting machines are awesome, but not necessarily faster than handknitting LOL. I have several machines, 4.5mm, 6.5mm, 8mm, just sold my 9mm.

[@Axel.Villasenor]

After this, I think I prefer hand knitting...

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

If someone like you who is an experienced weaver finds it so complex to set up, I KNOW it's not for me!

[@jjez61]

I don't know how to knit, have never been able to grasp the concept, no matter how I try. But I can crochet. Does one have to know how to knit to use a knitting machine? Because I've always wanted to knit things.

[@AshLG]

I don’t think you have to, but the machine was definitely doing similar things to hand knitting and being able to relate it to what I’d do by hand was very helpful when the instructions were confusing

[@jjez61]

@@AshLG yeah, you reading the instructions was hard on my brain! 😁

[@emilysmith2784]

If you can crochet you should try knooking. It’s knitting with a crochet hook. It doesn’t hurt my brain the way knitting does.

[@hilaryblyth7798]

No! Not at all.

[@jjez61]

@@emilysmith2784 I investigated that once and it didn't seem doable for me. I do, however, do croknitting which is half-crochet/half-knitting. You cast on stitches like knitting, but then hook the stitchs off like in crochet. I've made lots of scarves and afghans with it. It uses a double-ended (tunisian) hook, or in the case of afghans a home-made, really long one made from a dowel.