You’ve been knitting by hand for years, and you think you’re ready to move on to machine knitting. Think again. Hand knitting and machine knitting are two totally different crafts. If it took you long hours of practice to perfect your manual skills, getting familiar with your knitting machine requires double the effort but the rewards are truly enormous. A stitch done by hand has an equivalent of an entire row when done with a knitting machine.

What type of knitting equipment do you need? It all depends on the yarn you prefer. There are three basic types of knitting machines: bulky or chunky machines, standard beds, and mid-gauge machines. They come in a wide array of styles ranging from plain looms to really complex computerized models.

Knitting machines can be mechanical or electronic. Mechanical knitting machines are sold with punch cards you can readily use or customize according to your preference. Electronic knitting machines offer more options, with many models providing up to 300 patterns you can mix and match, knit mirror-like, sew in reverse, or alter in dimensions.

If you wish to knit sweaters and afghan blankets, a bulky machine may be the right equipment for you. Bulky machines are built with heavy-duty needles that are placed 9mm apart and hooks and latches that are large enough to handle thick yarns. Silver Reed, Studio and Brother are familiar brands of bulky knitting machines.

Mid-gauge knitting machines stand right in the middle of the pack, with smaller hooks and latches compared to those fitted with bulky knitting machines but larger than those on standard beds. Mid-gauge knitting machines have needles located 6.5mm apart that can knit sport, baby, and worsted yarns, with a variety of techniques like slip, tuck, weaving, stockinet, ribbing, and plating. The downside to mid-gauge machines is that they do not have lace carriages or a collection of patterns.

Built with tiny hooks and latches and needles that are set 4.5mm apart, standard knitting machine beds can easily knit thin yarns. They also offer a myriad of stitch type options.

A typical electronic standard bed has over 650 patterns stored in its memory, with ample space for custom knitting machine patterns. A high-end model like the Brother KH970 has a built-in lace carriage and proprietary software that enable machine knitters to program one garment to various gauges, yarns, and stitch types.

Before seeking out knitting equipment, settle on the knitting yarn type you will be using, which special features you need, and how much money you are willing to fork out. Note that a row counter, strain mast, and ribber are must-haves in a knitting machine. With a bigger budget that can cover a first-class machine, you might want to consider advanced settings such as garter bars, lace carriages, punch cards, intarsia carriages, and automatic color changers.

A feature-rich knitting machine can go a long way to developing your skills. It can motivate you to work on more sophisticated projects as you discover what your machine can do.

Emily J Watson writes articles about knitting, knitting machine patterns and how to make money from your knitting. Visit her blog at http://www.machineknittingadvice.com for more essential advice, ideas and reviews on machine knitting.

How to Knit for Beginners : Types of Knitting Yarn

LACE soft pure cashmere Yarn Knitting silver grey 053 $14.99

HUGE CONE BURGUNDY MOHAIR-LIKE KNITTING MACHINE YARN $9.14

orange Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% B-22 $5.50

Pink Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New B-8 $7.29

green Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% B-50 $3.35

New 100% Hand-Dyed wool Yarn Knitting Worsted a-09 $6.05

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $3.16

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $5.03

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $6.10

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $7.49

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $7.32

Hand-Dyed Wool Yarn knitting worsted 100% New $5.04

TWILLEYS FREEDOM DK KNITTING YARN BAMBOO RICH PLUS BOOK $30.07

TWILLEYS FREEDOM GORGEOUS DK KNITTING YARN BAMBOO RICH $24.05

Blend Alpaca Knitting Yarn Wool 10 Skeins Balls~BROWN $14.99

LACE soft pure 100%cashmere Yarn Knitting blue gray 091 $14.99

Hand-knitting yarn – Ponemah Purple Heather – 100% wool $17.20

Dazzleaire hand-knitting yarn – 5 Souffle $46.99

Dazzleaire hand-knitting yarn – 6 skein assortment $6.04

Blend Alpaca Knitting Yarn Wool 10 Skeins Balls~PINK $14.99

Wonder Knitter Clover Knitting Loom using multiple yarn $4.45

Yarn Ball Crochet Knitting ~ Charm fits Pandora $3.99

HANDDYED black 100% wool yarn knitting worsted y46 $0.99

HAND DYED pink\white 100% wool yarn knitting y70 $9.99

HAND DYED red 100% wool yarn knitting worsted y80 $0.99

29 Circular Bamboo Knitting Needles – US Sizes 1-15 $23.99 For sale is 14 pairs of 29″ (from needle point to point) bamboo knitting needles with various sizes: US 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11, 13 and 15. These needles are exclusively distributed by “Oriental Touch LLC” at Amazon under the brand name of “Stanwood”. They are the best we have ever made. They are first sanded super smooth using the finest sanding paper. Then they are lightly hand r…

New Wooden Swift Yarn Winder Medium $51.99 This brand new premium quality yarn swift is made of finely finished birch. It’s medium size can hold up to a 6′ circumference skein. We are so confident with our product that we offer very generous return policy. If our product does not meet your expectation, simply return to us within 30 days from the date of delivery. We will refund your entire payment INCLUDING shipping and handling. Your sati…

Darice 1171-58 Set of 4 Round Plastic Knitting Looms $15.99 Set includes four neon bright round looms (pink-9-1/2 diameter 41 pegs orange-8-1/2 diameter 36 pegs lime-6-1/2 diameter 31 pegs blue-4-1/2 diameter 24 pegs) one yarn needle one loom pick and easy-to-follow instructions. Packaged in a clear zip locking plastic bag with handles for easy storage. Easily promotable with everyday $14.99 retail….

Kaffe Fassett Glorious Colour Vol 1 Share the expertise of one of knitting;s most original talents…

Cascade 220 Wool Amethyst #7810 Worsted Weight Yarn 4.5-5 Stitches Needle 7-8 – 220 yds – One of our favorites! Spun from 100% Peruvian wool, this super soft yarn is excellent for knitting and felting. Available in a lovely and extensive color palette, Cascade is lovely to knit with and beautiful to wear. This yarn requires size 7 or 8 US knitting needles. Kaleidoscope Yarns features a full spectrum of products for knitters! We …