Let's bust out those Sweater Machines!!! Oh Pam...

[devonc]

OK, I bought it last weekend but haven't had time to sit down with the video and figure out how to work it.

Today's the day! Pam McGary, pull it out from under your bed and get to work!! :) Think of all the stash busting we'll do!!!

[quinnNjesse]

whatcha gonna make? Only sweaters? What can you make on those things?

[devonc]

Supposedly, anything.... I am going to use it to make scarves and baby blankets, sweater backs, anything that's miles of boring knitting...

[clothusingmama]

Careful now, using a sweater machine is very adictive ;) You will use your yarn very fast. . .but then you need to get more. . .quickly. . .lest you run out. Your stash must be bigger to support your new speedy method, wouldn't it be awful to be out of yarn? Not that I am having that problem, my dresser has socks and yarn, now if I could just find a different place to put those socks :brow

[devonc]

And I had a 60% off coupon so it only cost me $60!!!

[devonc]

Careful now, using a sweater machine is very adictive ;) You will use your yarn very fast. . .but then you need to get more. . .quickly. . .lest you run out. Your stash must be bigger to support your new speedy method, wouldn't it be awful to be out of yarn? Not that I am having that problem, my dresser has socks and yarn, now if I could just find a different place to put those socks :brow

Dang, and I was so excited about busting my stash... but what you say makes perfect sense! I DO need a larger supply if I am going to be increasing my turnout. The mere thought of having no yarn to knit at all... gasp!!

[clothusingmama]

http://www.kangamooknits.com/ After you get the hang of your machine, check out this place, the free patterns section is fun and bond friendly :)

[whitecalx]

I want one so bad! I was just asking dh how much I could spend on one. He told me I should wait till after Christmas but then I explained I need it now so that I can make Christmas gifts.

[quinnNjesse]

do they take up a lot of room?

[devonc]

Naw, it's pretty small, but long. I have mine on our other desk and it's fine, but they're not exactly pretty so I'll probably pack it back into the box between uses.

At Michael's they're $160 but there's a 40% coupon every week and sometimes 50... I got lucky with the 60, I've never seen it before.

[clothusingmama]

I have mine clamped to a long board from Lowes. I leave it on the board and when not in use I stand it in the corner in my bedroom. Not attractive but neither is the rest of my room ;) You could put it on a board and then put it under a bed though, that would look much nicer. If I ever get my room where I would like it I will probably stand the bond in the closet attached to it's board.

[twouglyducks]

man... i want one too!

[clothusingmama]

Oh and then, when you are ready, you can get this http://www.knitware.ca/desc.htm which is what I am getting ready to try. Hubby has to install it for me though, we run Linux so I have to run it under a program. I haven't ever learned how to install windows programs myself :(

Hubby wore the sweater I made him to work tonight again. I feel so homemakerish ;)

[radish]

I got my machine and havent used it :(

Well tested it with the acrylic yarn it came with. I was bummed about the ribbing but need inspiration!!!! HELP!!!!

Any pix of FOs???? Esp soakers :)

[pmcgary]

I got my machine and havent used it :(

Well tested it with the acrylic yarn it came with. I was bummed about the ribbing but need inspiration!!!! HELP!!!!

Any pix of FOs???? Esp soakers :)

Won't get any help from me. I spent the morning at the doctor's office. My 'baby' has a UTI. Nice call by Dh.....she had had a few 'accidents' over the weekend which is very unusual for her......

[bigknitwit]

What does FO stand for? My stuff is almost all machine knit :D The basic knitting anyways - love the machine. But, yeah, all of the sudden you need a much, much larger yarn stash to feel you have *enough* LOL

[pmcgary]

What does FO stand for? My stuff is almost all machine knit :D The basic knitting anyways - love the machine. But, yeah, all of the sudden you need a much, much larger yarn stash to feel you have *enough* LOL

Finished objects!

[bigknitwit]

Heh - I should have guessed finished objects :D anyway, my stuff is mostly machine knit (you can see it in my portfolio), but my machine will do fairisle (two color) knitting. The learning curve is much more to get the whole set-up working, but once it is, WOW! My larger (non-fairisle) embellishments are done by hand after the knitting is completed - like the dragon on my front page. the machine is great because it lets me focus my energies on the more creative aspects of the craft, and less energy on the more redundant, boring aspects of the craft, kwim? However, it's also given me an insatiable appetite for knits :D because the boring tedious part is so reduced!

[Sheena]

Someone make me love my machine. I tried it a couple of times and got very frustrated. I want to love it. It kept getting stuck, I don't think I even got a single row done. Grrr....

[clothusingmama]

There are some common pitfalls with the sweater machine. Once you get past those and learn the quarks your machine has (they all have them) knitting with it can be a pleasure. You might check out the forum at www.knittingtoday.com and look around the archives. Most issues have been addressed in there :)

[devonc]

Heh - I should have guessed finished objects :D anyway, my stuff is mostly machine knit (you can see it in my portfolio), but my machine will do fairisle (two color) knitting.

Awesome stuff, mama!!!

As for the ribbing thing-- it bummed me out at first too, but then I realized it still takes less time than knitting ribbing!!!

I finally got it to do a few rows last night (I didn't have the plate in right) but it wasn't super smooth... I know I just need to get used to it though!!! Can't wait to have time to play more.

[Perogi]

Seriously considering one of these...what's the problem with the ribbing? What are some of the common machine quirks?

[clothusingmama]

I think each machine has its own personality. For example mine likes me to twist the carriage slightly bringing the left side toward the back of the needle bed and the right side toward the front when moving it from left to right. If you don't it will jam. You have to do the opposite when moving the carriage from right to left. It is quite easy to run once you get the hang of it though, I picture a figure 8 when knitting and fly right along. Some people's machines are not like this though. You really have to get to know yours :)

The keyplates should fit flat inside the carriage and not pop up on their own. Mine did not fit properly when I first got it and I didn't know any better. I finally read about the issue and was able to fix it with a nail file. The newer ones have been fixed by Bond so unless you have been harboring yours under the bed for a while (ahem) you should be fine ;)

You really do need some extra weights to hold down the edges when knitting. I bought some claw weights and they made a huge difference.

Wax or silicone spray is your friend. If the carriage does not move smoothy across the needle bed, try more wax.

If the carriage jams completely, pull down on your knitting with one hand and push the carriage with the other. If that fixes it, you need more weight.

Make sure your needle bed is completly level. If you have it clamped to tightly it will raise the back of the bed up and make your carriage jam. If you clamp it to loosly the needle bed will come off the surface and land in your lap. It sucks when that happens!

Run your fingers along the join(s) in your needle bed along the back rail. If there are any parts that stick up, your carriage will jam on them. Push the higher part down so they are smooth.

Make sure your table/board has a sqare edge. If you edge is round the machine will not properly attach to it. If you look closely at the front of the machine there are little legs along the bottom. Those legs must be on the board, not slipped off in front of it.

Make sure the area behind your machine is clear. If there is a pencil or DPN laying along the back side of my machine near my row counter, it will not trip. Also your yarn can hang up on stuff bringing your knitting to a screeching halt and making an ugly row of knitting. You want 0 tension on the yarn.

I am sure there are more, but this is what comes to mind for me. I use my machine a lot now and honestly have learned to get along with it quite nicely. It does take some time and adjustment, but is way cheaper than anything else out there. It is very fun to use. . .unless it is acting in a way indicating I should chuck it out the window ;)

[pmcgary]

The keyplates should fit flat inside the carriage and not pop up on their own. Mine did not fit properly when I first got it and I didn't know any better. I finally read about the issue and was able to fix it with a nail file. The newer ones have been fixed by Bond so unless you have been harboring yours under the bed for a while (ahem) you should be fine ;)

;)

Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something?

[clothusingmama]

Heh, no, me? Whadda you talking about ;) When you do get it out, if the keyplates do not sit all the way down in the carriage let me know and I will get you the directions for fixing it. You should be able to slide the keyplate in the carriage with the back of the keyplate between the little "shelfs" in the back of the carriage and the top of the carriage should sit flat down without popping up on its own.

[Sheena]

Wow, Tami, thank you! All of those are problems for me, lol. Will you come to my house and help me??? LOL.

[clothusingmama]

If you were here. . .yes I would :)

[devonc]

Heh, no, me? Whadda you talking about ;) When you do get it out, if the keyplates do not sit all the way down in the carriage let me know and I will get you the directions for fixing it. You should be able to slide the keyplate in the carriage with the back of the keyplate between the little "shelfs" in the back of the carriage and the top of the carriage should sit flat down without popping up on its own.

This was my problem. Nowhere in the directions or video does it mention the little tabs that the plate has to go under, so I had it in wrong the first few times I tried it!!

Perogi~ The problem with ribbing is that the machine ONLY does stockinette stitch, so to make ribbing you have to knit x number of rows, then drop every stitch that should be going the opposite way and pick it back up the right way... does that make sense? So if you want 6 rows of 1x1 rib, you knit 6 rows, then drop every other stitch to the bottom and pick it back up with a tool or crochet hook, in purl. Annoying, but still much quicker that knitting the whole thing!!

I don't think you can do seed stitch easily though.

[Perogi]

Hey Devon (and everyone) check this out:

http://www.knittingtoday.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=20011&Category_Code=UA&Product_Count=5

I found it last night as I was snooping around the net. Looks like it would make ribbing and seed stitch much easier :thumb

[devonc]

That looks fan-damn-tastic!!! I love my seed stitch and was so bummed out that I couldn't do it!!!

[Perogi]

Okay, wanna know why I'm bummed? The Canadian Michael's store WAY overcharges for the USM. Here it is $250!!! Which is currently almost $215 USD. That's crazy, no way am I paying that. But then I have a dilemma - I don't want to order online at full price, I want to take advantage of the 40% coupon at Michael's. And if I order something that expensive I will get majorly hit with taxes and customs. Grrr... If I could purchase one in the States with a 40% off it would only cost me about $100 CAD, as opposed to the $150 CAD it will cost here. ARGH!

[devonc]

Would the shipping from the US make it about the same? Cause I could certainly get you one with here with a coupon (I'd even wait for a 50 off) and send it to you, but it is pretty darn big.

[Perogi]

*sigh* yes the shipping is probably prohibitive. I think it weighs 10lbs? Thank you so much for the offer :pink I'll look into it some more...any idea on measurements? Also, how often is there a 50%??

My SIL will be going to Virginia for Thanksgiving to visit family (sounds so funny to me, we had our Thanksgiving last week). I could ask her to get it for me but only if there is a coupon that week. I don't think I'd feel comfortable asking her family to get it and then have her pick it up when she got there...

[pmcgary]

*sigh* yes the shipping is probably prohibitive. I think it weighs 10lbs? Thank you so much for the offer :pink I'll look into it some more...any idea on measurements? Also, how often is there a 50%??

My SIL will be going to Virginia for Thanksgiving to visit family (sounds so funny to me, we had our Thanksgiving last week). I could ask her to get it for me but only if there is a coupon that week. I don't think I'd feel comfortable asking her family to get it and then have her pick it up when she got there...

I think pretty much every week they have the 40% off. And the 50% ones tend to be around the hoidays so you might get lucky that week!

I have wondered about how much shipping is for this thing....I have seen the one they sell at WalMart (which I think is the same thing) at one of our stores clearanced to 60 something...I figured if it went below $50 I would snag it and sell it to someone here.

You might check out Wal Mart?

[clothusingmama]

Hey Devon (and everyone) check this out:

http://www.knittingtoday.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=20011&Category_Code=UA&Product_Count=5

I found it last night as I was snooping around the net. Looks like it would make ribbing and seed stitch much easier :thumb

I really want a seed stitcher. . . big time. She and her hubby actually make those, isn't that cool?

I have wondered about how much shipping is for this thing....I have seen the one they sell at WalMart (which I think is the same thing) at one of our stores clearanced to 60 something...I figured if it went below $50 I would snag it and sell it to someone here.

It depends on which machine it is. The new one WalMart is carrying is only 50 needles instead of 100, doesn't actually clamp to a table, and only comes with an intarsia keyplate. I am not sure why Bond put out such a thing but there are many people who are very unhappy with it.

[pmcgary]

I really want a seed stitcher. . . big time. She and her hubby actually make those, isn't that cool?



It depends on which machine it is. The new one WalMart is carrying is only 50 needles instead of 100, doesn't actually clamp to a table, and only comes with an intarsia keyplate. I am not sure why Bond put out such a thing but there are many people who are very unhappy with it.

I am pretty sure this is the 'old' one.....It was org. $99 and I remember when I got mine from Michael's several people told me I should have gone to WalMart as it was cheaper. (I had a gift card and 50% off coupon for Michaels so it was still cheaper there)

Say, for those of you with yours clamped to a board...how big? My tables all have curved corners!

[clothusingmama]

You can tell if it is the new or old one just by how big it is. The old one came with 100 needles and the new one only has 50. I wish I remembered what the different names are for them.

My board is oversized so I can put my ball winder on the end of it. It is about 5 foot by 1 foot. I picked up a scrap board from Lowes, they gave it to me since it was a scrap. They even cut it down a bit :D

[Nada]

I got one this week! :banana I'll be trying it this weekend!!!


Nada :love

[radish]

Crap, I really need to gte motivated to use my machine... :(

[Perogi]

Any updates here?? I want to get a USM for Christmas so I'd love to hear/see how it's going for you all.

[Susan_WW]

I have the Bond USM and I love it! I do about 1/2 of my biz knitting on it. It does go pretty fast but there is alot of stitch manipulation that you need to do and then there are seams to sew (which you wouldn't have if you were knitting in the round). It does save tons of time on straight things like legs though. I do most of my pants on the machine. Sometimes I'll do soakers on the machine and sometimes by hand, depending on the size and rise requested.

I don't do any ribbing with it because I don't think it makes it tight enough to be practical. I've never tried seed stitch though, maybe it would work out OK.

[Perogi]

I'm mostly looking at getting it to do bigger items like sweaters and such. I quite enjoy hand knitting my soakers - they go fast enough that I don't get frustrated, but just one look at a sweater for me or dh as a hand knit item sends me running for the hills. I won't even attempt it; I know that I'd never finish it. Especially designs that have a lot of plain stock. st. - which dh tends to like the best.

[devonc]

I haven't taken mine out in about a week, but I am off allllll week next week so it's on my to-do list for then!!

[laprettygurl]

I bought a second hand one from the goodwill but it has no manual and I contacted the manufacturer and they don't make them anymore.

Does anyone know where I can get a manual for a singer lite knitter? I think that's what it's called. It's behind the tv stand because I cannot figure it out. :(

[clothusingmama]

You can just package it up and send it to me :D Just kidding. I honestly don't know how to make it work, sorry :( Have you looked to see if there is a yahoo group for that machine or at least a big knitting yahoo group that might have someone on there who can help?

[pmcgary]

I bought a second hand one from the goodwill but it has no manual and I contacted the manufacturer and they don't make them anymore.

Does anyone know where I can get a manual for a singer lite knitter? I think that's what it's called. It's behind the tv stand because I cannot figure it out. :(

Check on line? did you google for the manual? I woudl also suggest contacting the mnf. again - I can't believe they don't still have manuals around for those things--

[jmo]

OK, I bit the bullet and just bought a USM today w/ the 50% off coupon at Michaels. Here's the issue: we don't have a VCR. Does anyone know if the video comes in DVD format, and if so where it can be ordered?

Oh, and I just realized that we don't have a single suitable table/counter edge in the house for it! Ack! Well, my desk would work, but that's where my laptop is. :goodgrief

[pmcgary]

OK, I bit the bullet and just bought a USM today w/ the 50% off coupon at Michaels. Here's the issue: we don't have a VCR. Does anyone know if the video comes in DVD format, and if so where it can be ordered?

Oh, and I just realized that we don't have a single suitable table/counter edge in the house for it! Ack! Well, my desk would work, but that's where my laptop is. :goodgrief

I don't know about the DVD thing.....I would prefer that as I could watch it at my computer.

I am getting dh to put my machine on a board as we don't have a table for it either.

[Perogi]

Okay, ladies, keep up the good work! I'm learning from you all in preparation for getting one for Christmas from my IL's. :pink

[mamapez]

I have a board from Home Depot that I clamp to the edge of my desk. Then I clamp my machine to it.

[batgirl]

Does the USM knit worsted/chunky/bulky yarns as well?

[mamapez]

I believe it is considered a bulky knitting machine. Although I find I have the best success with worsted weight yarns.

[clothusingmama]

You can do bulkier yarns if careful about it. I have used lion brand chenille thick and quick using every other needle before. It made this really cool fabric that my daughter was happy with for her dolly blanket. I like heavy worsted or a light bulky the best personally but it depends on the project and how you want it to feel when finished. I have even used lion brand chunky usa every needle before but the fabric was stiff and not all that great for much of anything. Every other needle though makes a good flexible fabric that is nice for kids dolly stuff. I always make that stuff from acrylic so it can be abused and then washed aggressivly :)

[Perogi]

Hmmm...will light-med worsted be okay?

[jmo]

Thanks for the tip of putting the USM on a board - I'll look into that. I'll still need a good location for it when I try it out. I read the print directions thoroughly with all the pieces in front of me, and I understood everything pretty well I think. After reading the tips here and going through the directions again, perhaps I'll just go ahead and try it out since I can't watch the video anyway. I did find our old VCR, but dh is OCD over the entertainment center, so I'm not going to try to hook it up.

[clothusingmama]

Hmmm...will light-med worsted be okay?

It depends on what you want the finished fabric to be like. If you want a tightly knit fabric then light worsted will not be a good yarn choice. If you want a more flexible fabric, something that drapes well and is fluid then that yarn will be just fine. It also depends on what keyplate you use. Changing your keyplate is like changing your needle size when knitting by hand. I personally think keyplate 1 is a waste of space but get great results with keyplates 2-4. I have used KP 2 for longies with 2ply targee with great sucess :)

[jmo]

Ok, I set up the machine on my desk (I had to remove a drawer), and I'm reaching over it trying not to gouge myself on the edge to type on my laptop.

I carefully followed the directions since I can't watch the video, and I got a good couple of inches of knit fabric going before I stopped! Yay! This thing rocks; it's so fast even dh was fascinated with it. He kept asking questions about what I can knit with it, he examined the keyplates, and he even wanted to work the machine a bit.

I pulled out some patterns I've put on hold b/c of time and all, but with this machine, I think I can get them knocked out. I'll still need to knit the edging and then attach it to the machine, but I won't have to do all the stockinette. :P

I know I can't use the machine for some of the projects I have lined up such as a miter-square cardigan, or a slip-stitch dress, or Eris and Rogue since they're in the round. What I'm really looking forward to is getting some of this backlogged yarn out of the way! I have several lacey scarves I want to knit, too, so I'll see if I can do them w/ the machine.

I see me searching the internet for knitting machine patterns in the very near future. ;)

[clothusingmama]

Yeah!! It is fun isn't it :) My hubby had to play with mine when I first got it too, it was quite funny actually. When I gave him his first sweater he asked me "so how hard is this, is it something I could do?". I just about fell off the couch. Of course he would never make one but was very interested in what the heck I was doing.

There are some excellent bond pattern sites out there. Here are a couple I like http://www.kangamooknits.com/ http://heidisknittingroom.ourfamily.com/ and there is always the bond pattern section http://bond-america.com/projects/usm_proj/usm_project_index.html

[jmo]

I was just using Cascade Eco w/ my machine, and I'm wondering if it's too delicate a yarn? I wouldn't think so, but about every 4 rows, the yarn just broke right in the middle of a row. I was trying to be very conscious of what I was doing, and I know I wasn't pulling the yarn and I was sliding the cartridge across at a slow-moderate speed. I was using keyplate 3 since it's recommended for worsted yarn, and that's what I usually treat Eco as when handknitting.

Any thoughts as to why the yarn kept breaking? I tried to take a picture, but the pics weren't coming out.

[Sheena]

Jeez, I must be USM impaired, lol. I did fine with the yarn that came with it but when I tried to switch (I can't remember what it was to) the cartridge kept getting 100% jammed. I mean totally immobile. I had to disassemble it to get it apart. Any ideas?

[whimsy]

Crap people!

I successfully avoided this thread until this morning. I need one of these like I need a hole in the head. But now I WANT one so bad!

[jmo]

Amy--

Since I started using my machine a couple of days ago, I have no clue why the machine was jamming on you. I was reading through my manual, and there is a troubleshooting section for carridge jamming - did you check that out? Maybe it's the wrong keyplate size for the yarn? LOL I'm so unqualified to give advice on the USM! Maybe in a few months.

I need to figure out why my yarn kept breaking. Perhaps the USM works better on less-fluffy yarns, or maybe the size 3 keyplate just isn't suitable for Eco.

On the really positive side, though, it took me about an hour to work what would have been one side of a pair of pants. It would have taken less time if I didn't have to keep ripping out rows to remove the sections where the yarn broke. I imagine it would take me a couple of hours to knit up the pieces for a pair of pants. Who knows how long it would take me to get them seamed together, though... :LOL