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Infographic showing worldwide knitting machine manufacturers and their associated brand names across different countries and regions

Knitting Machines Around the World

Over the years, knitting machines have been made by various manufacturers and marketed in different parts of the world under different brand names. Here's a quick reference for the various names.

machine knitting

Over the years, knitting machines have been made by various manufacturers and marketed in different parts of the world under different brand names.

It's important to remember that one brand isn't "better" than another. The machines may have different names and locations for buttons and levers, and they can have different logic (especially with automatic patterning), but they all do basically the same thing.

Whether manual, punchcard, electronic, vintage or new, our knitting machines are tools that we can use to more quickly create knitted "fabric" and express our creativity.

Visit the FULL Knit it Now Machine index

JAPANESE

BROTHER
  • KnitKing (US)
  • Defendi Brother (IT)
  • Jones (UK)
  • Erka (F)
CHINESE CLONES (new)
  • Artisan (US)
  • Creative
  • Taitexma
TOYOTA
  • Elna (SW)
JUKI
  • Erka (F)
  • Gritzner (DE)
  • Singer /Lemair (AU)
CORONA(even 11 mm)
  • Studio 121 (11mm)
SILVER REED
  • Silver Reed (UK) (until 2011)
  • Dimac (Bulky8 /SK120)
  • Elna (SW)
  • Necchi/Vigorelli (IT)
  • Norsy (NO)
  • Riccar (RU)
  • Knitmaster/Singer (AU)
  • Empisal Knitmaster (UK)
  • Singer (US)
  • Studio (CA)

EUROPEAN

PASSAP
  • Pfaff (DE-UK)
    (even 3.123mm)

BOND (UK)
  • Incredible Sweater Machine (ISM)
SUPERBA (F-EU-CA-US-AU-AS)
  • White (US)
  • Singer (EU-UK)
  • Phildar(F)
OTHER BRANDS (vintage)
  • Girotex (F)
  • Dopleta (CZ)
  • Veritas (DE/DDR)
  • Knittax (DE)

VINTAGE

Prior Purl
(AU) Garter Stitch
Neva
Severianka (RU) 5mm
Simac
Sona
Inaisa
 (IN) 4.5
Thanks to Claudia Scarpa for sharing this information: http://ratatatata.it/mappa-delle-macchine
Visit the FULL Knit it Now Machine index
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7 COMMENTS
Robyn T
 Feb 11, 2022
Hello! I am looking for any resources on modified drop shoulders (square armholes). If you could direct me to any that would be just wonderdul

elein t
 Feb 9, 2022
thankm you for everything.

Nelda R
 Feb 8, 2022
Thanks for your list, Sue. It would be good to compare machines to each other. Also, what brands have electric knitters.

Lynne P
 Feb 8, 2022
When I read this I thought it was saying that Silver Read ceased to be in 2011. Can anyone tell me why these are still being sold as new or does it mean they are no longer being made in UK?

Tina B
 Feb 8, 2022
(Silver Reed) Empisal was sold under brandname Norsy in Norway.

Darlene S
 Feb 8, 2022
wow, helps to sort out the confusion!

Dayana K
 Feb 8, 2022
Very informative!

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