Blog

All Posts
Different machine knitting pattern formats laid side by side, showing various historical and modern notation styles used for machine knitting instructions
Machine Knitting Tips
japanese notation knit it now patterns

Comparing Machine Knitting Pattern Formats

Over the years machine knitting patterns have been published in a number of formats. Knitting from the different formats can be confusing.

Knit it Now has brought machine knitting patterns into the 21st century.

more...

Diagram showing how a stitch appears to vanish when picking up stitches from a cast-on edge, with needles and stitches clearly illustrated to demonstrate the phenomenon
Machine Knitting Tips
tip Troubleshooting

'Lost' Stitch

Something odd happens when you pick up stitches from a cast on edge ... a stitch gets "lost"

more...

Close-up view of knitting still on the machine bed, showing distorted and overly tight stitches along the edge where the carriage enters, a common issue faced by machine knitters
Machine Knitting Tips
tip Troubleshooting

Does this happen to you?

Get to the bottom of why stitches aren't knitting properly at the edges of your knitting.

more...

Two machine-knitted stockinette stitch swatches demonstrating natural edge curling, a common characteristic of knitted fabric
Knitting Machine Projects | Patterns
curl tip

No-Roll Machine Knit Scarves

Plain knitting curls. As we machine knit, our stitches are uniform and flawless, which makes the curl more more pronounced.

The "dreaded" curl frequently surprises and discourages new machine knitters.
Explore ways to "tame" the curl.

more...

Side-by-side photos showing negative ease in action: a fitted pair of socks hugging the feet and a snug knitted hat conforming to a model's head shape
Machine Knitting Tips
Ease hat learning library measuring Negative Ease socks

About Negative Ease

Take steps to guarantee that hats stay on and socks fits well with negative ease.

more...

A knitted sweater being worn with an overly long sleeve extending past the model's hands, highlighting the common fit issue of excessive sleeve length
Knitwear Design
magic formula sleeve sleeve length

Sleeves too long? Here are 3 easy ways to get them right

Why search for a pattern with short sleeves (or 3/4 length)?

With a little math (or a Knit it Now Dynamic Pattern) you can make the sleeves any length you want.

Be your own knitwear designer and knit perfect length sleeves.

more...

Demonstrating manual stitch reformation using a latch tool on a knitting machine, showing how to create ribbing by hand without a ribber attachment
Machine Knitting Techniques
mock ribbing ribbing

Ribbing without a Ribber

No ribber? You can manually reform stitches to create ribbing.

more...

Diagram of a standard knitting machine punchcard showing different starting positions marked for Brother, Singer, and Silver Reed machines, illustrating cross-brand compatibility
Machine Knitting Techniques
punchcard

Are punchcards interchangeable?

Punchcards printed by the different machine manufacturers may vary slightly, but they are interchangeable, with some limits.

more...

A sock being knitted on a flatbed knitting machine, showing the work in progress with visible short row shaping for the heel area
Knitting Machine Projects | Patterns
patterns socks

6 Tips for Knitting Socks

Knitting socks on a flatbed knitting machine shouldn't be intimidating.
Master short row shaping and you can knit lots of variations.
Toe up, cuff down, yoga socks, socks for kids and adults .. the sky's the limit!

more...

Flat lay arrangement of machine knitting tools showing several cast-on rags alongside claw weights and weight hangers, demonstrating essential tools for machine cast-on techniques
Machine Knitting Tips
cast on scrap and ravel cord

Cast on Rags

Cast on rags are a good alternative to scrapping on with waste yarn.

They are especially useful when casting on a few stitches (like the underarm stitches for a sleeve or for shaping a sock gusset).

They are re-usable and save time when casting on any number of stitches.

more...

Close-up photo of a knitting machine's tension assembly, showing detailed view of the numbered tension dial and threading area
Machine Knitting Tips
mast take-up spring mast tension dial tip

Thread it right

The tension mast on our machines controls the flow of yarn to the needles. Incorrectly threaded it can cause any number of problems, including mis-formed stitches, knitting dropping from the machine and mis-patterning. Take a moment to double check.

more...

Close-up of a knitted gauge swatch with yellow rulers
Machine Knitting Tips
gauge Gauge Rulers measuring swatch

Sometimes it's just something simple

Measure twice, KNIT ONCE
Words of wisdom to apply to establishing your gauge.

more...