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Welcome to Knit it Now Welcome to Knit it Now - Classroom

Are you new here? The site has grown to serve our machine knitting community worldwide.
Explore Knit it Now and discover how we can help you be a better machine knitter.

End Needle Selection

End Needle Selection - Classroom
When knitting in pattern it's important to control the end needles as you knit. Keeping the edges neat and tidy makes it easier to seam.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting - Classroom
It's happened to us all ... the work drops off the machine (always at the worst moment). We drop stitches or knit in a knot.

Shawl Collar

Shawl Collar - Classroom
Classic shawl collar sweaters can be a beautiful addition to any wardrobe. Explore the challenges of knitting shawl collar sweaters on our knitting machines.

Socks on a Knitting Machine

Socks on a Knitting Machine - Classroom

Knitting socks on a flatbed 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!

Stripes

Stripes - Classroom

Jazz up your knitting with stripes. Add color, horizontal stitch patterns, eyelets, garter ridges ... the sky's the limit!

Cast on Methods

Cast on Methods - Classroom

So many options to get our knitting started. Do you have a "go-to" favorite? Maybe it's time to try something new!

Neckline Shaping

Neckline Shaping - Classroom
Shaping necklines can be challenging. Explore tips an tricks for success.

Fixing Mistakes

Fixing Mistakes - Classroom
We all make 'em! Tips for fixing mistakes when machine knitting.

Hems and Edges

Hems and Edges - Classroom

Hems are the finishing touch for any knitted item. Sure you can add ribbing or just let the edges roll. But ...adding a hem creates a stable edge, adds interest and gives your item a designer touch.

Here's a challenge: Plan and knit a hem on your next project!

Pintucks

Pintucks - Classroom
Pintucks on either the single or double bed can add interesting texture to your knitting.

Explore the many methods of adding "ridges".

Fairisle (Stranded Knitting)

Fairisle (Stranded Knitting) - Classroom

Hand knitters should be jealous of how quickly and neatly we can work Fairisle (stranded knitting) on our machines.
Automatic patterning (punchcard and electronic) machines make quick work of knitting with multiple colors. With manual machines, you can also work fairisle more quickly than by hand.

Scarves and Shawls

Scarves and Shawls - Classroom

Warm scarves are always a welcome addition to anyone's wardrobe.

As machine knitters, it's easy for us to quickly finish beautiful scarves. At the same time we build confidence and knowledge of our machines.

Mitten Magic

Mitten Magic - Classroom

Mittens and gloves can be quick projects to use up small amounts of yarn ... and keep hands warm!

You can make them as complicated as you like, or down-and-dirty, quick-n-easy ... it's your choice!

Bind off Methods

Bind off Methods - Classroom

There are many bind off methods. Explore different techniques and expand your finishing skills.

Practice Makes Progress

Practice Makes Progress - Classroom

Instead of jumping in with an adult size project, try new-to-you techniques with practice patterns

Cables

Cables - Classroom
Yes ... traditional cables are possible on the knitting machine.

Darts for better fit

Darts for better fit - Classroom
Shaping your knitting with darts can really improve fit. Learn what they are, how to create knitting instructions and how to knit them.

Ease

Ease - Classroom
Learn how Ease makes garments comfortable for YOU.

Knitweave

Knitweave - Classroom

Weaving on the knitting machine is an often overlooked technique that has lots of possibilities. The idea is to carry strands of yarn across the purl side of the knitting, creating decorative floats.

Circles on the Machine

Circles on the Machine - Classroom

As machine knitters, we spend a lot of time knitting rectangles and squares. Knitting circles opens up a world of design possibilities.
Let's explore some circular inspiration!

Babies and Kids

Babies and Kids - Classroom

Knitting for babies and kids is a fast and fun way to polish your knitting skills.
Imagining a little cherub in your creation makes it even sweeter!
From simple all-in-one designs to traditional construction, use our baby and kids inspiration as a canvas for your creativity.

Double Bed Jacquard

Double Bed Jacquard - Classroom
Double Bed Jacquard (DBJ) is a technique for knitting multiple colors per row and incorporating ribber needles to cover floats.

Tuck Lace

Tuck Lace - Classroom
Open, lace-like knitting on any machine without a lace carriage or stitch transfers. Combine tuck with needles out of work for beautiful knits.

Charting Knitting Patterns

Charting Knitting Patterns - Classroom
Creating your own patterns isn't hard, it's another important skill for every knitter. You may not want to chart an entire sweater, but understanding the process goes a long way to making alterations to patterns and customizing your knitting.

Passap

Passap - Classroom
Follow along as this long-time Japanese machine knitter learns to use a Passap DM80

Hand Manipulation

Hand Manipulation - Classroom

Expand the possibilities of your machine with hand manipulation. Reform, move, twist stitches. Knit them out of order. Create beautiful stitch patterns by taking time to hand manipulate.

Short Row Shaping (partial knitting)

Short Row Shaping (partial knitting) - Classroom

Short Row Shaping (AKA Partial Knitting) is an essential skill for all machine knitters.
Instead of knitting just squares and rectangles, short row shaping is used to shape your knitting.

Ravel Cord

Ravel Cord - Classroom

Ravel cord has so many uses for machine knitters, it's "must have".
Learn what it is and some of the many uses for ravel cord.

Knits that Fit

Knits that Fit - Classroom
Knitting sweaters that fit can be the most challenging part of knitting for yourself (or others).
Learn what it takes by paying attention (and learning about) not only to measurements, but knitting techniques that can impact fit.

Manual Machines

Manual Machines - Classroom
Manual machines do not have working punchcards or electronics. Most of the stitch pattern techniques available with Automatic Patterning machines are knit-able on manual machines. It's just a matter or manually selecting needles.

Buttons and Levers

Buttons and Levers - Classroom
Yikes! All those buttons and levers! How will I ever learn them all?
You CAN do it!

About Knitting Machines

About Knitting Machines - Classroom

Vintage machine database, machine-specific info, manuals and listing of machines from around the world

How Much Yarn do I Need?

How Much Yarn do I Need? - Classroom
If you are substituting yarns or creating your own patterns, you need to know how much yarn you'll need to complete your project.
There are a number of ways to estimate how much yarn you'll need.

Pockets for Machine Knitters

Pockets for Machine Knitters - Classroom

Practical, useful and fun, pockets can add a designer touch to any sweater.

Sideways Knitting

Sideways Knitting - Classroom

Knitting Sideways offers design possibilities

Skirts on the Machine

Skirts on the Machine - Classroom

Knitted skirts are so flattering, feminine and comfortable to wear. Plain or fancy, with our knitting machines we can make quick work of skirts.

Curved Hems

Curved Hems - Classroom

Shaping hems can add a designer touch as well as improve fit. Explore different methods of adding curved hems to your sweaters, from charting to knitting.

Ribber Fabric

Ribber Fabric - Classroom

Use Automatic Patterning on the main bed, combined with ribber needles in work to create texture

Ribbing without a Ribber

Ribbing without a Ribber - Classroom

No Ribber? No Problem
From hand knitting to hand manipulation to mock ribbing, you have options for creating ribbing on your machine.

Hats for Everyone

Hats for Everyone - Classroom

One of the more rewarding projects for machine knitters is hats.
Keep your loved ones warm and polish your knitting skills without a huge time investment.

Intarsia

Intarsia - Classroom

The ability to knit multiple colors across a row without long floats make intarsia a very versatile technique. Some knitting machines have built in intarsia capabilities, but most require an intarsia carriage accessory.

Machine Knitting Patterns | 6 methods

Machine Knitting Patterns | 6 methods - Classroom

Although we no longer have glossy magazines and hard back books published just for us, machine knitters have many options for patterns for our knitting.

Welcome to Knit it Now

Welcome to Knit it Now - Classroom

Are you new here? The site has grown to serve our machine knitting community worldwide.
Explore Knit it Now and discover how we can help you be a better machine knitter.

Shawls and Ponchos

Shawls and Ponchos - Classroom

Whether it's an extravagant shawl in a luxury yarn or a prayer shawl for someone in need, knitting machines make fast work of shawl knitting.

No matter what your experience or skill level you can enjoy success with Shawls! Knit it Now offers a number of different design ideas, from knitting a plain 'ol rectangle to triangles and amazing shapes.

Yarn for Knitting Machines

Yarn for Knitting Machines - Classroom

Cones, balls, hanks, skeins ... you don't need special yarn to use on your knitting machine.
BUT you must understand what yarns work with YOUR machine.

Neck Bands

Neck Bands - Classroom

Neckbands add the finishing touch to your sweaters. No part of the sweater is more visible, so it's important to master the ART of knitting bands. There are many methods and techniques. Gain confidence by taking time to practice BEFORE you start your special one-of-a-kind masterpiece ... you'll be glad you did!

Stash Busters

Stash Busters - Classroom

If you've been knitting for any length of time, you have some "left-overs" or yarn that hasn't been used (AKA "Yarn Stash").

Pillows

Pillows - Classroom

Practice your machine knitting skills and try new techniques with pillows. The simple shapes encourage your creativity and they are great stash-busters!

Buttonholes

Buttonholes - Classroom

Knitters often get overwhelmed with the thought of adding buttonholes to their knits. Although there are many tricks for professional buttonholes, remember they are just holes.

DesignaKnit | DAK

DesignaKnit | DAK - Classroom
DesignaKnit is a stand-alone software for designing garments, creating stitch patterns and communicating with our knitting machines. No matter what type of machine you use (manual or automatic patterning), you can use the power of DesignaKnit (DAK).

Diagonals | Magic Formula

Diagonals | Magic Formula - Classroom
Learning about shaping your knitting is essential for all knitters. Diagonal shaping is the basis for most knitting patterns. Explore tips for making it easy to calculate and knit angles.

Not Enough Needles?

Not Enough Needles? - Classroom
The width of our knitting is limited to the number of needles on the needlebed. There are a number of "work-arounds" to our needlebed limitations.

Increase / Decrease

Increase / Decrease - Classroom
Unless you only want to knit scarves and blankets, you will use increases and decreases to shape your knitting. There are many, many methods. Take time to learn multiple techniques for different results.

Sleeves

Sleeves - Classroom
From easy to couture ... sleeves are an essential part of any sweater. If you are knitting for kids, fast 'n easy may be the way to go. For adults you may choose raglan or set-in sleeves or any of the many alternatives available.

Collars for Machine Knitters

Collars for Machine Knitters - Classroom
Adding collars to knits isn't hard. It takes a little planning and an understanding of collar construction for machine knitters.

Let's examine 3 collar styles: KIIS, Turtleneck and Cowl Necks
Design a collar for your next project

Ribber

Ribber - Classroom
Adding a ribber to your machine knitting setup adds a world of possibilities to your knitting.

If you haven't mastered your ribber, or even taken it out from under the bed ... dust it off and get knitting!

You'll be glad you did!

Ribber Part 2

Ribber Part 2 - Classroom
There's no reason to be intimidated by the ribber.
If you've mastered the main bed, now is the time to expand your knitting horizons.
Explore amazing fabrics you can create, beautiful trims and edges ... the possibilities are endless!

Lace on the machine

Lace on the machine - Classroom
Lace knitting on the machine comes in all flavors. Think of "organized holes" - random or structured, adding eyelet holes to your knitting opens a world of possibilities.

From automatic patterning with a lace carriage on a standard machine, to manually transferring stitches, to knitting with xtra fine yarn on any machine ... YOU CAN KNIT LACE!

Brother 970 Tips

Brother 970 Tips - Classroom
The Brother 970 CB-1 Box is unique in the machine knitting world. Although the technology was advanced for it's time, today it's dated. But it isn't hard to use if you take things step by step.

Cut 'n Sew

Cut 'n Sew - Classroom
As machine knitters we can create raw knitted "fabric" fairly quickly. Thinking of our knitting as fabric opens new possibilities for creating garments.

Hoods

Hoods - Classroom
Hoods add a decorative and practical touch to any sweater. Knit your own hoodie with any knitting pattern.

LK150

LK150 - Classroom
You can do so much with the Silver Reed LK-150 machine. This manual machine has so much going for it, that many experienced machine knitters are giving their metal bed, automatic patterning machines a rest and using the LK for fast, fun projects.

Seaming Perfection

Seaming Perfection - Classroom

Unless you only knit scarves, you are going to join the edges of your knitted pieces. Choosing the right technique will elevate your knitting from "home made" to "hand made"

Punchcards

Punchcards - Classroom
Automatic patterning with punchcards (or electronics) can seem mysterious. Understanding how they work is critical to successful knitting in pattern.

Slip Stitch

Slip Stitch - Classroom
Slip Stitch is a very versatile stitch pattern available on any knitting machine.

Garter Stitch on the Machine

Garter Stitch on the Machine - Classroom
Be default, knitting machines knit stockinette stitch. Stockinette has a smooth side (knit) side and a bumpy side (purl side)
In hand knitting terms this is knit 1 row purl 1 row.
Hand knitters can easily knit garter stitch by knitting every row. The "purl bumps" are visible on both sides of the knitting.

As machine knitters we have to take steps to show the purl bumps on the opposite side of our knitting.

Blankets on the Knitting Machine

Blankets on the Knitting Machine - Classroom
One of the more rewarding projects for machine knitters are blankets. Call them afghans, throws ... whatever ... they add color and texture to your home and keep loved ones warm and toasty!

Instead of hand knitting for weeks (or months) machine knitters can finish FAST!

I-Cord on the Knitting Machine

I-Cord on the Knitting Machine - Classroom
I-cord (or slip cord) can be used in many ways to embellish your knitting.
It can be used as shoulder straps for girls dresses, belts and decorative ties … the list is endless!
Machine knitters can quickly make I-cord and
it is an essential technique for beginners to learn.

Tuck Talk

Tuck Talk - Classroom

Tuck is one of the most versatile stitch patterns available to machine knitters.
Once you understand how tuck stitch is created on your machine, the sky's the limit!

Swatching is not Optional!

Swatching is not Optional! - Classroom

No matter what you want to knit, making gauge swatch is NOT OPTIONAL!