Introducing My New Toy

I bought a knitting machine. It is a Toyota KS950. I bought it last summer. It is older and used, so as the months have past I have tracked down the parts that were missing, and now it is a complete set; ready to start creating projects with. 

Isn’t it a thing of beauty?  

 Knitting machines for home use are, as far as I know, out of production. They came into current popularity during the 1950’s and then faded off into the 2000’s.  But it would appear that the interest in knitting with a flat bed knitting machine is coming back. I think the Internet is having a big impact on this craft because now we can talk to other home machine knitters from all over the world and help each other with getting the most out of our machines, and with tracking down good quality accessories. Currently, I am on two Facebook groups that are knitting machine focused. There is a lot of excitement in these groups about the projects that we are producing and the challenges that we encounter with our machines 

As I have said before; I love to knit. It is, for sure, my pastime passion. It relaxes me. It helps me get back to my own thoughts. I find a rhythm and stability about the craft, that I don’t find with any other. And it is also a fun way to create something beautiful and useful for myself or for someone else. The beauty of this craft, for me, is that as I knit a project for someone else, I am thinking about them and sending loving thoughts to them. It is a win-win in so many ways. And brings me joy to see my gift being used and enjoyed once I have given it away.

When I heard about home knitting machines, I got very excited. I saw it as a way to make more projects and bless more people. I can try out design ideas I have and get quicker, more immediate results. I can make projects on consignment for sale to people who might like a custom-made article of clothing that will last them for many years. I can make home décor projects. I can create beautiful works of art in a fraction of the time it might take if I were doing it by hand on two or five needles. And I also see it as way I can further Ungrip – see @wwf –so I can do more and more things for myself and cut ties to large clothing manufacturers that have lost touch with real people.  

The final piece to my knitting machine adventure has arrived. I just need to pick it up at the postal station. This last piece is a ribbing attachment. With it I can knit a sweater from start to finish all on the machine. I look forward to sharing this journey as I learn and explore this new interest.