Employing a knitting machine may cause an analogous finished product, but the method of developing a pattern, selecting the yarn, and working up the project and finishing it are totally different. Making the psychological adjustments can be trying. Most hand knitters “moving up” to a flat knitting machine have a selection of knitting needles, a drawer full of knitting patterns and a trunk full of left over yarns in all colours, weights and materials. With the concept of increased speed and output, the actuality of the flat knitting machine could be a disappointing jolt.

That suggests, basically, that there’ll be only 1 size needle. The range of yarns is thus more limited. The flat knitting machine is limited, also in the range of possible stitching styles. They can handle intarsia patterns quickly and accurately, for example. If that type of design is the target of the knitter then a flat knitting machine is an excellent help and the work it takes to be taught how to operate the machine will be easily worth whilst. But if the knitter is looking for a less complicated way to do wires or lace work, there might be some disgruntlement in the offing.

The subsequent surprise is the process of changing from knitting by hand to a flat knitting machine isn’t the same as the change from hand stitching to machine sewing. It is, in truth, more like going from a file cupboard to PC filing. For speedy, stockinet flat knitting, you cannot beat a flat knitting machine. For something tougher, you are looking at a magnificent learning curve. For hand knitters, going from stockinet knit to a garter stitch is simplicity itself.

Rather than knitting each row, you knit one row and purl the next. You can do a garter stitch on a machine, but you need to discover how all over again. The learning curve reaches to such outwardly easy jobs as figuring the gauge and changing the needles for a pattern stitch. This is the key : if you understand what a machine can do and you are ready to focus on the machine’s specialties, you are in for a long and rewarding relationship.