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Machine Knitting Overview

Please be aware that the knitting machine will be in use for inductions on Thursdays and Fridays 10:00-13:00

The Brother KH-940 knitting machine is a 4.5mm standard-gauge flat-bed machine. The manual is available online here, and we have a paper copy in the lab. You must have completed the Knitting Machine Induction before using the machine.

StitchesInductions and TechniquesWorkshops

Knitting Machine Induction

InInductions for the Knitting machine knitting,are knittedbookable fabricon isORB createdhere. byThis manuallyinduction slidinglasts 3 hours and will teach you the carriagebasics backof single bed machine knitting. You will learn how to:

  • Thread the auto-tension
  • Cast-on using two different techniques (e-wrap and forthweaving)
    • over
  • Increase and decrease stitches using two different techniques (fully fashioned and cast-on/cast-off)
  • Change colour
  • Change stitch sizes
  • Cast-off with the needletransfer bed.tool
    • Each
  • Debug stitchand isfix formedmistakes
    • as
the needle pulls a new loop of yarn through the stitch on the previous row.

Advanced Knitting is distinct from weaving: in weaving, fabric is created by interlacing 2 sets of threads at right angles to one another, while knitting involves taking a single thread and looping it around itself, one row at a time. (we currently don't have any weaving capabilities in the CCI).

A diagram showing the structure of knitted fabric

The two foundation stitches in knitting are the knit and purl stitches. These are the reverse of each other, meaning that you are pulling the yarn through the previous stitch from the opposite direction.

Workshops

After completingyou have completed the Knitting Machine Induction, thereyou arewill be able to attend any of the four Advanced WorkshopsWorkshops. They are all bookable on ORB here.

Short Rowing

Short rowing is a method that coverallows you to put needles 'on hold' and knit a varietyrow without adding a new stitch onto every needle (called a short or partial row). This allows you to create interesting shapes including 3d and curved swatches (such as the heel or toe of techniques:a sock).

    DesignaKnit and Fair Isle

    DesignaKnit is a pattern drafting, garment design, and interactive machine control software for knitting machines. It can be used for a number of things including creating colour work with a technique called Fair Isle.

    In this workshop you will learn how to:

  • ShortCreate Rowingshape files
  • Create stitch files
  • Convert images to stitch files
  • Upload files onto the Knitting machine
  • Knit Fair Isle patterns

Intarsia

TuckIntarsia is a colour work technique that allows the creation of patterns with more than 2 colours per row and slipno stitchesfloats. It is especially useful for working with conductive yarns and the automaticlack colourof changerfloats

  • Intarsia
    • means
  • Fair Isle and DesignaKnit

    • After you have practiced enough on the single bed,that you can thencreate completesections thethat Ribberare Inductionconductively toisolated learnfrom howeach to use the second bed.other.

    E-textiles and technical knits

    The knitting machine can also be used to create textiles with electronic properties, including conductive and stretch sensors, and even radio components. Please see this guide to knitting with conductive yarn for more information.

    Resources

    Choosing Yarns

    We provide a range of yarns at the CCI that are compatible for use with the machine. It is strongly suggested that when starting to use the machine, you make use of the 2-ply lambswool we provide (and that will be used during tutorials). 2 strands of the lambswool are threaded through the tensioner together to create a 4-ply yarn.

    If you are planning to create larger projects (e.g. bigger than a standard sample swatch), we ask that you source your own yarns. Finding yarns suitable for machine knitting is a different task than for hand knit: this guide offers a good overview of considerations. In general, you will have more luck with yarns intended for machine knitting -- talk to Agnes if you would like more advice.

    At the CCI, our main yarn supplier is Uppingham Yarns, who have a wide range and high quality. Other recommended suppliers include:

    • Knit Works in Bethnal Green -- this place is worth a visit, they also have machine knitting classes + sell a very wide range of machine yarns.
    • Denier Studio in Tottenham -- they sell deadstock yarns, good on both a sustainability front and tend to be a lot cheaper.

    Machine Knit Inspiration

    electronic textiles

    machine knitting for actuation/active textiles

    textbooks

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