Musings Of a Handknitter on Machine Knitting
Odile-recovery is still going on here... Yesterday I finally got to my knitting machine, which was wrapped up in blankets and hidden in a closet during the hurricane. It survived, but needs some oiling. As it's almost impossible to buy anything in half destroyed shops right now, I should probably wait for another couple of weeks before using it again.I started to think about buying a knitting machine a couple of years ago. For multiply reasons.Reason #1. I LOVE knitwear. I can't get enough of it. I love basic stockinette stitch garments, but as a handknitter I prefer complicated and challenging patterns over which I can break my head. I have tons of projects planned, I think a lifetime is not enough. I know there is always hope, but also there are times when you have to face a dreadful reality - it's impossible to knit twenty garments a month. So, at some point I thought if I really want to get to my basic knits, knitting machine is a good way to go.Reason #2. Experiment. Knitting machine gives me more freedom in bringing my ideas to life. I can experiment with colors and different forms of shaping before trying it in handknitting. It is my white canvas.
Reason #3. My stash. All these colorful squashy balls of yarn deserve to be put in action.
Having thought everything through, I decided to buy my very first knitting machine one year ago. After reading dozens of reviews, I chose Silver Reed LK150, one of the most basic and simple models.
To be honest I imagined that the instruction for the knitting machine would look something like that:
- Choose the yarn you like
- Choose the style of the garment you would love to make
- Press a button
- Come back in 30-60 minutes to pick up the garment
Ha! So far from the truth...I must say it was not love at first sight. Honestly, I was a little bit intimidated by it. It looked so unfamiliar, so not knitting. But after a while I understood that I'd found a new "yarny" hobby - challenging and truly enjoyable.Machine knitting takes time to master, just like handknitting. There is a variety of techniques and little secrets that make this craft fascinating.To my surprise, it’s so much closer to handknitting than I thought. I wouldn't label the garment made on the knitting machine as handknit, but handmade for sure. The time put into it and the amount of work that you actually do with your hands are definitely not comparable with the mass production knitwear.So for me, a passionate handknitter and crocheter, machine knitting is a completely different and challenging experience.
I always wonder how other handknitters see machine knitting. Let me know!