Surfing YouTube recently, I came across a demonstration of a knitting machine. Now, I know absolutely nothing about knitting except that I like to wear knitted fabric, usually, depending upon the fibers. I even tried to knit once and it was a boring disaster -- the worst kind. In watching the knitting machine make perfect stitches in a matter of seconds as well as seeing lots of shiny metal and plastic, levers, buttons, dials, and the operator moving stitches around manually, I was hooked -- latch hooked. I had to have one and two days later, I had ordered two to be picked up locally.
From my tabula rasa, there seem to be two main advantages of machine knitting and they are conveniently similar to those posed by machine sewing: 1) speed; 2) precision. Now, I know there are those who probably think that knitting with a machine isn't really knitting. If machine sewing is acceptable, why not machine knitting? A novice like myself can achieve very good results by simply reading the manual and in glancing at the first few pages, these complex-looking contraptions aren't hard to understand. There are tensions, cams, stitch types, and other territory a sewing machine enthusiast will find very familiar. Now be honest: does a sewing machine with these not-so-modern conveniences imply you're not really sewing?
There are four basic types of knitting machines according to automation, primitive to advanced: 1) manual; 2) push-button; 3) punch card; 4) electronic/computerized. Each has advantages and disadvantages and my very ignorant perspective tells me that punch card machines are what I'm looking for: the most fun for the least amount of tedium, i.e. the most knitted fabric in the least time and for the least effort. A knitting machine should make the process of creating knit fabric as easy as possible while still allowing the knitter's imagination free reign (or nearly so). (If it doesn't offer speed, precision, and enjoyment, why buy one?) A computerized machine is tempting but vintage electronics, like all electronics, have a finite lifespan that once complete renders such a machine completely manual until fixed. Fixing/replacing costs enough to buy another machine. (Sound familiar, computerized sewing machine owners?) Thus, punch cards are the most technically advanced mass-market vintage machine that are still mechanical, require no electricity to operate, and are able to produce intricate patterns relatively quickly and efficiently.
Another consideration is that there are four basic types of knitting machines according to gauge, pertaining to the number of millimeters between needles: 1) fine; 2) standard; 3) medium or mid; 4) chunky or bulky. These broad categorizations overlap occasionally and the measurements (in millimeters) aren't set in stone but I chose standard as my starting point, as I think it will give me variety at lower cost.
For my nascent purposes, an inexpensive vintage Japanese machine is just what I'm looking for and I managed to find two such machines, one local and the other about two hours away. (Rather than have the bulky, heavy item shipped at great cost, I thought I'd enjoy the drive. I didn't enjoy the drive all that much but it was worth the trip.) Here is the first one I found, a Studio 327 with a SRP-20 ribber -- a 24-row punch card machine in standard gauge (4.5mm, in this case):
Not having read the manual, I'm not sure what all the controls do except that the thing with a handle is called the carriage and when drawn right and left across the needles, knitting is accomplished depending upon the positions of those needles (there are four positions). The carriage has cams and the lever on the dial controls which type of stitch is selected. There is a built-in knit radar, which indicates how many stitches you must change per row in order to knit a shaped piece, there is the card reader, and a row counter. Included is a yarn tower that includes a tension assembly and guides.
The machine appears to be in pretty good shape for a vintage machine. The yellow color indicates that the prior owner left it exposed to a sunny window, thus giving the machine a UV sun tan. (It was originally a putty-colored off-white.) The case has a few dings but appears to keep it protected and the whole contraption folds up neatly and easily.
Included is what is called a ribbing attachment or 'ribber', this a SRP-20. Included with the ribber are a number of other attachments whose purposes are unknown to me at this time. (Yarn weights, combs of various sizes, sponge bar guides, some strange wire thingies, etc.) A copy of a manual of the 328 machine (very similar to the 327) is included.
Best of all, the original punch cards were included -- quite a few. However, I don't yet know about the designs they make nor what all the attachments are for and overall, I don't think this is a complete 327 + ribber set up; There are transfer tools and a tappet missing and I'm not sure but I thought a lace carriage might have been in the mix, too.
Anyway, this is a fascinating bit of machinery and I'm curious about it and whether it lives up to expectations -- mine or otherwise. What do you think about knitting machines? (Janet, I'm especially interested in your take, as you're an expert knitter -- something I didn't know until recently. If you happen to be reading this and you'd like to share your opinion, I'd love to read it!)
