Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting machines are used to create knit fabrics and are also known as a knitting frame, hand knitting machine and knitting loom. Knitting machines can be operated by hand or by motor. Mechanical punch cards, push buttons and computers are used to select the pattern stitches.

Lee invented the first knitting machine. There was a story behind his invention and a painting was displayed about Lee in the Stocking Framer’s Guildhall in London. Lee invented the machine because his girlfriend preferred knitting. Another story produced by Alfred Elmore is how Lee’s ideas are formed for the knitting machine, as he watched his wife knitting. His painting is popularly called ‘The Invention of the Stocking Loom’. Lee demonstrated the operation of the machine to Queen Elizabeth I, for a patent right, but the Queen refused it. Initially, the knitting machine had 8 needles to the inch and later it increased to 20 needles to the inch. Lee started knitting stockings from silk and wool. Lee changed his workplace to France, but unfortunately he did not flourish in the business. He died in Paris and his workers sold the machines in London.
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Later John Ashton assistant of Lee improved the knitting machine and added the mechanism ‘divider’ to the machine. The business started developing by the spinners of Spitalfield village. The demand for stockings made of cotton rise. Knitting by machines was accepted, but it was too expensive for the knitters to buy. Knitters started to hire the machines and started knitting in the machine. In the year 1758, Jedediah Strutt, attached a device called the ‘Derby rib’. The trade moved towards Nottingham, and the workers were running short of raw materials. The spinners found great difficulty in using cotton whereas the Gloucester, spinners found easy to use cotton and they were competing with Nottingham spinners. Later Richard Arkwright, operated the machine by horsepower. Nottingham produced cotton stockings, Derby used silk and Leicester used wool.

There are two types of models known as industrial and domestic, to create rectangular and tubular fabric. There are two flat beds facing each other in the double bed machines. They are used to create purl and plain rib fabric. Single bed machines can also have rib attachment to produce same purl and plain ribs fabric. In the domestic model, 22 latch hook needles are used to hold the stitches. Across the bed of needle, a carriage or cam box is passed to create the next stitch. We can select a particular needle with the help of punch card to pass through the carriage. The machine knits ‘fair isle’ pattern and also the plating and knit weaving patterns.

Weft knitting method is used in domestic knitting machines and the fabric resembles the fabric knitted by hand. Knitting by domestic knitting machine is faster than in hand knitting. The texture of fabric knitted by machine is even the texture knitted by hand. Tuck stitches are easily made in machine knitting whereas the garter stitch is easier in hand knitting.



SILAS
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Sassafrass asked:


Do you know of any that you could type out the instructions or link to them? When I do a search I only find one skein patterns for needle knitting not loom knitting and I am currently on a loom knitting kick! :) I also am not so good at converting one to the other just yet.

Thanks so much!

RUSSELL

Sep
19
Gina Williams asked:


Loom knitting is as well referred to as French knitting, reel knitting, spool knitting, box knitting, rake knitting, ring knitting, bung knitting, frame knitting etc Loom knitting is an historic fine art that has recently found a revival. Knitting nowadays is highly popular all over the world. And the revival of knitting looms in the world of knitting has given all knitters a grounds to smile.

Looms were used extensively in the medieval age in nations like Britain, France, Germany and many other places in Europe. People used the technique of loom knitting to knit bags, purses, tasseled caps, petticoats, shawls, hammocks, curtains, nets, petticoats etc. A common opinion is that guild apprentices knit carpets for their masters on frame boards i.e, knitting looms.

Knitting looms can be separated in to three basic types- the round loom, the rake loom and the knitting board. The round loom is not necessarily round. It could be a square, rectangle, an oval or even diamond-shaped. All pegs of this loom are necessary to be continuous without any specific starting or stopping point. The distance between the pegs of this loom determines its gauge. A lot of space implies a lot of gauge.

There is not much difference between the round loom and the rake. However, the rake, second type of knitting loom, has continuous pegs which have a beginning and a finishing point. Once Again, the gauge of the pegs in this loom is defined by the length between them. Only flat knitting can be done on this type of knitting loom.
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A knitting board is a loom with two twin rakes. These parallel rakes are used to knit across the loom. A double knit fabric can be created with the help of a knitting board. The gauge of this type of loom is marked by two factors- the length between its pegs and the space between its rakes. A wider gauge is created by a larger distance between either of the two.

Loom knitting is facilitated by the different devices on a knitting loom. The knitting looms that have single rows of pegs are called single rakes, while those having double rows of pegs are called double rakes. Knitting materials that have a distinctive right and wrong side can be made with single rakes. A double material with both right sides can be produced with the aid of double rakes.

The purpose pegs serve in loom knitting is same as the purpose needles serve in hand or machine knitting. Each peg in a loom is like a knitting needle which is used to make different patterns and stitches on a loom. Gauge is the length between the pegs of a loom. It is this standard of measurement that specifies the size of the stitches that can be produced, as also the thickness of yarn that would work the best for a particular loom.

Loom knitting has not only gained a return but also is acquiring popularity. It is easy to learn and the knitting looms are simple to use. Those who have given up crochet and needle knitting owing to arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other such complaints can enjoy loom knitting instead. It does not require use of needles and is quite user friendly.

The trend of loom knitting is taking the world by storm and is for certain doing a lot good to the world of knitting.



LEE
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting looms, around since the 16th century, are considered fairly easy to learn and use and are growing in popularity. There are varieties of shapes in looms: some are round, oval and rectangular.

Single loom rakes have single row of pegs and double rakes have two rows of pegs. Looms are mainly used to make knit fabric. The size of the fabric depends upon the size of the loom. And there are many names used for loom knitting: fame knitting, ring knitting, box knitting, spool knitting, reel knitting, French knitting, knitting board, reel knitting are other names for loom knitting.

In the knitting loom, the stitches are made by interconnecting loops which becomes a fabric. Loom knitting is similar to needle knitting. In the loom knitting, the pegs are the needles. When the peg holds one loop it becomes a stitch. The yarn surrounds the pegs. The knitter has to wrap each peg and lifts the bottom loop over and off so that the loop is dropped to the inside of the loom. A stitch will be created when the loop is lifted over and off.

In the knitting looms, knitters combine the purl stitch and knit stitch. Hundreds of stitch patterns rises with this combination. But the designs were limited only. Recently, the loom knitting has undergone vast changes. Lace patterns and cable designs can also be knitted in the loom knitting. Knitting comes in different sizes. There are some popular sizes in the knitting looms that are known as loom gauge. There are three main factors that influence the gauge in the loom knitting. They are knitting loom gauge, yarn and knitting tension. The measurement from center of one peg to the center of other peg determines the gauge on the knitting looms. Another important factor that influences the gauge is the diameter of the peg shaft. If the spacing between the pegs is large, then the stitches will have long space between them. If the pegs are closer, the knit gauge will be smaller.

The knitting loom covers three types of looms. They are single-sided rakes, rounds and knitting boards. The round knitting looms are known as hat looms. They come in different shapes and sizes. They create small tubes for the baby socks, and larger tubes for the hats made for adults. They have stitches similar like needle knitting. A flat panel can also be created using round loom. This form is called single sided rake. You can find single sided rakes also in the knitting looms. They are used specifically to create flat panels.

Knitting board is a part of the knitting looms. The knitting looms have double bed of pegs, which faces each other and allows the knitting to pass through. They are also called knitting frames or double-sided rakes. A fabric is created with double side and there is no wrong side. Knitting tool is a long piece of metal and has an angled tip that is used to lift off the loops.



RICARDO
Gina Williams asked:


Knitting has regained popularity in recent years. Once thought to be for just the older generation, this is not so now, as it is enjoyed by young and old alike. So is the case with the knitting looms. Knitting on looms is far easier than knitting with needles. There are various manufactures who produce knitting looms, these can be used by you at home. They are easy to use and help to make knitting interesting. Knitting looms vary from, plastic looms to the heavy duty wooden looms.

Knitting looms that are available in to days market come in various shapes and sizes, these including oval, round and rectangular. There are also looms that you can buy that are shaped like butterfly, this design is helpful in creating knots and crochets. Some manufacturers have made fun filled looms which glow in the dark. You would find these knitting looms helpful if you wanted to work in a dimly lit room.

Parents can even get a gift child knitting loom set, to give their children on there birthday. The child set includes a set of four plastic looms, they also come with a full set of instructions for the use of them. All the possible steps are taken for the safety of the children. But it is recommended they are not used by children below 5 years of age.

By giving your children a set of knitting looms you can develop a interest in this hobby at an early age. It is also said that knitting is a very good recreational activity, that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Round knitting looms can be used to create objects like hats, wrist warmers and so forth. They also come in single rake or double rake, this means it has a single row of pegs or a double row. A single row can be used to create objects with one right side and a wrong side. While the double row is used to create a garment that can be used both ways.

Rectangle knitting looms are good for creating scarves, Afghans, and other large projects. This loom has a single rake and it is easy to work with. If you buy a set of these, you will also get a pick and hook tool and the necessary instructions.

Knitting looms are a great for every beginner to the world of knitting. The knitters who are unable to, or wish not to knit using needles can use them easily. By using various methods of wrapping the yarn on the pegs, you can create projects of intricate stitches and patterns.

Any project you create using a knitting loom, is every bit as good as the ones that are made using needles. So why not get yourself a knitting loom and with the help of it you can create exquisite projects, in a much faster time and with much less effort.



JOEY
MulePacker asked:


I just bought a knitting loom and I am trying out my first project. My problem is that the yarn on the pegs get so tight that I can not even pull it over the peg, and this is only on the third round. I tried making the yard as loose as I could for the beginning, but by the third round it is impossible to work with. Does anyone have any insights for me?

ALVA
heather c asked:


I want one that is a smaller gauge than the Knifty knitting ones (purple rectangle is too far apart for my liking). I want to try to make my own and need Ideas. I am not that handy with wood and tools but I can try.

GUY
Mar
19
Filed Under (Howto) by Kert
PIGGLEWIGGINS asked:


How to start weaving on a circular knitting loom using 2 strands of yarn.

MONROE