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Knitting machine
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There are numerous types of knitting machine, ranging from the simple, non-mechanical, to the highly complex electronic. All, however, produce various types of knitted fabrics, usually either flat or tubular, and of varying degrees of complexity.
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There are numerous types of knitting machine, ranging from the simple, non-mechanical, to the highly complex electronic. All, however, produce various types of knitted fabrics, usually either flat or tubular, and of varying degrees of complexity. Pattern stitches can be selected by hand manipulation of the needles, or with
push-buttons and dials, mechanical punch cards, or electronic pattern reading
devices and computers.
Types
The simplest type of knitting machine must be the "Knitting Nancy", which produces "French Knitting" (a rope-shaped string of knitting). Knitting Nancys usually have four pins, which the yarn is wrapped around, though six and eight pin versions (which produce a narrow hollow tube of knitting) are available. In its simplest form, the Knitting Nancy is made from an empty wooden cotton reel, with nails placed around the central hole. An instrument, such as a tapestry needle is then used to lift one loop of yarn over another to produce the knitting. The completed French Knitting can be sewn to form various items, such as table mats. Commercially made wooden or plastic versions are available, usually in the shape of a doll. Another variation of the Knitting Nancy, in the form of larger knitting rings of different sizes, which produce tubular knitting are also available. Knitting Nancys and their variations are usually sold as children's toys, though French Knitting can be used to trim other knitted items. Mechanical (usually hand-cranked) versions of Knitting Nancys and Knitting Rings are now made.
Somewhere between hand and machine knitting, and working on similar principles to Knitting Nancys are devices known as "Knitting Boards" or "Knitting Looms", which consist of two rows of pins, mounted on two parallel rows of wood (or other material), joined at each end, so they are approximately half an inch apart. Yarn is wound around the pins; various patterns of winding produce different textured knitting. A needle or special tool is then used to transfer the loops of yarn from around the pins, either off the pins or to other pins, to produce the knitting. Knitting Boards can produce complex designs. Other semi-mechanical knitting devices, are available, such as the Simpleframe latch knitting machine.
To produce larger and more complex knitted items, such as garments, domestic and industrial machines, with either flat or
circular beds that produce rectangular or tubular fabrics are needed.
Double bed machines have two flat beds facing each other, in order
to produce purl and plain rib fabrics plus a variety of multi patterns. Ribbing attachments can be added to single bed machines to achieve a similar result.
Late 20th Century domestic/studio models typically use up to 200 latch hook needles to hold the stitches in fine (the rarest and most expensive), standard or bulky gauge needle. A carriage or cam box is passed across the bed of needles causing the needle movements required to produce each next stitch.
By means of various selection methods, e.g. punch cards, particular needles can be caused to travel by alternate pathways through the cam box. Thus needles will knit or not, and the unknitted yarn portions will lie under (slip stitch) or over the needle or be held in the needle hook (tuck stitch). Needles can be placed in holding position to allow short row shaping. In the most modern machines, punchcards have been replaced by computer control.
Most of these machines can knit two colour Fair Isle patterns automatically, and have machine stitch patterning features such as plating and knitweaving. Plating refers to knitting with two strands of yarn that are held in such a way that one is in front of the other. Plated effects can be particularly striking in a ribbed fabric. Knitweaving refers to a technique in which a separate piece of yarn, often heavier than the knitted fabric, is carried along and caught between stitches to produce an effect like weaving. With knitwoven fabric, the purl side (usually the wrong side) is the right side of the fabric. With the addition of a lace carriage, stitches can be transferred from one needle to the next. The yarn passes through a tensioning mechanism and down through the knit carriage, which feeds the yarn to the needles as they knit.
Domestic knitting machines use the weft knitting method which produces a fabric similar to hand knitting. Knitting proceeds more quickly than in hand knitting, where (usually two) straight needles are held in the hand and each stitch is manipulated individually across the row. Knitting machines work an entire row of loops in a single movement.
Accessories such as the "Knit Radar" and "Colour Changer" are available for domestic knitting machines; either as optional extras, or built-in in some models.
Advantages
The fabric produced using a knitting machine is of a more even texture than hand-knitted fabric, which is particularly noticeable on large areas of plain stocking stitch.
This is an advantage, and saves a considerable amount of time. Many people prefer the look of hand knitting and skilled hand knitters can produce quite even fabric, while machine knitters need little skill to produce a good fabric as the machine tension does the job for them. Some stitch patterns (e.g., tuck stitches) are much easier to produce with a knitting machine, while others (e.g. garter stitch) are much easier to produce with handknitting. The Standard 200 bed knitter can knit the finest yarns up to a good sportweight while the heavier yarns knit better on a bulky knitting machine.
See also
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