Brother Transfer Carriage

Today I had lunch with two very nice machine knitters who I met as a result of MKM and this blog.

It was a quick 2 hours and didn't even touch on all the things we wanted to.  To have fellow machine knitters here in Las Vegas who actually got together was amazing!

They are planning on making high end sweaters out of the most gorgeous yarns.  The thought of transferring all those ribbed stitches manually made me immediately think "transfer carriage."

They have not used one in a long while and not with good luck when they did; I thought to offer my little bit of advice.  The easiest fixes for a transfer carriage to operate as it should are:

• Take all the weights off; leave ribber comb on
• Slide your pitch button to H
• Manually transfer at least two sts to MB on each end
• Double check all needles on MB are in B position
• Double check the diagram on the transfer carriage and follow it from top down (for the RB needle set up you are transferring)
• Don't press down on the carriage and slowly move from right to left

Brother Transfer Carriage

Have one of these?  Take it out and give it a try, you'll be so glad you did!

Ingenious Yarn Tension Mast Carriage Modification!

A fellow machine knitter Brian in Canada emails me from time to time about his progress and sends pictures of his projects.  I've posted a few here on the blog.

He has designed a yarn tension mast/carriage modification using wood as his prototype (attached to the MB carriage) and will be making one for his SK155 out of aluminum very soon.

Have a look at the video showing his ingenious modifications:

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You can also read about it and contact Brian by clicking here:

Brian On Ravelry

Nice Acrylic

I'm not a yarn snob, I'll knit with any fiber, man made or natural.  When I find a particular fiber I enjoy working with I keep at it (and buy more!).

Many of you love Tamm yarn, I do too.  Having knit with most of their varieties I recently tried "Tamm Spirit" 100% acrylic,  color,  grey.  This is great yarn to knit, it's a perfect marriage with a knitting machine.  Smooth and easy, great stitch definition and holds up well in the laundry! I really enjoy the flecks of color in the yarn.

Here is Tamm Spirit, color denim knit on the standard machine, swatch is T7 on MB and ribbing T5.

Tamm Spirit

I purchased a few cones at 20% off which makes it even better.  So, now the swatch is done and I'm happy with it, what to make?  I'm seeing a long sleeved v-neck sweater...winter is right around the corner!

Brian's Hand Tooled/Manipulated Shawl

Sorry for my time away from the blog, work has been keeping me way too busy.

I wanted to share this with you:

Brian who is in Canada sent me this photo of his latest project.  He did an excellent job especially that he is fairly new at machine knitting.  This is his first attempt at a hand tooled shawl.  He stated he thought it turned out rather well; I think it turned out beautiful!  He did this on the Singer 155 using Bernat "Satin" yarn, color "Sunset" (his sister-in-laws favorite color).  One of my favorites as well.

Excellent job Brian!  Thanks for sharing with us.

How To Attach Neck And Arm Bands On A Knitting Machine

When its hot outside here in Las Vegas, I stay in more and knit more, the opposite of a colder climate.

Last week I received an email from a knitter in Europe asking how I get great looking results when I attach my bands to shirts and sweaters.

The easy part is attaching the bands but, GREAT finishing to anything we make is extremely important.

As well all know a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are 19 pictures.  The description is below each one making it easy to follow:

Garment Edge Being Eased In/On Machine (public side facing me)

Picking Up Some Of the In Between Needles

Notice How It Is Being Eased In As I Move Along 

Ann Edge Stitches Picked Up

My Own Method - Use A Flashlight Under The Needles To Ensure Just 1 Edge Stitch Is Picked Up (all needles in the same channel)

Note: When Making A Band, End With Carriage On Left, Leave 6 Times The Length Of Needles Being Used - Ribbed Bands, The Right Side Is Facing You As You Knit.  Last Row At Garment T, K 1 Row Stockinette (COR) and Take Off On WY

Hanging Band (public sides facing each other)

I Use A Claw Weight Hanger To Ensure Latches Are Closed

All Latches Closed - Needles Have Been Pushed Back

Pull Needles Through I Small Sections

Pull Out Needles To Hold Position That Have Just Been Pulled Through (above photo) - This Will Keep Them "safe"

All Needles Out To Hold 

Remove Waste Yarn

Knit 1 Row At Highest/Loosest Tension

One More Time Bring Needles Out To Hold (my needle pusher is held against knitting as I do so)

Chain Off Loosely

A Neat And Professional Join (see the one row of stockinette, now a purl row tucked in between the band and body)

The Private Side - Clean & Professional Finish

Right Off The Knitting Machine - Needs A Light Steaming & Laundering

My Afternoon With Diana & John Sullivan

Today I had the pleasure of having lunch with Diana and her husband John.  It was a wonderful afternoon.

We spoke of so many things and not much about knitting.  One would expect two machine knitters and bloggers knitting would be our main topic of conversation.  Not at all.

We had a nice lunch and talked for hours.  Diana is a wonderful lady with an infectious laugh and her husband equally nice.

When the time came for us to go it felt as if we were only together 30 minutes not the almost 5 hours we were.

They are on their way home tonight, escaping the HOT Las Vegas weather of 121 degrees (I noted on my cars thermostat as I drove home).

Las Vegas Heat & Diana Sullivan

It's hot here, VERY hot.  As I write this at 9:30 p.m. it is still 110 deg F (43 C)!  Today it was 120 deg F or 48.9 C!  Not much we can do but stay indoors in the air conditioning.   Every home and building has air conditioning here.  We are the #2 city in the US for most days per year over 100 deg F (37.7 C), Phoenix, Arizona  is # 1.

After all these years of knowing Diana Sullivan we finally meet!   Diana is in Las Vegas as she attended a CPA Seminar here.  She  invited me to have a "good meal" with her and her great husband John.  We initially planned dinner for today but, with the high heat my days at work were extended so we had to make it a lunch date for tomorrow.

Diana and I have become friends over time and have shared many personal things and of course sharing a lot of machine knitting info.  Diana filmed and posted (on YouTube) my no sew circular hat design (2 years ago).  I helped Diana with her "Wear Your Diamonds & Footnotes Books" test knitting and sending her my input (some of my photos are in her Footnotes book).  Diana recently asked for my help with her latest project, a large book,  "100 Ways To Improve Your Machine Knitting."  This is going to be an awesome book, full of lots of clear direction, suggestions and techniques.  Her latest video on the knit leader will get you using yours like a pro.

I am looking forward to tomorrow as I am sure it will be wonderful.

Charity Knitting

My friend Helen and her friend Norma knit over 40 sweaters for a Ukraine Orphanage.

She sent me this photo of "some" of the sweaters they did and being modeled by the children.

Its a wonderful thing to help people, especially children.

Great job Helen & Norma!

Are Your Combs Tearing Your Lace?

Thank you Brian!  Brian wrote me with his fix for weights when knitting lace; here is his solution:

I have been trying to knit fine lace scarves with not much success. The combs keep distorting the stitches and/or breaking the yarn. I have a solution that has worked well for me and only uses items you may have around your house! This is a cheap solution that is working well for me: 

A pant-hanger that has the open/close assembly & a wooden dowel. 

Then I put the dowel behind the knitting and push it and the knitting into the jaws of the pant hanger. Then clamp the hanger closed. Hang weights either on the ends as shown, or onto the hanger that would normally be hung on your closet rod. 

It’s an easy & cheap solution! One other idea is to purchase those round tubes for a bird cage that has some sandpaper on them so the birds keep their nails filed. Then insert over dowel and you will find the knitting sticks and it’s easier to position on the dowel.

If you are on Ravelry, you can find his post here: 
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/superba-knittingtm/topics/2593822

Bellinky Linker & Latest Project

Working on a polo shirt a little at a time.  This photo was taken just after I attached the FNR collar.  At the moment there are no sleeves yet and the front keyhole bands need to be stitched down.  It is a Knit Leader project having traced on the mylar from a well fitting shirt I wear often.

Note The Yarn Ends I Need To Weave In

Also, finally received the combs for my Bellinky linker.  Similar to the Hauge linker as it attaches the two knitted pieces with a neat chain stitch.  Takes a bit of getting used to but the time spent is well worth it.

Like New Linker