Machine Knitting for Beginners
Do you own a knitting machine but don’t use it well, or at all? Or perhaps you've wanted to buy a knitting machine but not sure which one to buy? Join this course and learn how to knit simple garments and maximise the functions of a knitting machine. Bring your own machine in good working order or see details below about sourcing a machine.
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Tue 11 Mar
- $150.00 incl. GST
Sessions
Session 1
Tue 11 Mar 19:00 - Tue 11 Mar 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 2
Tue 18 Mar 19:00 - Tue 18 Mar 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 3
Tue 25 Mar 19:00 - Tue 25 Mar 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 4
Tue 01 Apr 19:00 - Tue 01 Apr 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.Session 5
Tue 08 Apr 19:00 - Tue 08 Apr 21:00At Selwyn College, Auckland.
Description
This is a beginners course in machine knitting. We will cover:
- How they work and what to look for when buying one
- How to dismantle, restore and maintain a knitting machine
- The basic knitting techniques: cast on/off, increase/decrease
- Knitting simple garments
- Using a punchcard for decorative effect
- Using a knit leader to help design a garment
Course outline
- Week 1 - Introduction to machines and a brief history. How they work; which ones to buy; what to look for. Look at garments and types of yarn. Set up a machine and learn what tools are required. Wind yarn into a ‘cake’, thread the machine and cast on. Students knit a square and cast off
- Week 2 - Knit a beanie/dishcloth/mittens. Demonstrate how to join a seam; by hand, on the knitting machine, andusing the Hague linker
- Week 3 - Look at how the punchcard system works; fair isle, tuck and slip. Using the lace carriage
- Week 4 - Demonstrate how to use the Knit Leader to design a garment. Discuss any other equipment they may need
- Week 5 - Finishing garments and other topics suggested by the group
Expected learning outcomes
- Know how a knitting machine works
- Be able to set up a machine correctly
- Know the techniques required to make a garment
- Be familiar with the tools and equipment associated with machine knitting
Who should attend?
Anyone who would like to learn machine knitting, and people that have a little experience and would like to gain more confidence.
What to bring
- A knitting machine preferably with a ribber. Tutor Phillipa recommends a Brother 830/836/860/881/891 or similar to begin with as these are the
machines Phillipa is familiar with. A good place to buy second-hand machines is the Facebook page: NZ knitting machine, interest, buy sell swap, parts, wool, patterns etc. Ask for the model you want. Also TradeMe. Important: make sure the needles aren't rusty - Bring some 4 ply wool (acrylic is fine)
NOTE: Phillipa will bring a couple of extra machines on the first night only for those who haven't got their machines yet.
About your tutor, Phillipa Gee
I'm a jewellery designer and like to have projects I can do in the evenings and weekends. I returned to hand knitting a couple of years ago and as I wanted to produce garments quickly, investigated machine knitting. Initiallly, I found someone to help me, and realised there were a lot of skills involved - a lot of knowledge is required to create a garment and the machine needs to be well set up and maintained. Next, I taught myself from YouTube videos, also learning how to dismantle my machine and do maintenance. I bought a bulk lot of machines before the August 2021 lockdown and spent that time refurbishing them. I am a member of two machine knitting clubs in Auckland. We often get requests from people wanting to learn, so I decided to offer a course.
