Well now, let me tell ya a bit about them Brother knitting machines. You know, these machines been around a long time, but they ain’t what they used to be. They say back in 1962, Brother changed its name to Brother Industries, Ltd., and started makin’ all sorts of things, like them fancy knitting machines. But let me tell ya, they ain’t makin’ ’em no more. Nope, by the late 90s, Brother stopped makin’ them knitting machines, though folks still try to sell the old ones thinkin’ they worth a lot, just ’cause they old. Well, it ain’t always so, ’cause often, them old machines are missin’ important parts and instruction books. Unless you a collector, them old machines don’t bring much money these days.
Now, you might wonder, who’s still makin’ them knitting machines? Well, there’s only one company still makin’ ’em brand new, and that’s Silver Reed. You can get them anywhere in the world. But back in the day, Brother had a whole lotta different models, like the KR830 and KR850. Them two machines look real similar, but the main difference is in the carriages. The good news is, them carriages can be swapped between the two machines. Ain’t that somethin’?
Now, if you ask folks who know their stuff, they’ll tell ya that the Brother KR830 had three different adjustments. You could adjust the height, the alignment, and even the settings on the 830 model. This meant you could do more with it, make it work just the way you needed. But even though it’s got them adjustments, they ain’t makin’ them anymore, and if ya can find one, you better check if everything’s in there, ’cause sometimes them old machines miss a part or two.
Some folks say they know someone who’s an expert on Brother knitting machines. Well, I ain’t no expert, but I do know some people who been fixin’ and servicin’ these machines for years. My husband, for example, he’s trained on them Brother knitting machines. He’s been doin’ repairs and servicing for a long time now, and I help out too, specially when folks need parts for them machines. We sure do know a lot about ’em, even if I ain’t got all them fancy words like them experts. But I reckon it’s important to know how to take care of ’em, so they last a long time.
If you’re lookin’ to get a Brother knitting machine, you might hear people talk about the KH940. Now, that’s an early electronic model, and let me tell ya, it’s got a lotta memory—more than the Brother 930 model. It also comes with a lace carriage, so you can do all sorts of lace designs, plus it’s got built-in intarsia, which is just a fancy way of sayin’ you can make those nice patterns with different colors. You can even program it to repeat 200 different stitch patterns. I reckon that’s real handy if you like makin’ complicated designs.
And let’s not forget the KH-270, the Chunky Electroknit. That machine’s got a computer memory that can hold 288 different stitch patterns! I ain’t ever worked with one myself, but I hear folks who have say it’s a real treat. It’s great for makin’ thicker, cozier knits, you know, the kinda thing you’d use to make a big ol’ sweater for the winter. If you got the right yarn and a bit of know-how, that machine can help you knit some fine-lookin’ clothes.
Now, if you’re new to knitting machines, don’t be intimidated by all this talk. There’s plenty of tutorials and tips out there to help ya get started. Folks like Diana Sullivan, she’s got a lotta videos showin’ how to use these Brother knitting machines. She even does a whole demonstration on the Brother 910 model, which is one of them electronic machines. You can find all sorts of ideas, patterns, and lessons to help you along the way.
But the truth is, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Brother knitting machines offer a lot of possibilities. Some people say them old machines ain’t worth much, but I say if you got the right parts and the right know-how, you can still make some good stuff with ‘em. So don’t throw ‘em out just yet, ’cause there’s always something you can do with a Brother knitting machine if you’re willin’ to put in the time and effort.
And that’s the thing about knitting machines, whether it’s a Brother or one of the newer ones like Silver Reed. They take a little work, but they sure do help you make some beautiful things. So, if you find one, or maybe already have one, give it a go. It might take some time to get the hang of it, but once you do, you’ll be makin’ all sorts of things—scarves, hats, blankets, and who knows what else. Just don’t forget to check if you got all the parts, and if it needs a little fixin’, don’t be afraid to ask someone who knows how to repair ’em. There’s always something new to learn when it comes to these machines, that’s for sure.
Tags：[Brother knitting machines, KR830, KR850, knitting machine repairs, Silver Reed, KH940, Chunky Electroknit, Diana Sullivan knitting, electronic knitting machine, knitting tutorials, intarsia knitting, lace carriage, knitting machine parts]
