Okay, so, I got this addi knitting machine, the smaller one with 22 needles. I’ve been seeing these things all over the internet, and I finally caved and bought one. I was so excited to get started!
First, I tried to figure out how this contraption works. It’s basically a plastic circle with a bunch of little hooks, and you turn a handle to make it knit. Sounds simple enough, right?
I found some yarn I had lying around—a nice, chunky weight—and got to work setting it up. Following the instructions, I had to thread the yarn through a guide and then start cranking. It took a few tries to get the tension right. At first, it was all loosey-goosey, and then I tightened it too much, and the yarn kept getting caught.
Eventually, I found the sweet spot. I started cranking, and the machine started knitting! It was actually pretty cool to watch it go. Round and round it went, making a tube of knitted fabric.
I made a few tubes, just to practice. I tried different yarns, too. Some worked better than others. I learned that thinner yarn is a bit trickier on this machine, and that fuzzy yarn is an absolute nightmare!
- Experimenting with different yarns: This was a big learning curve. Some yarns just don’t cooperate with the machine.
- Getting the tension right: Too loose, and you get a mess. Too tight, and it jams.
- Finishing the project: I figured out I can turn tubes to hats or scarves!
After a lot of trial and error, I managed to make a few decent-looking hats. They’re not perfect, but they’re definitely wearable. I even made a scarf by making one long tube and then stitching the ends together. It’s a bit wonky in places, but hey, it’s handmade!
My overall thoughts?
This little machine is fun. It’s definitely not the same as knitting by hand, but it’s a quick way to make stuff, especially if you’re not into the whole needles-and-yarn thing. I wouldn’t say it’s super high-quality, but it gets the job done. And for the price, I think it’s a pretty neat little gadget. It’s a good start for my knitting journey!
I have not tried Sentro yet, maybe it makes less mistakes, but Addi is fine for me. I saw some people said they are wary of the investment of Addi, but I think Addi is more suitable for long-lasting use.
But you know what? I’m already thinking about upgrading to the bigger Addi machine, the one with 46 needles. More needles, more possibilities, right? Haha!
