Okay, so I recently got my hands on one of those Addi knitting machines. I’d heard a bunch about them and figured, why not give it a shot? It’s supposed to make knitting way faster, and I was curious if it really worked. The specific model I got is the Addi Express with 22 needles, apparently it’s good for beginners.
First thing I did was try to find the instructions. Turns out there is a booklet to download online, which was handy since I didn’t want to mess things up right away. The booklet, plus some videos I found, showed me how to set up the machine. It’s not that complicated, but you do need to make sure everything is in the right place before you start cranking.
Choosing the yarn was the next step. I read somewhere that the type of yarn you use can make a big difference. Some yarns are too thick and just don’t work well with the machine. I picked out a few different types from my stash to experiment with.
- I started with a basic, medium-weight yarn.
- Then I tried a slightly thinner one.
- And just for kicks, I grabbed a fluffy, bulky yarn to see what would happen.
Getting the yarn onto the machine was a bit fiddly at first. You have to thread it through these little guides and make sure it’s not too loose or too tight. Once I got the hang of it, though, it was pretty smooth sailing. It was actually kind of fun watching the machine do its thing.
I started with the medium-weight yarn, and it worked like a charm! I just turned the crank, and the machine started knitting in a circle. It was so fast! I made a simple tube in just a few minutes. Then I tried the thinner yarn, and that worked well too. It created a slightly looser knit, which I liked. The bulky yarn, on the other hand, was a disaster. It kept getting jammed, and I had to stop and untangle it multiple times. Definitely not recommended!
After a bit of practice, I started experimenting with different patterns. I made a few scarves, which turned out pretty decent. I even tried making a small poncho, and it actually worked! I couldn’t believe how quickly I could whip up these projects.
My Overall Impression
Honestly, I’m pretty impressed with this little machine. It’s definitely a lot faster than hand knitting, especially for simple projects. It’s not perfect, though. You’re limited in terms of what you can make, and you have to be careful with the yarn you choose. But for someone who wants to knit quickly and easily, it’s a great option. I can see myself using it a lot in the future.
