Today, I’m gonna mess around with this circular sock knitting machine, also known as a CSM. I’ve been itching to try one of these things out for ages. Finally got my hands on one, so let’s dive in!
Getting Started
First off, I unboxed this bad boy. It came with a bunch of parts, and honestly, it looked a bit intimidating at first. I laid everything out and started with the basics. I needed to replace the sponge bar, which is apparently a common thing with these machines. No biggie, just followed some instructions I found, and it was pretty straightforward. Then, I gave the machine a good cleaning. I mean, I really got in there, cleaning the needle bed and each needle individually. It was a bit tedious, but hey, gotta make sure this thing is in tip-top shape before I start cranking out socks.
Setting Up the Machine
Next up was checking the carriage and the sinker. These are crucial parts that help with the knitting process. Made sure they were clean and moving smoothly. I also checked all the needles to make sure none were bent or damaged. You don’t want any surprises mid-knit, trust me.
Experimenting with Yarn
Now for the fun part – picking out the yarn! I had a bunch of different yarns lying around, but I decided to go with something suitable for the Sentro machine, just to keep things simple. It’s always good to start with something you know will work. I wound the yarn onto the machine, which was surprisingly satisfying. There’s something about watching the yarn feed into the machine that’s just… cool.
Knitting My First Sock
With everything set up, it was time to start knitting! I followed the basic steps for casting on and started cranking away. The machine is pretty loud, but it’s also kind of mesmerizing to watch it go. Round and round, the needles click-clacking, and before you know it, a sock starts to take shape. I did run into a few hiccups along the way. A couple of dropped stitches here and there, but nothing too major. Figured it out and kept going.
Finishing Touches
Once the sock was long enough, it was time to take it off the machine. This part was a little tricky. You have to transfer the stitches to waste yarn, which basically means using a different color yarn to hold the stitches while you finish the sock off the machine. I’ll admit, I messed this up a few times. It’s definitely something that takes practice. But eventually, I got it. Then came the kitchener stitch, which is a way to graft the toe closed. Let me tell you, this is not easy! I watched a bunch of videos, and it still took me a few tries to get it right.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. My first attempt at using a circular sock knitting machine. It was definitely a learning experience, but a fun one at that. I ended up with a pretty decent-looking sock, if I do say so myself. It’s not perfect, but hey, that’s part of the charm of handmade stuff, right? I’m already planning my next project. Maybe I’ll try a different yarn or a more complicated pattern. Who knows! The possibilities are endless. I’ll keep you guys posted on my sock-knitting adventures. Stay tuned!
- What I did:
- Unboxed and cleaned the CSM.
- Replaced the sponge bar.
- Checked and cleaned the carriage and sinker.
- Chose suitable yarn.
- Cast on and started knitting.
- Dealt with some dropped stitches.
- Transferred stitches to waste yarn.
- Grafted the toe closed with the Kitchener stitch.
Overall, it was a blast, and I can’t wait to make more socks!
