So, I finally got my hands on an LK 150 knitting machine! I’ve been eyeing these things for ages, dreaming of whipping up sweaters and blankets in, like, a day. This is my journey from clueless newbie to, well, slightly-less-clueless newbie.
Unboxing and Setup Mayhem
First things first, the unboxing. It was…a lot. Lots of plastic, metal bits, and a manual that looked like it was translated from ancient hieroglyphs. I wrestled with the clamps to get the thing attached to my table. Seriously, those clamps are no joke.
Yarn Drama
Then came the yarn. I thought, “Oh, I’ll just use this chunky yarn I have.” Nope. Big mistake. The machine gagged on it. It was like trying to feed a toddler a steak. So, I dug through my stash and found some thinner, smoother yarn. Much better! The carriage actually moved!
Casting On Catastrophe
Casting on…oof. The instructions made it sound so simple. “E-wrap this, needle select that…” I followed the steps, I swear! But my yarn kept slipping off, and I ended up with a tangled mess more than once. Finally, after like, the fifth try (and maybe a little yelling), I managed to get a row of stitches on there.
Knitting! (Sort Of)
Once I got past the cast-on hurdle, the actual knitting was pretty cool. Pushing the carriage back and forth, hearing that satisfying click-clack…it felt almost magical. I made a few rows, feeling like a total pro. Then, I dropped a stitch. And then another. And another.
Fixing Dropped Stitches (and My Sanity)
Dropped stitches are the bane of my existence. I learned, the hard way, that you have to pay attention. Every. Single. Row. But, I also discovered the handy-dandy latch tool, which is basically a tiny crochet hook. It’s a lifesaver for picking up those pesky dropped stitches. I’m still not perfect at it, but I’m getting better. It helps having watched a few videos online, even though sometimes those feel like more work to understand.
Casting Off…and a Finished (Small) Project!
Casting off was surprisingly easier than casting on. I carefully transferred the stitches, followed the instructions (again!), and boom! I had a finished…scarf? Swatch? Something rectangle-shaped, anyway. It wasn’t perfect, but it was MINE. I made it!
The Verdict (So Far)
The LK 150 is definitely a learning curve. There’s a lot of trial and error, and a whole lot of patience required. But, it’s also incredibly satisfying to create something so quickly. I’m still a beginner, but I’m excited to keep practicing and see what else I can make with this thing. Next up: maybe a slightly larger scarf…or maybe just another small swatch. We’ll see!
