So, I’d been seeing these Sentro circular knitting machines popping up all over the place, mostly on those craft videos you stumble across late at night. They looked pretty nifty, and a little voice in my head whispered, “Hey, maybe you could finally make a bunch of hats without it taking forever!” I’ll admit, hand knitting is great, but sometimes my patience wears thin, and the idea of a machine, even a plastic one, doing some of the work was pretty tempting.
Eventually, I caved and ordered one. When the box arrived, I ripped it open. First impression? It’s plastic. A lot of plastic. Honestly, it felt a bit like a kid’s toy. Snapping the legs on was easy enough, and it came with these little suction cups for the feet. Spoiler: those suction cups are mostly for show; mine never really grip my table properly. The instructions were… well, they were there. Mostly pictures, which I guess is better than nothing, but I ended up watching more videos online anyway.
My First Tries – Oh Boy
Okay, so my first attempt to actually knit something was a complete and utter disaster. I threaded the yarn, did the cast-on rows like I saw in a video, and started cranking. And then, chaos. Dropped stitches everywhere! It looked like my yarn got into a fight with a lawnmower. I was pretty frustrated, not gonna lie. I thought this was supposed to be easy!
I didn’t give up though. I went back to the videos, watched a few more, and realized a couple of key things. Tension is absolutely critical with these machines. You can’t just let the yarn fly loose, and you can’t pull it too tight either. It’s a delicate balance. And you definitely have to start cranking slowly, especially when you’re just learning. Like, snail’s pace slow.
Another thing I learned the hard way: not all yarn is created equal in the eyes of the Sentro. That fancy, fluffy, textured yarn I love? Nope. The machine just chews it up and spits it out, usually in a tangled mess. Simple, smooth yarn, like a good old worsted weight, that’s the sweet spot. Once I switched to that, things started to click a bit better.
Getting the Hang of It
After a few more tries (and a bit of swearing, if I’m being totally honest), I started to get the rhythm. Holding the yarn just right with one hand, turning the crank steadily with the other. It’s actually quite satisfying when it’s working smoothly, watching the knitted tube grow. You kind of feel like you’re running a tiny factory.
I also figured out that you really need to keep an eye on all those little plastic needles. Sometimes one of them decides to be difficult and not catch the yarn. A gentle nudge with a finger usually sorts it out. And a big tip I picked up: adding a little weight to the knitted fabric as it comes out of the machine really helps prevent dropped stitches. I just use some craft clips, or if the piece is long enough, just letting it hang down helps create that gentle pull it needs.
What I’ve Been Making
So, what have I actually churned out with this thing? Hats! So many hats. Beanies galore. It makes a perfect tube, so you just take it off the machine, cinch up one end, maybe add a pom-pom, and boom – hat complete. It’s fantastic for making quick gifts.
I’ve also made a few simple scarves. And I tried making some leg warmers for my niece, which turned out pretty cute and were super quick. You can set the machine to make flat panels too, but I mostly stick to knitting in the round for tubes because, well, it’s just easier for me and what I bought it for.
The Good, The Bad, and The Plastic
Alright, so after spending a good amount of time with my Sentro, here’s what I really think:
What I like about it:
- It’s fast. Seriously, once you get the hang of it, you can knit a hat tube in like 20-30 minutes. That’s pretty amazing.
- It’s relatively easy to learn the basics. Yes, there’s a learning curve and some frustration, but it’s not rocket science.
- Great for batch making. If you need to make a bunch of simple items, like for charity or craft fairs, this thing is a workhorse.
What’s not so great:
- It feels a bit flimsy. It’s all plastic, and sometimes when I’m cranking, I worry I’m going to break a needle or the handle.
- Dropped stitches are the bane of my existence. They happen, especially if you’re not paying attention or your tension is off. Fixing them can be fiddly.
- You’re limited in yarn and stitch types. It’s pretty much just stockinette stitch, in a tube or a flat panel. Don’t expect fancy cables or lace.
- Those suction cups are truly useless. My machine still slides around unless I brace it.
- It can be noisy. That cranking sound isn’t exactly soothing.
So, would I recommend getting a Sentro? Well, it depends. It’s definitely not a replacement for traditional hand knitting if you love the craft and want to make complex, beautiful items. But if you’re looking for a way to quickly produce simple knitted items, especially tubes for hats or scarves, and you have a bit of patience to get through the initial learning phase, then yeah, it can be a fun and useful tool. It’s a gadget, a bit of a novelty, but one that can actually make stuff. Just don’t expect miracles, and be prepared to talk nicely to it when it decides to be difficult!
