Okay, let’s get started, guys! I’m going to show you how I made a pair of socks using my Sentro 48 knitting machine. It’s not as hard as it looks, I promise!
First, I gathered my materials. Obviously, you need the Sentro 48, some yarn (I used a worsted weight yarn, nothing too fancy), waste yarn in a contrasting color, scissors, a darning needle, and the little crochet hook that comes with the Sentro.
Getting Started
I cast on with my waste yarn. I just cranked the handle around a few times, maybe 8-10 rows, making sure every needle caught the yarn. Super simple, just making sure it was all even.
Knitting the Leg
Then, I switched to my main yarn. I tied it to the waste yarn with a simple knot, nothing special, and trimmed the tails. I cranked slowly at first, to make sure the machine picked up the new yarn properly. I did about 60 rows for the leg of the sock – I wanted a decent length, you know?
Making the Heel
This is where it gets a little trickier, but still manageable. I used the short row method for the heel. It’s all about going back and forth, and not all around.
- I cranked until the first needle past the center back needle was up.
- Then, I hung a weight. I used the ones with hooks at the bottom.
- I cranked in the opposite direction until the first needle on the other side was up.
- I hung another weight.
- I repeated this, working one less needle each time, going back and forth, until I had about 1/3 of the total needles still active in the center. You’ll see it making a little triangle shape.
- For 48 needles machine,I stopped with 16 neesles in the center.
Then, I reversed the process. I cranked back and forth, picking up one needle each time, moving the weights as I went, until all the needles were active again. My heel pouch was formed! It looked a bit weird at this point, but trust the process, my friends.
Knitting the Foot
I just kept cranking in the round again for the foot. I did another 50 rows, similar to the leg. You can adjust this based on your foot size, of course.
Making the Toe
The toe is basically the same process as the heel. Short rows, back and forth, decreasing then increasing, using the weights. Easy peasy once you’ve done the heel.
Casting Off
Once the toe was done, I cut my main yarn, leaving a long tail. I switched back to my waste yarn and cranked out another 8-10 rows. Then, I just cranked the yarn off the machine – it all comes off super easily.
Finishing Up
I used the darning needle to Kitchener stitch the toe closed. It’s a bit fiddly, but there are tons of videos online if you’re not familiar. Basically, you’re weaving the yarn through the live stitches to create a seamless join.
I did the same Kitchener stitch for the top of the sock, where I started with the waste yarn.
Finally, I wove in all the loose ends, and that’s it! One sock down, one to go! I repeated the whole process for the second sock, and boom, a pair of handmade socks. They’re not perfect, but they’re mine, and they’re comfy!
It takes practice, don’t worry, you’ll get it!
