Okay, so I’ve been seeing these Sentro knitting machines all over the internet lately. You know, those circular thingamajigs that supposedly crank out knitted stuff super fast? I’ve always been a bit of a crafter, but my knitting skills are, shall we say, less than stellar. More dropped stitches than actual stitches, if you catch my drift. So, the idea of a machine doing the hard work for me? Very tempting!
I did some digging online, read a bunch of reviews, and watched some videos. The price seemed reasonable, hovering around 60 bucks, which isn’t bad compared to what I’ve spent on yarn that ended up in a tangled mess. It seems that I can have it in different sizes for different projects. There were definitely some mixed opinions out there. Some folks raved about how much time it saved them, while others complained about dropped stitches and the machine being finicky. I guess it depends on what you are trying to make with this, I just wanted to make a beanie for my son. So after reading both sides, I figured, why not? Worst case, I’m out 60 bucks and have a funny story to tell. I went ahead and ordered the 22-needle version from Amazon.
When it finally arrived, I was pretty excited. The thing looked simple enough, a plastic circle with a bunch of needles and a hand crank. Now, they say you can use this to make all sorts of things, but I decided to start with something basic: a simple beanie. I figured a tube would be the easiest thing to start with.
The first few tries were… interesting. Getting the yarn to catch on all those little hooks took some practice. And let me tell you, cranking that handle smoothly is a skill in itself! I definitely dropped a few stitches in the beginning, which was frustrating, but I kept at it. There’s a bit of a learning curve, for sure.
After a few failed attempts, I finally started to get the hang of it. The yarn was feeding through nicely, the needles were clicking along, and I was actually creating a knitted tube! It was pretty satisfying to see it grow with each turn of the crank. You do have to manually knit the last little bit to close off the hat, but honestly, that wasn’t too bad. I could handle that much!
My final product
- The Result: After about an hour of cranking (with some breaks, my arm was getting tired!), I had a decent-looking beanie.
- Was It Perfect? Nope. There were a few uneven spots, and I wouldn’t exactly call it heirloom quality.
- But Was I Proud? You bet! I made a hat! With a machine! And it only took me an afternoon!
So, is the Sentro knitting machine worth it? I’d say it depends. If you’re looking for perfection, or if you’re already a knitting pro, this might not be for you. But if you’re a beginner like me, or if you just want to crank out some simple knitted items quickly, it’s definitely worth considering. It’s a fun little gadget, and it’s pretty satisfying to see your creations come to life. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve, and don’t expect miracles. I think I’ll be using it to make scarves next, maybe a blanket if I’m feeling adventurous!
All in all, I am glad I got this machine, it took some time, but I think I can use this to make some simple gifts for my family. And this old man learned a new trick or two!
