Alright, so I got my hands on this thing called the Bond Incredible Sweater Knitting Machine, the ‘complete’ version, no less. It had been sitting around for ages, and I figured, why not try to actually make something with it? Seemed like a good way to spend a weekend, or so I thought.
Getting Started – The Unboxing and Setup Saga
First off, getting it out of the box was an event. So many bits of plastic. The main bed, the carriage, a bunch of needles, weights, and a counter thingy. The instruction manual looked like it was from another era, which, well, it probably was. Not super clear, if I’m being honest. I spent a good chunk of time just figuring out how to clamp it securely to my table. Didn’t want the thing flying off mid-knit, you know?
Then came threading the yarn. That was a bit fiddly. The carriage has this arm, and you gotta get the yarn through it just right. The tension setup was also a bit of guesswork initially. The manual gave some guidance, but yarn can be so different, so it felt like a trial-and-error situation from the get-go.
My First Attempts – More Incredible Mess than Sweater
Okay, so with the machine clamped and yarn threaded, I was ready for my first cast-on. The Bond uses a sort of e-wrap cast-on for the basic start. I tried. The first few needles went okay, then I’d drop a stitch, or the yarn wouldn’t catch. Pulled it all out. Tried again. Frustration was building, let me tell you.
My first “successful” bit of knitting was probably about ten rows of tangled loops that looked more like a fishing net caught in a storm. The carriage would jam, or I’d forget to move the latches on the needles properly. Dropped stitches were my arch-nemesis. It felt like every other row, a stitch would just decide to leap off the needle into oblivion.
I learned quickly that you need to use the claw weights. Like, really use them. Evenly. If you don’t, the knitting just bunches up or drops. It’s not a machine you can just set and forget. You’re constantly interacting with it, making sure the yarn is feeding, the stitches are forming, and the weights are doing their job.
Finding a Rhythm and Actually Knitting
After a lot of swearing, unravelling, and re-starting, I started to get a feel for it. It’s all about consistent movement with the carriage and paying attention to the sound it makes. A smooth “zip” is good. Any kind of “clunk” or “crunch” means trouble.
I decided to just practice making plain stockinette panels. Forget sweaters for a moment, let’s just make a rectangle! I must have knitted and unravelled half a dozen small squares. But with each one, I got a bit better. I learned how to pick up dropped stitches (a crochet hook is your best friend here). I learned how much tension to put on the yarn mast. It’s a very manual machine, despite being a “machine.”
The “complete” kit also came with a ribber attachment, which is supposed to let you do ribbing, like for cuffs and hems. That was a whole other adventure. Attaching it, aligning the needles – it felt like I needed an engineering degree. I managed to make a few rows of 1×1 rib, but it was slow going and even more prone to issues if I wasn’t super careful.
Making Something Resembling a Garment
Once I felt a bit more confident with plain knitting, I decided to try something simple. Not a full “incredible sweater” just yet, maybe something like a simple vest or a scarf. I opted for a wide scarf first. That way, if the edges were a bit wobbly, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
It took time. Lots of it. Counting rows with the little clicker. Adding weights as the knitting grew. Carefully moving the carriage back and forth. I did manage to finish a scarf! It wasn’t perfect. The tension was a bit uneven in places, a rookie mistake. But it was a finished object, made on the Bond.
Later, I did try to make panels for a very basic, boxy sweater. Just front, back, and two sleeves. The knitting part was laborious but doable. The real challenge was then seaming it all together. The machine just makes flat panels; the “sweater” part still requires a lot of hand finishing.
So, Was It an “Incredible” Experience?
Well, the Bond Incredible Sweater Knitting Machine certainly is… a machine. “Incredible”? I’d say it’s incredibly dependent on your patience and willingness to tinker. It’s not a magic box that spits out sweaters. It’s a tool, a very specific one, with a steep learning curve.
Here’s what I found:
- It takes practice: Lots and lots of it. Don’t expect perfect results on day one. Or even week one.
- Good yarn helps: Smooth, non-splitting yarn works best. Anything too fuzzy or lumpy will just cause headaches.
- Weights are key: You can’t skimp on the weights, and they need to be distributed evenly.
- Be gentle but firm: The carriage needs a consistent, smooth push. Too hard or too jerky and you’ll drop stitches or jam it.
It was an interesting journey, for sure. I definitely learned a lot about how machine knitting, even on a simple plastic machine like this, works. It gave me a new appreciation for hand knitting too, funny enough. It’s not something I’d use every day, but for cranking out some simple stockinette fabric once you get the hang of it, it can be faster than needles. Just be prepared for the “character-building” moments along the way.
