Okay, so I finally got my hands on this Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine that everyone’s been talking about. I’ve been wanting to try one of these machines for ages, and let me tell you, I was super excited to get started!
First, I took everything out of the box. This thing is pretty big, with 46 needles. It also came with a pattern book, an express hook, some replacement needles, and a stopper. I spent some time reading the instructions, and they seemed simple enough.
I started by setting up the machine on my table. It comes with clamps to secure it, which was pretty straightforward. Then, I chose some yarn I had lying around – just some regular worsted weight stuff. The Addi can handle different yarn types, which is cool.
Threading the Yarn
Next, I threaded the yarn. The machine has a yarn guide, so I just followed that and started cranking the handle slowly. It took a few tries to get the tension right, but once I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing. I noticed that the Addi King Size is designed for long-term use, so I tried to make it hardier and sturdier.
Knitting in the Round
I decided to start with a simple tube, knitting in the round. I kept cranking, and the machine started knitting automatically. It was amazing to watch! The stitches were pretty even, and it was so much faster than hand knitting. I could see the tube forming in just minutes.
Trying Flat Panels
After I got comfortable with the round knitting, I wanted to try making a flat panel. I followed the instructions to switch the machine to the flat panel setting. It involved a bit of back-and-forth cranking, but it wasn’t too difficult. I made a small rectangle to practice. It came out pretty well, although the edges were a bit wonky at first.
Experimenting with Stitches
Then, I got a little more adventurous. I tried some different stitch patterns from the pattern book. Some were easy, like the rib stitch, but others were more complicated. I had to pay close attention to the instructions and the row counter, which was manual on this model. I heard that some knitting machines have faulty counters, but this one worked fine.
Finishing the Project
Finally, I decided to make a real project – a simple beanie. I used the round knitting mode and followed a basic pattern. It took me about an hour, which was incredibly fast compared to knitting by hand. Once I finished knitting, I carefully took the project off the machine.
Casting Off
Casting off was the trickiest part. I had to use the express hook to transfer the stitches to a piece of scrap yarn. Then, I cinched it up to close the top of the beanie. It wasn’t perfect, but it looked pretty good for my first try.
Overall, I’m really impressed with the Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine. It’s a sturdy and reliable machine, and it’s much faster than hand knitting. It’s great for making tubes and flat panels, and you can use different types of yarn. There’s definitely a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a lot of fun. I can’t wait to make more projects with it!
- Pros: Fast, easy to use once you learn the basics, sturdy, can use different yarn weights.
- Cons: Takes some practice, casting off can be tricky, the manual row counter requires attention.
I had several machines before but this one is much better than the old ones.
I’d definitely recommend this machine to anyone who wants to try machine knitting. It’s a great way to create projects quickly and easily.
