Okay, let’s talk about this Addi knitting machine table project. It’s been on my to-do list for ages, mainly because using the Addi on a regular table was just… not great.
The Why of It All
So, I’ve got this Addi King Size, and it’s a fantastic machine for whipping up hats and tubes super fast. Love it. But, the clamping system it comes with? Those little plastic feet and tiny clamps? A bit of a joke, honestly. On my kitchen table, it would slide. On my craft desk, it would wobble if I got too enthusiastic with the cranking. I spent more time readjusting the darn thing than actually knitting sometimes. It was frustrating, you know?
I needed something sturdy. Something dedicated. Something that wouldn’t make me curse every time I wanted to start a project.
Figuring Out a Plan (Sort Of)
First, I thought about buying one. Saw a few online, but they were either ridiculously expensive or looked like they’d fall apart if you sneezed too hard. Plus, none of them seemed quite right for my space or how I wanted to use the machine. I like to stand sometimes, sit on a stool other times. Versatility, people!
So, I decided, “Right, I’m building this myself.” How hard could it be? Famous last words, sometimes.
My main goals were:
- Stability: This was non-negotiable. No more wobbling.
- Correct Height: Comfortable for both standing and sitting on a stool.
- Secure Mounting for the Addi: Better than those fiddly little clamps.
- Maybe some yarn management? A bonus, but not essential.
Getting My Hands Dirty: The Build
I started by rummaging through my garage. Found some leftover plywood from another project – score! That would do for the tabletop. For the legs, I had some 2x4s lying around. Not the prettiest, but strong.
Step 1: The Tabletop.
I measured the base of the Addi and added a few inches all around for elbow room and space for the clamps I had in mind. Cut the plywood. My cutting skills aren’t amazing, so it wasn’t perfectly square, but close enough for jazz, as they say. Sanded the edges a bit so I wouldn’t get splinters.
Step 2: The Legs.
This was where it got a little tricky. I decided on a height of about 36 inches. Cutting four legs to the exact same length with a hand saw? Let’s just say there was some trial and error. And a bit of swearing. I got there in the end. Mostly. One leg was a tiny bit shorter, but I figured I could shim it later. Foreshadowing!
Step 3: Assembling the Base.
I decided to make a simple rectangular frame under the tabletop to attach the legs to. More 2x4s for this. Screwed it all together. Then attached the legs to this frame. It was starting to look like a table! A very wobbly table, but a table nonetheless.
Step 4: The Addi Mounting System.
This was the crucial part. Instead of relying on the Addi’s clamps, I decided to bolt it directly to the table. I carefully marked where the feet of the Addi would sit, then drilled holes through the tabletop. I used some long bolts with wing nuts underneath. This way, I could slot the Addi’s feet over the bolts and tighten it down securely. Game changer!
Step 5: Battling the Wobble.
Okay, that one short leg and the general construction meant it wobbled. A lot. So, I added diagonal braces. Cut some thinner pieces of wood and screwed them from the top of one leg to the bottom of the adjacent leg, creating triangles. Did this on all sides. Suddenly, it was solid as a rock! Well, almost. The shim was still needed for that one leg, a little piece of cardboard did the trick.
The Grand Finale (and Learnings)
After a final sanding and deciding not to paint it (because, honestly, I was done by that point and just wanted to knit), it was ready. I plonked the Addi on, bolted it down, and gave it a crank. Smooth! No sliding, no wobbling, just the satisfying click-clack of the machine doing its thing.
It’s not the most beautiful piece of furniture I own, that’s for sure. It’s utilitarian. It’s a bit rough around the edges. But it works perfectly for its intended purpose. And I made it! There’s a certain satisfaction in that.
What did I learn?
- Measure twice, cut once. Seriously. I say this every time. I ignore it every time.
- Braces are your friend for stability. Don’t underestimate the power of a good triangle.
- Sometimes, “good enough” really is good enough, especially for workshop furniture.
So yeah, that’s the story of my Addi knitting machine table. It took an afternoon, some scrap wood, and a bit of patience, but now my knitting sessions are way more zen. Totally worth it.
