Knitting machines are all about improving speed and convenience. While knitting machines might look straightforward from the outside, they can be quite difficult to use, especially when you’re first starting out.
Even experienced manual knitters can struggle with knitting machines, even Brother’s popular and flexible models. This is why we’re here to help. We’ll list the top five tips to get the most out of a Brother knitting machine.
The following tips will help you get the most out of your machine and take your skills to the next level, whether you’re experienced or just considering getting into machine knitting.
Tip #1 –Understand Everything You Can About Your Knitting Machine
Tip #1 –Understand Everything You Can About Your Knitting Machine Brother knitting machines are simple, even though they do come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations. This is especially true for the Brother KR Series of devices, which are based around a series of ribbing attachments.
One of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting the most out of your Brother knitting machine is to learn everything you can about it and how it operates. You can do this just by reading through the easy-to-understand instruction manual, which is filled with useful tips and tricks.
While it may seem like a waste of time to read through an instruction manual for a machine that, in many cases, only has four levers, it’s worth it given that these levers control stitch patterning. You’ll be able to take full advantage of your machine’s potential if you understand what each lever and control is for.
What If You No Longer Have the Instruction Manual?
If you don’t have the original instructions because your Brother knitting machine is older, or you’ve purchased it used, you can request a new manual from Brother or download a printable PDF version from the company’s website.
Read the Instruction Manual from Front to Back
No matter which model you own, read through the manual step-by-step and pay attention. This will help improve the quality of your machine knitting and having a solid understanding of how to use your device will cut down on how long it takes to complete projects.
Tip #2 -Keep it Simple
It’s important to start off small when you’re first getting started with your Brother knitting machine. Even if you’re an experienced knitter, machine knitting is different; getting as much practice as you can is crucial. Start off by working with scrap yarn and make a habit of using your knitting machine at least once per week, even if you don’t have a particular project on the go.
Just because your knitting machine can knit quickly doesn’t mean you should give yourself tight deadlines, either. Learn the basics and master your machine before you commit yourself to any deadlines or commission pieces. The stress and frustration that comes from deadlines will be amplified if you’re not used to using a knitting machine.
Tip #3 – Build Your Confidence
This tip is related to the first two, but it’s equally important. If you want to get the most out of your knitting machine, you need to put in the effort required to build your confidence.
Start off with just one color and type of yarn. Once you’re comfortable using that particular type of yarn, you can begin adding stripes, new patterns, and working on more complicated shapes and projects. Whether it’s manual knitting or machine knitting, building your confidence comes from improving and expanding your skillset.
If you try to overcomplicate things from the start, you’ll end up feeling frustrated and discouraged. Just because you’re a talented manual knitter doesn’t mean you can immediately start taking on complicated projects with a knitting machine. Put in the time and don’t be afraid to take baby steps in the beginning. Never underestimate the value of confidence –it’ll make the entire process far more enjoyable, and your completed knitting projects will look nicer.
Tip #4 – Learn How to Knit and Measure a Proper Swatch
You won’t know what size your garment will end up being without knowing your gauge. This is why knitting an accurate gauge swatch is so critical. Even if you’re just knitting a blanket, you won’t know how big it’ll become or how much yarn you’ll need if you don’t know how to knit a swatch. Swatching will also help you know how your completed project will react when it comes time to wash it.
Whether you’re using a Brother machine or any other type of knitting device, knowing how to swatch will help you have success. It takes time, but it’s worth the effort.
Tip #5 – Choose a Type of Yarn That is Appropriate for Your Machine
Although Brother knitting machines can handle a variety of yarn fibers and blends, it’s still important, especially when you’re starting out, to pick a yarn that works with your machine.
It’s also important to choose yarn that has the colors you like, a texture you prefer, and fits your budget. Buy one type of yarn and practice with it so you’ll know how it’ll react to your machine and what sort of tension you should use when you work with it.
You’ll become a more talented machine knitter by building your skills with a consistent type of yarn. After you’ve learned the basics while mastering one type of yarn, you can move onto different types and learn how those react to your knitting machine.
