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Best Knitting Machines

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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
addi Express King Size Knitting Machine
addi
Express King Size Knitting Machine
Customer Favorite

This model's quality, accuracy and reliability is hard to beat.

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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This model's quality, accuracy and reliability is hard to beat.

Pros

Very accurate and easy to use. A high-quality product that makes knitting easier. Helps you complete craft projects quicker. Crafted in Germany. The larger design is perfect for sweaters.

Cons

Very expensive for a manual machine.

Best Bang for the Buck
novelinks Round Knitting Looms Set
novelinks
Round Knitting Looms Set
Easy to Use

This knitting loom is a great product for when you want to save some money.

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Easy to Use
Bottom Line

This knitting loom is a great product for when you want to save some money.

Pros

This knitting loom has excellent reviews and features 5 different looms in various sizes. It also includes a yarn needle and a loom pick. The loom is circular, and customers report that it is simple to use this device.

Cons

Instructions aren’t very detailed; it may require additional research before using the item.

JAMIT 48 Needles Knitting Loom Machine
JAMIT
48 Needles Knitting Loom Machine
Best for Beginners

This is a decent knitting machine for beginners to use.

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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

This is a decent knitting machine for beginners to use.

Pros

The product features 48 needles and is sold for a great price. It has a hand crank, and it will help you begin knitting quickly if you’re new to the art. It comes with a row counter and has excellent reviews.

Cons

Some buyers say that it drops stitches, and the material isn’t solid.

ALIMELT Round Knitting Loom Set
ALIMELT
Round Knitting Loom Set
Most Eco-Friendly

This great knitting loom features an innovative design with all the basics needed.

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Most Eco-Friendly
Bottom Line

This great knitting loom features an innovative design with all the basics needed.

Pros

A great starter set for those looking for a knitting loom. It features extra pegs on the loom and is designed for use with any type of yarn. Product materials do not have glue or other harsh chemicals.

Cons

Some buyers claim that the pegs are too close to one another, making knitting more challenging.

addi Express Professional Knitting Machine
addi
Express Professional Knitting Machine
Fast Results

This machine works efficiently, particularly for smaller projects such as socks and gloves.

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Fast Results
Bottom Line

This machine works efficiently, particularly for smaller projects such as socks and gloves.

Pros

Features 22 needles. Can be used on circular and plain knitted designs for creating a variety of favorite projects. Works well with most types of yarn. Machine is sturdy, quiet, and easy to store.

Cons

A few reviews reported that there is a learning curve to figuring out this knitting machine.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
October 04, 2021
30
Models
considered
14
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for best knitting machines

Ade Hennis
Written by Ade Hennis

Updated July 2024

From cozy hats and gloves to baby blankets to lightweight sweaters, there's a knitting project for every season. But learning to knit takes time, not to mention the time it takes to complete a knitting project even once you're proficient.

A knitting machine, however, can speeds things up. While they might make knitting easier, nobody ever said selecting a knitting machine was straightforward. You'll find a range of factors to consider, including the type of knitting machine you need and the gauge.

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Some people who hand knit still choose to use knitting machines for finer knits, since knitting such fine garments would take a huge amount of time by hand.

Why buy a knitting machine?

Knitting machines aren't for everyone, but they have their diehard fans, too. If you're still on the fence about knitting machines, here are some reasons you might want to buy one.

  • Machine knitting is much faster than hand knitting, so a sweater that would take you weeks to knit could be ready in days, or even hours.

  • Manual knitting machines can help beginners get a feel for hand knitting.

  • Knitting machines are good for people who don't have the manual dexterity for hand knitting — for instance, young children or people who suffer from arthritis.

  • You can get much more polished results from knitting machines — once you've mastered your machine, expect perfect patterns.

  • Fine gauge knitting machines create extremely fine knits that you could never achieve by hand.

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Did you know?
Some electronic knitting machines can do multi-color knitting without having the change the yarn.
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Types of knitting machines

Punchcard knitting machines

With punchcard knitting machines, you must insert a special card that tells the machine which pattern to follow.

  • Pros: Some people find them simpler to use than electronic knitting machines. They don't require computer access or special software, and can create very fine and fairly complex knits.

  • Cons: Pattern width is limited to the width of the card, after which it must repeat. These machines use fairly archaic technology, and punchcards could easily be misplaced.

  • Price: Around $100 to $200.

Manual knitting machines

Manual knitting machines or knitting looms may be circular or straight. They still require a fairly large amount of user input, but are great for beginners.

  • Pros: Easy to use, and don't need to be plugged into a computer. Basic models are very inexpensive. Some models can create flat knitting as well as tubes for hats or similar items.

  • Cons: Some models limit what you can make, and are not significantly faster than hand knitting. Also, some, don't produce results as neatly done as other types of machines.

  • Price: From less than $20 for a basic model, up to around $100.

Electronic knitting machines

Electronic knitting machines attach to a computer via USB to download patterns.

  • Pros: You can edit and create your own patterns using computer software, and these machines are more versatile than other types of knitting machines. They can tackle truly complex patterns.

  • Cons: Most models still require the user to move the carriage by hand, so they're not fully automated. High-end models can be pricey, and may require some computer literacy.

  • Price: From $100 for basic models, up to $1,000 or more for professional-level machines.

Knitting machine gauges

Most punchcard and electronic knitting machines are single gauge, meaning you'll have to consider which thickness of yarn you'd like to knit with and stick to it. Knitting machines may come in the following gauges.

  • Chunky gauge: Chunky gauge knitting machines have needles 8mm to 9mm apart, and are designed for making chunkier knits using double knitting (DK) yarn, Aran, mohair, and other bulky yarns. The results from chunky gauge machines are probably the most similar to hand knitting.

  • Mid-gauge: Mid-gauge knitting machines have needles 6mm to 7mm apart. They can create anything between sport weight and medium weight knits.

  • Standard gauge: Standard gauge knitting machines have needles 4.5mm to 5mm apart and usually use 4-ply yarn. This gives a smooth, neat finish, similar to what you might get from store bought knitwear.

  • Fine gauge: Fine gauge knitting machines have needles 3.5mm or 3.6mm apart. They use only very lightweight yarns, and can be used to produce fine, lacy knits. This is the least common knitting machine gauge.

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Knitting machine materials

 

The body of most knitting machines is made from plastic. Lightweight, fairly sturdy, and inexpensive, this is a sensible choice. The bed or needles, however, may be made of either plastic or metal.

High-end knitting machines tend to have a metal bed, as it's more durable and can help facilitate more intricate patterns.

Basic and mid-range models usually stick with a plastic bed, which — while not as hard-wearing as metal — is perfectly serviceable.

Tips

  • Not many manufacturers still make punchcard or electronic knitting machines, so you won't have as many options for these, unless you buy a used model.

  • Some knitting machines come with a lace carriage for crafting intricate knits — but you won't find these on manual or chunky gauge machines.

  • You can find knitting machines geared towards children, which can be a great intro to knitting for kids who don't yet have the patience or dexterity to hand knit.

  • Even if you choose an electronic knitting machine, you'll need to cast on and off by hand, so some manual knitting knowledge is required.

  • Depending on the style of knitting machine you choose, you're likely to eventually need replacement parts, so it's worth checking to see if they're readily available.

  • If you want to knit in the round, a manual machine will achieve this much more cheaply than a double-bedded electronic model.

  • Steam your machine knitted items once completed to help secure the stitches, and to get a smoother finish.

  • Electronic and punchcard knitting machines must be kept well-oiled or they may start to stick and jam.

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If you're serious about machine knitting, it's worth splashing out and going to the high end of your budget when purchasing a knitting machine. Basic machines are inexpensive but are really just for fun or for occasional use.

FAQ

Q. Can a knitting machine deal with complex patterns?

A. This really depends on the type of knitting machine you own. Some models can deal with complex patterns, but most manual machines are fairly limited. Even fairly high-end electronic models may require a double bed in order to make ribbed knitwear, although you can manipulate the stitches into a ribbed pattern by hand, if you know what you're doing.

Q. Can I use the same yarn in a knitting machine as I would for hand knitting?

A. Knitting machines use basically the same kind of yarn as you'd use for hand knitting, however, some machines need the yarn to be wound on a special cone. You can purchase yarn that's already on one of these cones, to make the job easier for you, but otherwise you'll need to transfer the yarn onto the cone either by hand or using a yarn winder. Some yarns — such as those with a loose twist — aren't extremely well suited to use in a knitting machine, as they can get caught or separated.

Q. Are knitting machines easy to use?

A. While it's easier to knit with a machine than it is to knit by hand, there's still a fairly steep learning curve. Knitting machines are relatively easy to use, but don't expect to produce an intricate sweater your first time around. Each knitting machine works differently, so make yourself well-acquainted with the instruction manual before the first time you use your chosen model.

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