Welcome to Silver-Reed Knitting Machines

INTRODUCTION

This article is for the information of those of you who would like to invest in a knitting machine, but are new to the machine knitting scene. While this section is a trifle long, it will be to your interest to take the time to read it.

MAKING YOUR CHOICE:

In selecting your Knitting Machine and making your purchase, you will have to make an informed choice. The information below (plus some advice from a friendly dealer, perhaps) will help in this direction.

Primarily, your choice will be made based on the type of knitting you wish to do:  i.e.: lightweight knitting, heavy weight knitting, different types of knitted fabrics, patterning, etc.

The type of knitting you want to do will influence your choice of machine on which to do it.

Read on

THE KNITTING MACHINE ITSELF:

Knitting Machines are no great mystery. They do what they are designed to do—they knit. Basically, they do exactly what a pair of knitting needles can do.  But because they automate the process, they are able to produce the finished product much, much faster, and into the bargain, create knitted fabrics of a complexity far beyond the scope of hand knitting capabilities.

In general, there are two types or "categories" of machine, Japanese manufacture and European manufacture.  Japanese machines do an excellent job of lighter knits, while the European machines handle a wider spectrum of fabrics.

Japanese machines include STUDIO (Singer), BROTHER, and SILVER REED. These machines generally knit lighter weight fabrics. These fabrics include "fair isle" with floats (which are the little strings strung across the back of the fabric) lace, and knit-woven fabrics, which are of special interest to the sewing brigade in general. Also included in this fabrics list are the variety of simple stitches common to all knitting machines.

On the other hand, the European machines (PASSAP, for instance, is Swiss made) are designed to knit double-knitted (no floats) and textured fabrics. The majority of fair isle fabrics produced are usually destined for sewing machine use.

PASSAP is an excellent example of the European machine. Able to handle a wider range of yarn types than the Japanese models, it also embodies an amazing range of knitting capabilities. PASSAP, in fact, is often referred to as the "Cadillac" of Knitting Machines.