I don’t know many machine knitters who have just one knitting machine. After all, there are three common gauges (4.5mm standard, 6.5mm, mid-gauge, and 9mm bulky) that knit different yarn sizes. It’s wonderful if you’re fortunate enough to have the space to leave all three sizes of machines set up, but that’s not the reality for everyone. So what’s the best way to store your knitting machine? Options vary, but there are some definite musts for storage. Between Projects If you plan to leave your machine set up while you aren’t using it, you should cover it with a sheet or table cloth to protect ..read more

If you’re familiar with the Electric Eel Spinning Wheel, you might know that Maurice Ribble of Dreaming Robots, the mind behind the magic, recently released an electric cone winder!  I backed the project on Kickstarter in 2022. I have only backed three or four Kickstarter projects, but I have to say, Dreaming Robots was great about keeping backers in the know about the state of the project and allowing input. I forgot to fill out the address form when it came out, so my winder arrived in December, but that’s all on me! (Facepalm) I paid the Kickstarter backer price of $189 plus shipping ..read more

If you have a little bit of Christmas Cash and you feel like investing in yourself for the New Year, pick up the newly-released Texture and 3D Effects Machine Knitting Techniques book. Amber Hards teaches texture and playfulness in her essential addition to the series. “[Hards] encourages you to explore and experiment with confidence to produce exciting, tactile knitwear.” publisher’s blurb Find it here on Amazon. The Details Published: January 1, 2024 (US/NA) Publisher: The Crowood Press Format: Paperback Pages: 144 MSRP: $24.99 Canada: $32.99 Chapters Materials and Stripes Man ..read more

It’s not technically a knitting machine accessory, but it sure does make life easier! If you don’t use one already, consider getting a craft cart to help organize your machine knitting tools and accessories. I use a three tiered craft cart to keep my weights, carriages, and accessories organized and contained while I work. I’m a bit scatterbrained on the best of days, so having a system where everything has its place really helps me stick to a task without distractions. I’m much less likely to lose things when I have a system. This cart used to be organized with one tier for each gauge and a ..read more

The Crowood Press has released quite the handful of machine knitting books recently, and you won’t want to miss them. Bill King, someone you might recognize from his regular contributions to Machine Knitting Monthly, shares his wealth of knowledge in this Cables edition of Machine Knitting Techniques. Once a few basic techniques have been mastered, the number of cable designs available is virtually endless. The Crowood Press The Details Published: 2023 Publisher: The Crowood Press Format: Paperback Pages: 112 MSRP: $21.99 Canada: $28.99 Chapters The Basics of Cable Knitting on t ..read more

It’s fall, y’all! …well, it is autumn according to the calendar. Sweater weather hasn’t fully arrived yet in Northeast Oklahoma, but I am here for you with a seasonally appropriate review of Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport 100% wool yarn ON CONES! Before we get into my knitting experience, here are The Details Fiber Content 100% Wool Yardage/Meters 1682 yards / 1598 m Ounces/Grams 16 oz / (1 lb) / 452 g Yarn Weight/Size CYC 2 / Sport Made In Mitchell, NE, USA Availability BrownSheep.com, Brick-and-Mortar Local Yarn Shops Construction 3 plies Put Up Cone Hand Wash Yes Machine ..read more

I love my vintage machine knitting book collection, but new machine knitting books just make my day. They’re proof that machine knitting isn’t dying — it’s still evolving, and dare I say, growing. Discovering Machine Knitting by Kandy Diamond releases in North America on October 10, 2023. It’s more than just an eye-catching cover. Here are my thoughts: Perfect for beginners, it starts with how the machine works and how stitches are formed, all the way through to shaping garment panels to your desired size and fit. Each chapter focuses on different skills that build throughout the book, with ..read more

In my last post I showcased a project where I used NINE colors to push my creative boundaries. I ended that post feeling more confident, but when I went to choose colors for my next colorwork project, I found myself even more color-shy than before! Since I’m still not convinced I know enough about colors to be allowed to choose combinations on my own, I thought I’d share different ways to choose a color palette that will help you build and discover your own color stories. Use a Color Wheel To me, using a color wheel feels like the “pro” way to choose colors. It’s the way “real” artists do it ..read more

In case you missed it, I recently reviewed Alison Dupernex’s Creative Machine Knitting. And boy can I say I was excited but also nervous when I noticed she replied to my Instagram post about the review. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELY Knits (@ely.knits) …I threw all my designs in and my ‘colour madness’ to encourage and inspire knitters to go and make for themselves. Alison Dupernex Click on the post to view the entire comment. Her color stories are sometimes very “out there” to me, as in “there’s no way I’d personally choose that,” but her comment on my review got me t ..read more

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy something using my link, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. If you don’t have a local place to support, please consider using my affiliate link as it helps me continue to provide you with free content.  We moved to our new place last year, and I have a studio! Yay! It’s a small building around 400 square feet just steps from our garage. It’s been a dream come true having a large, dedicated machine knitting space and not just a small craft room, but it’s a lot more chaotic than I hoped.  main room with glued down r ..read more