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A Knitting Machine
Jessica QuiltNCo
Posted by
Jessica
|
Updated on
February 14, 2023
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

Best Knitting Machines For All Skill Levels

Best overall
img-45
Addi Express King Size
Knitting Machine, Black, 890-2
Buy at Amazon.com
best FOR small budget
img-46
Prym Maxi Knitting Mills
pflaumenblau/taubengrau, 1 Stück, Purple
Buy at Amazon.com
best for custom jobs
img-47
Caron The Ultimate Sweater Machine
100 needles to knit up to 1,000 stitches a minute
Buy at Amazon.com

Knitting is a fun hobby that can help you create beautiful garments for yourself, friends, and family. A knitting machine is one way you can take your knitting to the next level. It’s a great way to make yourself more efficient or start knitting fast, even if you have no experience knitting. 

You can spend all day trying to determine which knitting machine is easy to use and worth the price. I’m here to help. I’ve done the research and want to share what I learned with you so you can spend your time knitting. 

In this post, I am going to review the best knitting machines on the market today. 

Keep reading to learn more.  🧶

1. Addi Express King Size – Best Overall

Specifications

Weight: 4.4 Pounds
Dimensions: 14.57 x 16.93 x 5.71 inches

What I Like

This is the best knitting machine for most people. This knitting machine is an excellent fit for both beginners and experienced knitters. Addi is well-known for producing some of the best knitting machines on the market. Their machines are well built and will last a very long time if cared for properly.

One of my favorite thing about this knitting machine is that it comes ready right out of the box.
You don’t need to spend much time putting together.

On top of that, it is pretty easy to get used to. It also comes with a thorough step by step guide that will help you get started.

Another thing I like it that it allows you to stitch back and forth as well as circular. This is an extremely versatile machine that allows you to create many projects.

Another great feature is the row counter. It will count how many rows you have created and display it on a digital display that is easy to see.

Once you get used to this machine or even as a beginner, the stitch counter comes in handy for keeping keep how large your piece is so far.

What I Dislike

The one major downside of this machine is that it does not work on all yarn. So you might have to experiment with it before you begin using it. I’ve read of people having to change the yarn they use just to work on the Addi machine.

Another thing that I disliked about this machine is that it only offers a stockinette stitch.
This can limit the number of products you can make. For experienced knitters this is a major downside, while for beginners, this might not be as big of an issue.

Another thing I will I am not a big fan of is the hand crank. While it is large and more comfortable than other knitting machines, it could be much better.
Positives
Durable build – materials will last a long time.
Easy and fast set up.
Allows you to create panels.
Allows for back and forth knitting and circular knitting.
Fully automated – works very quickly.
Negatives
Not all yarn works on the machine.
The digital Row counter is unreliable.
Lacks tension control.
Only offers stockinette stitch – limited items that you can make.
Hand crank is not ergonomic as it could be.

Who Should buy

This is a perfect knitting machine for beginners and experienced knitters alike.
The Addi Express King Size machine is a versatile and large machine great for making a variety of various items.

If you are looking to make scarves, hats, infinity scarves, panels for blankets, and sweaters and other common items this is a great option.
If you are also looking for a durable machine that will last you a long time this is the perfect machine.

Keep in mind you will pay for the quality, so make sure you will use this machine. If you are looking for a one and done machine, this might not be the best choice.

2. Prym Knitting mill Maxi – Best Budget Knitting Machine

Specifications

Weight: 3.92 Pounds
Dimensions: 15.35 x 13.39 x 12.6 inches

What I Like

My favorite part about this machine is the price. Compared to other knitting machines such as the Addi, it is about half the price.

Other than the price, this knitting machine functions very similarly to the Addi. It is easy to use and comes out of the box, ready to start knitting products.

Another thing I like it the tension holder on this machine. It allows you to apply different levels of tension depending on what you are looking for.

What I Dislike

What I don’t like about this machine is how often it drops and splits stitches.
I found that depending on the yarn you are using, this problem can be very bad to nearly non-existent. With this machine, you will need to experiment with different yarns before you find one that works perfect for you. I found that thinner yarns tend to perform better than thicker yarns for better results.

I also dislike that the legs on this machine. I find that it can be a bit shaky when you are knitting. It does have a holding guide across the top, allowing you to hold it steady while you are using it. This is not ideal because other machines either come with clamps or suction tips to keep it steady.

I also dislike how the Prym crank is not as smooth as higher quality knitting machines.
It does feel like the plastic is rubbing against each other when your rotate the crank.
A solution to this is adding some plastic oil to the inside of the needles, but I still find that it is not as smooth as higher quality knitting machines.
Positives
Inexpensive.
Works with most brands.
Easy to pin.
Come preloaded for easy use and learning.
Compact and easy to use.
Has a yarn guide and tension control.
Negatives
Drops stitch frequently, especially when going fast.
The crank is not very smooth.
Only three legs make for a shaky base.

Who Should buy

If you are looking for a knitting machine but want to spend less than $50 then this is a perfect knitting machine.

I recommend you buy this machine if you are looking for a one and done knitting machine or for something to perform a few jobs.

If you are looking to do large or make numerous items, this might be best to invest in better knitting machines.

3. The Ultimate Sweater Machine – Best For Custom Jobs

Specifications

Weight: 3.92 Pounds
Dimensions: 15.35 x 13.39 x 12.6 inches

What I Like

There are two major things that I like about this knitting machine.

The first is that although there is a bit of a learning curve once you get its hang, you can create projects very fast. This machine allows you to stitch up to 1200 stitches per minute, given how long it is.

The second thing I like is how you can easily adjust the size of the object you are knitting. Other machines have a fixed size, which is very limiting.

What I Dislike

What I dislike most about this machine is that it can be a bit hard to get used to. It also requires much much more labor to build wand set up your machine.

Another downside is that this machine is very large and not as compact as the other options on the list. If you want to use this knitting machines you are going to need a large workstation. It you want to move around it weighs around 10 pounds and has a lot of parts that don’t make it very portable.

This machine is also a bit dated, and instructional videos are quite limited compared to new knitting machines.
Positives
Allows you to customize size and shape
Very fast – up tp 1200 stitches per minute.
Can make large items fast
Negatives
Long and Heavy
Requires more manual labor than other designs
Can take some time getting used to it
Hard to use at first

Who Should buy

This is a great knitting machine for intermediate to experienced knitters. Although there is a learning curve that takes time to get used to this knitting machine is versatile.

This is a great buy if you are looking to make a variety of different items, especially larger items.
This machine will give you versatility, customization, and speed that other knitting machines do not offer.

If you do purchase this, remember it will take some time to get used to.
JessicaJessica
I’m Jessica, mother of two and passionate seamstress. From a very young age, I’ve cultivated a passion for the creative arts, from drawing, sewing and now quilting. I saw it as a way to escape, to create, and above all, to please by offering my creations around me. The desire to pass on this passion has become more and more important, this is why I’m sharing my experience and my knowledge online.
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Jessica QuiltNCo

Warning!

I am a passionate Quilter.
This means that I actually enjoy chopping up perfectly good fabric into little teeny tiny pieces and then sewing them all right back together again…
JUST FOR FUN. 😉
Jessica
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

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