madeinswanage

Sock Knitting Machine CSM

Published on 18th May 201918th May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

I’ve wanted a circular sock knitting machine for ages. So back in November 2017 I had a clear out and spent a couple of months selling stuff! on ebay to get together some funds for the purchase of a sock knitting machine.

Towards the end of my Ebaying this machine came up on Ebay and I was the lucky winner.

It had not been used for a while so it needed a little clean up and some new needles.

I managed to get a tube of knitting straight away, but it was a couple of days and a lot of oil before it would crank smoothly.

Being an old item of equipment from possibly dating back to the first world war, these lovely machines are very simple in mechanism but boy are they tempremental. They have particlar settings they are happy with and some they just dont like.

The learning curve is massive and you neeed to be a person that will play around and not be afraid to tinker with the settings. It was probably 4 months before I could knit a ribbed sock without any errors. I had great help from a Face book Group called the Vintage Krankers.

Recent Commision

Published on 28th May 201818th May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

I recently sold a pair of socks at a craft fair and was delighted to receive a commission for several more pairs a few days later. The socks are made with my CSM Sock Recipe

Baby Booties

Published on 28th May 201831st May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

For the last craft fair on May 12th I made some Baby Booties mostly from this pattern

The boxes are origami boxes made from craft paper.

Baby Button Mary Janes

Latest Craft Fair

Published on 20th Apr 201831st May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

Took part in the latest craft fair at the Catholic Hall in Swanage. the weather was a bit odd, lot of rolling sea mist but the footfall was good.

First time on display for my Noro (wool & Silk) Flower granny blanket. It received a lot of attention, mainly due to the lovely colours.

I have invested in a sock display and the socks looked great. I have also made some new labels for the socks. I also used my wooden blocks.

I also took the opportunity to display my shawls in a different way.

Had a good amount of sales and had some sock commissions as well.

Looking forward to the next one on the 12th May

Baby bootee recipe – 84 Cylinder

Published on 1st Mar 201831st May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

My version of a felted baby sock/bootee.

Cranked on an 84 cylinder with 4 ply yarn.

Only 7 gms per sock. that’s a lot of socks out of one ball….yah

Using 100% Hand Wash wool. Super wash wool will not shrink.

The wool I used was cascade yarns – cascade 220 http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/…/cascade-220-fingering…

Tension 1 stop looser than normal.

Leg

Cast on with every 3rd needle.

Knit 32 rows.

Heel

Knit heel as normal until 6 stitches left.

Foot

Knit 12 rows for foot.

Toe

Knit Toe as normal until 6 stitches left.

Finish

Cast off.

Kitchener Toe.

Crochet slip stitch top leg.

Wash on 1 hour wash at 60 degrees.

Roll top, pull into shape whilst Damp

Voila!!

Notes

Make in the normal way, finish toe and top of leg. Pull into shape before washing. Before washing size will depend on yarn, tension etc as will felted size and how it is washed.

Don’t be put off by the stringy sock you end up with before washing. Its like knitting a string bag.

Fingerless glove – 84 cylinder

Published on 12th Feb 201831st May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

Recipe for a Fingerless Glove – 84 cylinder using 4 ply sock wool

(Regia, Opal, Stylecraft, Drops Fabel, Scheepjes Invicta Extra etc.)

This glove has a hand knitted thumb and knitted cast off.

Will give an average glove, to make it smaller add Lycra.

Left glove without Lycra.

Cuff

Selvage 1st row ribber in, 2nd and 3rd row ribber out.

20 – 30 rows 1 x 1 rib depending on length of cuff required

Lower hand

30 rows 3 x 1 rib

Thumb waste stitches

Stop machine at 3.00 o’clock change yarn to waste yarn, Knit 12 Stitches, change back to glove yarn.

Upper Hand

24 rows 3 x 1

Top Cuff

10 rows 1 x 1

Hand Knit the following

Before removing the waste yarn I use a sewing needle to sew a running thread through all the stitches that are about to be exposed by removing the waste yarn. This will
stop the stitches running. Not very clear to see, orange thread has been used

As you remove the running thread pick up each stitch.

Pick up 12 stitches from lower hand , make 1 stitch in body of glove immediately before the waste yarn started knitting, 12 stitches from the top hand, make 1 stitch in body of glove immediately after the waste yarn was knit. (26 stitches)

Knit at least 12 rows of 1 x 1 rib, knit more rows if you want more of the thumb covered.

Cast off in 1 x 1 rib.

Hand Finish the Top Cuff

Sew a running thread around the last 1 x 1 knit row before waste yarn

As you remove the running thread pick up each stitch.

Pick up all stitches, remove running thread.

Standard knitted cast off in 1 x 1 rib.

Enjoy

version 1

Recipe for a mans sock size UK 8

Published on 11th Feb 201818th May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

Recipe for a mans sock size UK 8 using 4 ply sock wool

(Regia, Opal, Stylecraft, Drops Fabel, Scheepjes Invicta Extra etc.)

On my machine 5 rows will change the size by one sock size e.g. size 9 will be plus 5 rows in the foot.

Cuff

Selvage 1st row ribber in, 2nd and 3rd row ribber out.

20 rows 1 x 1 rib

Leg

55 rows 3 x 1 rib

Pre heel

Replace all needles on half of cylinder where heel is to be made

15 rows

Heel

Short row heel of your choice

Foot

75 rows

Pre Toe

Replace all needles

4 Rows

Toe

Short row toe of your choice

Enjoy

Home spun and dyed shawl

Published on 10th Dec 201718th May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

I was gifted a large cake of home spun and home dyed yarn as a thank you for a lift to a craft exhibition. The yarn was probably 3 ply, with speckles of dye in it. As soon as I saw it I knew it would become a shawl.

The pattern is Holden available on Ravelry.

It made a gorgeous shawl, once blocked it looked great but I must admit before hand it looked like a dish rag.

CSM stool

Published on 27th Nov 201718th May 2019 by madeinswanageLeave a comment

Yarn enhanced drum stool

I’m getting together items so I can transport and demonstrate my sock knitting machines a craft fairs and crank ins.

Over the weekend I obtained a stool meant for drumming. It needs new feet which I have ordered from Ebay. It also had a boring black plastic top which called out for some fibre enhancement.

Using some stash Aran cotton I crocheted a granny cover.

No pattern just winged it.