8th December Knitting Machine

On Thursday 8^th December, I continued to develop my skills and techniques within my specialised workshop area Textiles. The task was to gain confidence and independence with using a knitting machine which are used in industry to create effective and mass produced fabrics and clothes. The machine was made up of a row of knitting needles which can be altered and changed in order to suit the number of rows you are wanting to achieve. This is also connected with a hook which attaches the material wool safely to create a continuous row of knitting outcomes and patterns. The size and length of the knitting piece can be altered within the machine which allowed me to experiment with different sizes and techniques. This allowed me to analyse the effective knitting outcomes and how different sizes within the machine effect the appearance which is similar to handmade knitting with the choice and size of needles provided. To create the rows, a handle above the machine must be transported across the needles and back towards the starting point to create an effective and even outcome. This process is repeated to create the fabric and shape required but I faced problems when creating the sample. When repeating the process across the machine, I discovered that the needles would catch on the machine which meant it created holes and missing knitting loops within the sample. However to solve the problem, I placed a hook underneath the needles to untangle the machine and wool which allowed the process to work again accurately.

Whilst completing the task, I followed health safety instructions to avoid the risk of injury when creating samples. Firstly, I placed my hands away from the machine to avoid cutting my hand when moving the machine repeatedly. Also, bags were placed away from the machine to avoid tripping hazards when handling the machine. These instructions were followed throughout the task.

To experiment with the machine I decided to explore two different colours of wool and combine them both together within my sample. This meant I connected the materials together through attaching the wools together and placing them onto the hook and repeating the same process. This worked effectively and the sample is presented below.

Knitting Needles

This allows you to change the size of the knitting pattern and connect the wool
and machine together in order to create the piece.

Outcome sample which highlights the different sizes and patterns which can be achieved.

Close photograph of final outcome

Wool used for sample

Overall, I am pleased with my final outcome and sample as it demonstrates my understanding of the technique and process used. It has allowed me to experiment with a variety of sizes and gain independence when using the machine. I prefer using the industrial machine than handmade knitting as it allows me to gain accurate rows of knitting to give an effective outcome. I am going to continue to develop my confidence further with the process and expand my knowledge further to create more knitting samples.