Troubles getting started

mieke

January 26, 2023 21:04 Edited

Hello,

I'm having troubles to start knitting on the kniterate machine.

At this moment i have yarn nm 7.5,a cashmere-merino blend. I also have wool yarn, nm7

It already goes wrong at the start, the machine makes a couple of stitches, but then the tension seems to drop and the yarn is too loose on the needles, wich makes it go wrong all the way. I have a couple of pictures to show you. 

What is a good stitch size with this yarn thickness?

Is it possible to set the speed too slow? I always try at speed 75 because i'm afraid to break something. Would it work better if i set the speed a bit higher?

Also, when this happens and everything is a knotted mess, what is the best way to remove the yarn from the machine, is there a setting that just moves the carriage without moving the needles etc? Because it takes ages to remove this from the machine manually..

I hope i can get a little help here to get me started. A chart with some yarn thickness and stitch sizes etc would be great.. There is so little info on this machine. I already tried to join the facebook group, but i'm still not accepted, so it's all a bit frustrating.

 

Thank you in advance!

 

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  OJ

  January 27, 2023 18:59

  There's a good article on tensioning here. You may need to adjust both top and lateral tensions. 

  The stitch size will depend on what you're knitting. With NM 7 yarn I've used size 8 for jersey and size 4/4 for 1x1 rib (pitch).

  I haven't experimented with speed enough to know for sure about knitting too slowly, but I know it's possible to knit too quickly! I'm a slow knitter too when I'm knitting something for the first time. I'll usually start out at 200 before working my way up to a faster speed.

  Re removing the knitting, if the knitting has progressed enough to be caught by the rollers, one way is to bring the feeders to edges, secure the tensioners, and continue knitting without yarn. If the knitting hasn't reached the rollers, you'll need to remove the knitting manually.

  Have you tried knitting the Kniterate scarf (kcode file) yet? It's a good first project. There's also the beanie design app (buck) file. You'll be able to see the settings for the NM 3.5 yarn knitting jersey, decreases, and 2x1 rib.  Kniterate files

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  mieke

  February 01, 2023 19:47

  thank you for the reply.

  I don't even get past the starting stitches, so it has nothing to do with the design or pull, because the fabric is not in the rollers yet.

  Is there a good starting point for positioning the tension knob  on the upper arm, brake discs and left side? So i can start from there and finetune it?

  the machine begins with the first row, and that seems ok, the second one as well, than the tension start to get a bit loose and by the time the machine takes the second color it already goes wrong all the way

  Or is there another way to start knitting apart from the starting stitches that are programmed?

  And also, is there maybe a little film where i can see the tension arms moving like they should? because on the youtube channel of kniterate you only find zoomed in films on the needle, but not the tension arm etc..

  I really hope i can get past this ;)

  Thank you

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  Dorin

  February 10, 2023 19:29

  How's your progress, mieke?

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  Laurence

  February 28, 2023 09:58

  OJ is the KCODE file above for the Kniterate scarf the same as a kc file? do we just have to change the name and the machine will knit it? or is there a buck file for it too? 

  We are trying to knit our first piece and want something simple to try out and also understand the software element. 

  Thanks

  Laurence

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  OJ

  February 28, 2023 15:17

  Laurence Yes, it's the same as a kc file. You will need to rename the file as command.kc for Kniterate to knit. In the code you'll see the feeder setup is

  //   1: draw thread
  //   2: waste yarn
  //   3: yarn for jacquard / cast-on and bind-off
  //   4: yarn for jacquard
  //   5: not in use
  //   6: not in use

  As far as I know there is no buck file for the scarf.

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  Laurence

  February 28, 2023 18:25

  Thank you. Will give this a try @OJ

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