I'm located in Omaha, Nebraska. I've been hand knitting for years but can't keep up with my stash. Does anyone know where I can get a pretty basic, fairly inexpensive used knitting machine? I'd like a worsted or bulky weight.
Thanks for your help

The big challenge with starting to machine knit is getting instruction. If you purchase a machine second-hand, there is also the challenge of being sure you have all the manuals and all the parts. I would recommend going through a dealer, so that you will also be able to get help.

I looked on Google and I found this machine dealer in Nebraska:
http://www.threads-ne.com/

Angelika's yarn store has some good articles about choosing a machine and other technical articles. Here's the page that has the links to the various articles:
http://www.yarn-store.com/knitting-machine-information-articles.html

Hope this helps,
Chris.

I have a machine but do not use it often. One of the reasons is this. Once you start a piece of the garment you must finish it within a narrow time frame. If left for days on the bed, the yarn does not go back to shape on the rows where you stopped. Machine knitting stretches the yarn out. When you remove the piece from the bed you roll it lengthwise and pull top to bottom to help the stitches go back into place. Then you let it rest for 24 hours. Sometimes I found it hard to get back to the item and finish it in the time required.

This is a machine. It has a mind of its own, kind of like computers. It does what you tell it, no more, no less. If you make a mistake it can take hours to get back on track. It took me several times to figure out why the machine was dumping all my work off the bed with one pass of the carriage, especially since it had knit half way up the back of a sweater. It turns out I was not always closing the carriage latch and the yarn was coming out of the carriage. One pass and it was all on the floor, taking an hour to rehang all the stitches. As far as having instruction, that is a must. You cannot figure all of it out on your own. And a manuel is mandatory. I had an instructer but she was too new at it to help much. The person needs experience teaching the machine you will buy.

Personally, I would not buy a used machine. If it has electronics, they have a given life span and then must be repleaced. If the machine has been used a lot it will not last very long. You might even decide to get a punch card type which are less expensive and does not wear out as quick. Many brands have gone out of business and getting parts, such as needles, can be difficult. Repairs can be hard to find, too. Check out all of this and test drive the machine you will buy. Have the seller take it through all the stitch types to make sure the machine is working and does not have a warped bed from being in improper storage, heat or damp area. Needle shafts should have no curves, carriage should slide smoothly across with no drag, but slight resistance as it engages the yarn.

Machine knitting looks like store bought items, every stitch equal. You will not get a hand knit look. However, once you learn you can make a sweater in a few hours to a couple of days depending on the design. I do not mean to discourage, just make you aware of what you are buying. Good Luck,

Pam

For the worsted and sport weight yarn, I would recommend the Silver-Reed LK150. It's a mid gauge manual machine it's not a fancy machine and is very easy to learn. It's readily available through several reputable dealers for under $300 online and they show up on Ebay frequently for much less.

There are some very basic bulky machines, like the Bond that you can purchase at some of the big hobby and craft chain stores too. It's a little bit persnickity to learn, than the LK150 but it handles the bulkier yarns once you get the hang of how it operates.

I love machine knitting and the other great thing about the manual machines is that they have a hand knit quality to them and I quit often will use the machine and hand knit to create one garment together.

Hope this helps.

I have one with lot of extras all NEW never used, only the machine itself has been used a little to try out how it works. I also have a stand for this machine. Machine knitting is not for me. I sell it now please take a look at the entire machine and all extra's at:
http://whatlifehastooffer.blogspot.com/search/label/Knitting%20Machine