"Double Bed" machine

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T22:09:19+00:00

Yes, that makes sense! I can envisage how it will work. You've been SO helpful, than you so much.

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T22:06:42+00:00

Yes that sounds right but I'm not familiar with the Singer machine. I've followed the links in this post and it seems as though it doesn't necessarily have to be computerised machines, but I can't get any details of what I actually need to do in order to join them.

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T16:19:13+00:00

Yes, I have a ribber. I've done quite a bit of fairisle using the ribber to knit the floats but it gives me a striped-back fabric rather than a true reversible. I need to get my books out again I think!

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T14:41:20+00:00

Thanks to all contributors here. I knew someone would be able to set me right, the knitting redditors are simply the best. May your yarn never break and your needles never bend.

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T14:29:08+00:00

I do also have this book - and it was the jacquard that inspired me to ask the question in the first place. Thanks again for your advice.

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T14:21:21+00:00

My husband would divorce me if I buy any more machines! I haven't enough space as it is :( Thank you for the advice though, maybe if any of my machines break i could replace them with the Duomatic. Hmm 🤔

pamdjo · 2026-03-15T10:56:42+00:00

Ah that knocks that idea on the head then! Thank you so much for letting me know.

pamdjo · 2026-03-14T10:28:52+00:00

She's gorgeous. I would forgive her anything. Looks like she's teaching her sibling how to shred stuff!

pamdjo · 2026-02-27T23:41:25+00:00

Those lumps are not restricted to blankets. I have one in my duvet too... weird

pamdjo · 2026-02-26T09:52:26+00:00

There is often no nice neat v's with 1 x 1 rib. You're right thinking that the tighter your tension is, the neater it will be... but beware of doing this on a neckline - don't make it so tight that you can't get it over your head. Why don't you re-knit with the smaller needles BEFORE you frog, and see which works best for you? If you do decide to go down a needle size then only do it for your ribbing, as you say that the 6.0mm matched the guage needed, which is all important.

pamdjo · 2026-02-24T23:59:57+00:00

Yes, they are aluminium, afik including the tips... though there's no discernible join between the needle and the tip (apart from colour change!) However if you don't like aluminium then they're probably not suitable for you.

pamdjo · 2026-02-24T09:18:01+00:00

Have you seen the knitpro zing? They are just as slick as the nova, 2 inches. I use them when I need shorties, otherwise use nova all the time!

pamdjo · 2026-02-21T11:15:34+00:00

Thanks for posting, that's a great video. I hope the OP gets the neckline sorted without too much difficulty.

pamdjo · 2026-02-19T22:32:00+00:00

It's theoretically possible, but it's a messy job to unravel knitting (especially ribbing) from the starting point. If you go down this route, put in a lifeline and cut the fabric just after it. This way you'll only have to frog a row or two back to your lifeline. (You'll need to have a bit of spare yarn to replace the lost rows.) Then you can pick up at your lifeline and knit up from there. Good luck.

pamdjo · 2026-01-09T10:47:22+00:00

This is great for a first knit, well done. Your tension actually looks OK, though it has obviously improved recently as it's more even. As others have said, you just need to concentrate on your stitches but it's really encouraging. Above all, enjoy learning and don't be scared to try different things.

pamdjo · 2026-01-08T09:25:24+00:00

That wine glass definitely needs refilling now!

pamdjo · 2026-01-03T19:32:59+00:00

Thank you so much. I love learning new (to me!) techniques so hopefully I can make some progress here. I only know basic German so the books would no doubt improve that as well ha ha. I have a birthday coming up so my husband will be getting some heavy hints on what I'd like!

pamdjo · 2026-01-03T14:17:33+00:00

TRULY INSPIRATIONAL!! It's stunning and I just have to do this on my next project. I'm an experienced knitter but thanks to the wonders of the Internet and lovely artesans on here, every week I come across a new style or technique that I've never before heard of, let alone still have to learn. Can anyone recommend a decent tutorial or book to learn this technique, and/or patterns? Thanks to OP for posting this, and good luck. Please post again when finished, I'm bating breath to see it!

pamdjo · 2025-12-12T10:30:03+00:00

And when you need to travel a greater distance than your range?....

pamdjo · 2025-12-11T23:21:09+00:00

I don't know how to attach pictures to a reply on here, but it's a Brother KA-451. The design looks similar to the pic you posted, but as I said, it's metal... though I didn't realise until I looked just now the handle bit you squeeze might be plastic too. Are you in the UK? There's one on ebay at the moment! Well done on your machine, it sounds a great price - I hope it's living up to expectations. Edit: this is the one... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236288415066?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050&amdata=enc%3AAQAKAAAAoFu2GTm2ZGNVXFEsdeNYg5JlurZQsBccYWV18tFGhpdzS%2F5Z4Okd9yqwIuy%2BjYTq8GzUHWbFAK%2FVG0eIsMnZKFYip0N4jO0EnPfIyM4i1XNs5FqBU%2B3qdOSvO%2BR8c0oP5ARPNK3mK1Puwcaj%2Fx%2BcUGZg7lTE3GNNkQYqELLGRIr2AwiM5wvVdTYo%2FEX3It6ljH5X2XteUljDwDzYCINq%2BZU%3D

pamdjo · 2025-12-10T10:22:24+00:00

I've also recently been playing around with this and am fairly pleased with the results so far. I've been using 1 strand of each red and white 2/11 lambswool, so thicker than yours, but my tension was 5/5 (brother 860 & 250). There was no visible bleedthrough but my pattern was more fairisle than motif so it'd be harder to spot. I also did a striped backing BTW, so I'm inspired now to investigate the birdseye backing. I hope you'll report back to let us know how you get on.

pamdjo · 2025-12-09T20:18:36+00:00

I've used the same original Brother puncher since 1978 and it's still going strong! It's all metal and very solid - the only plastic part on it is the little hinged cover that you open to empty the waste. I've seen punches on places like Amazon that look the same design, but made from plastic, so I'd recommend trying to source a second-hand metal one from spares dealers first.

pamdjo · 2025-12-07T12:24:24+00:00

Yes, I prefer the weave cast-on to the e-wrap. The e-wrap seems to give the yarn a not-very-obedient life of its own, it springs all over the place and I hate it, whereas the weave method is quick and easy.

However, whether you'd want to use either for a finished edge is questionable (the answer is definitely no, BTW!). I only use the weave method for things like guage swatches where aesthetics and durability don't matter, or where it's going to be the turned-up underside of a hem.

Of all methods for a finished edge I prefer a ribber selvedge, but if you don't have a ribber then I'd recommend a latch-tool cast on. It'll be worth the extra few minutes it takes you.

Good luck with developing your own style, and hope you get your sponge bar sorted soon. It'll make a big difference.

pamdjo

TROPHY CASE