Machine knitting vs. hand knitting: which to choose?

Machine knitting vs. hand knitting: which to choose?

Are you wondering whether to invest in a knitting machine or stick with hand needles? Perhaps you're hesitating depending on your projects: hats, cardigans, accessories? At Knit-sis, we've explored both worlds – hand knitting and machine knitting – to offer you a clear and practical perspective. In this article, we'll compare the two approaches, provide criteria for choosing based on your needs, share our personal experiences, and guide you toward the Knit-sis patterns best suited to each method.

In the end, you will know:

▪️ the advantages and limitations of each approach

▪️ How to choose based on your project, budget and time

▪️ Some tips for transitioning from machine to manual

▪️ suggestions for Knit-sis patterns to try.

1. Understand the two techniques

1.1 What is hand knitting (with needles)?

Hand knitting — it's the art of working stitch by stitch with needles (straight, circular, double-pointed). It's a craft technique, very flexible, which allows for adjustments along the way, variations of complex patterns, and an intimate relationship with the yarn.

Classic advantages:

▪️ Maximum flexibility in patterns and changes

▪️ Portability: you can knit anywhere

▪️ Creative and meditative feeling

▪️ Very good control over details, decreases, twists

Boundaries :

▪️ Time spent on major projects

▪️ Possible hand/wrist fatigue during long sessions

▪️ Uneven tension if you're a beginner

1.2 What is machine knitting?

Machine knitting involves using a domestic knitting machine (circular, flat) to knit pieces or tubes of fabric. This option is more "mechanical": you guide the yarn, but the machine does the knitting.

Depending on the type of machine (circular, flat, semi-automatic), the uses vary.

Typical advantages:

▪️ Speed : produce more stitches in less time

▪️ Uniform tension, consistent results

▪️ Useful for simple pieces (scarves, tubes, panels)

▪️ Useful for rapid prototyping or light production

Limitations & challenges:

▪️ Less freedom “along the way” to adjust a pattern or shape

▪️ Learning curve: understanding the machine, its tension, malfunctions, and dropped stitches

▪️ Limitation depending on the type of thread and the machine's gauge (not all threads can be processed)

▪️ Less portable (the machine is heavy and takes up space)

2. Comparison: criteria for choosing

Here, we compare the two options according to concrete criteria.

Note: a hybrid approach is often very relevant — using the machine for simple panels, then assembling or adding finishes by hand.

3. In what cases should one choose one or the other?

3.1 When to favour hand knitting

▪️ Do you want to make colorful patterns, jacquard, lace, cables?

▪️ You enjoy being near the yarn, feeling the texture, feeling the stitch

▪️ Your project has irregular shapes (armholes, necklines)

▪️ You don't want to invest in a machine

▪️ Do you often knit outside the home?

3.2 When the machine is a good choice

▪️ You must knit simple, repetitive pieces (tubes, rectangles)

▪️ Do you want to save time or produce multiple parts?

▪️ You want to quickly test a pattern idea

▪️ You already have a machine or would like to try it out

3.3 For pattern designers (like us at Knit-sis)

The two are often mixed:

▪️ We use the machine to make samples, repetitions

▪️ We finish by hand : borders, additions, delicate patterns

▪️ Some Knit-sis patterns (e.g. Splashie , Mondrian ) can serve as a basis for simple pieces to automate, then customize manually.

4. Knit-sis testimonials & anecdotes

When we were little, our grandmother knitted everything by hand. Knitting was a family moment, a slow meditation. Later, when we tried a machine to create swatches faster, we loved it but also stumbled: dropped stitches, snagged yarn, settings that "weren't right for that yarn."

For example, during the development of the Cardichou vest , we tried to "machine-knit the back" but abandoned it for the shoulders; it was simpler and safer to hand-knit the sleeves to maintain the consistency and flexibility of the design.

These experiences confirm that the machine is a great tool , but it does not replace the intuition, creativity and sensitivity of hand knitting.

5. Tips for switching from manual to machine (and vice versa)

5.1 Adapting a hand-drawn pattern to the machine

▪️ Simplify the pattern if the machine cannot handle too many jumps

▪️ Test the sample on the machine with the yarn you want to use

▪️ Use markers and guides to “see” where the pattern goes.

▪️ Be patient with the machine's errors; they are normal.

5.2 Transforming a "machine" part for hand finishing

▪️ Gather the edges by working the stitches back up to create ribbing

▪️ Add decorative details by hand (embroidery, patches)

▪️ Pay attention to the joins to ensure a seamless finish

5.3 Avoid these common pitfalls

▪️ Do not test multiple yarns: some wools do not "glide" well in the machine

▪️ Thinking that “everything will be easier”: the curve exists

▪️ Neglecting machine maintenance, lubrication, and cleaning

6. Knit-sis Patterns

Here are some Knit-sis patterns:

▪️ Cardichou (The Cabbage Vest) : an affordable top-down vest ▶️ See the Cardichou pattern

▪️ Splashie : structured by colors, it's an excellent base for experimenting with patterns ▶️ See the Splashie pattern

▪️ Mondrian : geometric block model ▶️ See the Mondrian pattern

Conclusion

Choosing between machine knitting and hand knitting isn't a duel; it's a question of project, enjoyment, budget, and time . For us at Knit-sis, every stitch counts, whether automated or handcrafted.
Start slowly, experiment, and let yourself be guided by your thread and your creativity.

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Happy experimenting, beautiful stitches, and long live knitting creativity! ✨
With affection,
Lenny & Louise, your knit-sis sisters