Recently, I purchased a Tru-Knit Circular Sock Machine. I’d been looking at new CSMs for a while, and I had tried out the Ehrlbacher, the Lamb, and the Tru-Knit. I liked all three.
I’ve knitted a lot of socks for at least 15 years. I actually have owned an antique Legare 47, an
antique Auto Knitter, and two antique Ehrlbachers, and I got them all to make
good socks. I owned a beautiful
NZAK. I even wrote a book, The Happy
Cranker, which featured the Legare and the NZAK.
I kept the Legare and I still use it quite a lot. I am always on the lookout for nice sock
yarn, too, and I’ve gotten much pickier about sock yarn over the years.
After I got the Tru-Knit machine I was very impressed with it. I did a review of the machine on YouTube. I tried to be unbiased, but honestly, I just love the machine and I really admire people who devote their resources to making excellent equipment for us knitters, even managing to manufacture in the USA. After owning so much knitting equipment, I was just stunned at how beautifully made the Tru-Knit it and how reliably it knits. I hope they sell LOTS of them, and I think their customers will be quite satisfied.
As I did my review, I tried to discuss the features and give lots of information for those who are actually shopping for a machine.
I wanted to make sure my evaluation took into account what the machine is like to actually use, so I worked with their directions and made all the socks in their manual, trying to do them their way (which isn't quite like my CSM habitual ways of doing things.
The review is here: https://youtu.be/8PtUlYckq-A
In addition, I made a series of Quick-Start lessons on the machine, hoping that I can be of service to the novice CSM knitters who might be overwhelmed with the learning curve. Hey, CSMs are tricky to use at first! I had a tough time myself working in a circle after years of flatbed and hand knit work.
Even though there are lots of fabulous other videos out there, but I wanted to make
just a few in logical order to get knitters who follow me started and knitting
that first good sock:
Quick-Start #1 Cast-On & Knit a Tube https://youtu.be/E3mLR2q8oiI
Quick-Start #2 Make a Hem
https://youtu.be/ZyYYavRDO6M
Quick-Start #3 Shape the Heel https://youtu.be/FI5mH6gzmpE
Quick-Start #4 Shape the Toe
https://youtu.be/2dHW2OPGkvs
Quick-Start #5 Finish a Sock
https://youtu.be/0NppK_t7ak8
Quick-Start #6 Knitting a First Sock - After showing the five key skills in those first 5 videos, and hoping people will practice and get comfortable, this video shows the whole sock: https://youtu.be/NjMMR51GVYk
Quick-Start #7 Introduction to the Ribber https://youtu.be/-0tU3CDMRGU
Here are a bunch of other CSM resources:
Tru-Knit Website - Shop for a CSM! My setup in the videos is the 60-stitch
cylinder and ribber with the reduced ratio setup for easy turning. Jamie Mayfield recommended that setup to me,
and it was really helpful because I probably want almost every cylinder and I
had a bad case on indecision. It’s an
excellent, versatile setup and that’s where I’d start you if you were trying to
decide.
One thing that surprised me was that everything I needed was
in the package. The only thing I can
think of that is badly needed in addition to that package is a sturdy
stand. If you don’t have one, get
one. They sell a folding stand on their
website.
https://https://tru-knit.com/shop/
Tru-Knit has a bunch of teaching videos, very well done, and
you’re going to want more information than I gave in my brief Quick Start
set. There are so many, many tech videos
to help you improve your knitting – too many to catalog here. Go explore these! https://tru-knit.com/videos/
I like their Aktiv sock yarn, which I used in the videos. It comes on cones, the perfect put-up for
CSMs. https://csmsupplies.com/product-category/yarn/ Your socks are only as good as the yarn you
use!
Another great place to learn and make friends is to join a Facebook
group for CSM Knitters. Sock crankers
help each other with all kinds of questions and issues. Don’t crank alone! https://www.facebook.com/groups/561948523913745
If anyone is interested in my book about making socks (using
my Legare and NZAK), which has some common-sense information about a number of
topics, it’s "The Happy Cranker," Diana's book teaching sock knitting
on antique CSMs & the NZAK, available here:
Also, another great site for antique CSM lovers, that I’ve enjoyed
for years: https://www.angoravalley.com/
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