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Tools and Equipment

Knitting Machine

Needlework and Sewing Tools

A knitting machine is a device used to create knitted fabrics in a semi- or fully-automated fashion. Knitting machines range from simple templates with no moving parts to sophisticated mechanisms with electronic controls, and can produce a wide variety of knitted fabrics, flat or tubular, of varying complexity. Pattern selection can be done by hand manipulation of the needles, by mechanical punch-card selection, or by fully computerized control. This entity is distinct from the live craft entity Knitting: Knitting is the practiced hand craft itself, worked with hand needles, while the knitting machine is the device built to do that work in an automated fashion.

Facts
Introduced When (Circa)
The stocking frame, the first knitting machine, was built by the English inventor William Lee in 1589. 1
Origin
Early stocking frames used low-carbon-steel bearded needles whose tips could be reflexed and depressed to close the loop, the mechanical basis of the first knitting machines. 2
Connections

Used In

Knitting, Crafts
Source Knitting Machine (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. William Lee (inventor) (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationbiographical note on the dating of the invention
Quote, biographical note on the dating of the invention
that he invented the framework stocking knitter in 1589 is not in doubt
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2. Knitting Machine (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Mechanism section, early stocking frame sentence
    Early flat bed stocking frames had low carbon steel bearded needles where the tips were reflexed and could be depressed onto a hollow closing the loop.
  • Used In: Knitting, Lead section
    A knitting machine is a device used to create knitted fabrics in a semi or fully automated fashion.
  • In Group: Knitting Tools and Knitting Machines, Lead section
    A knitting machine is a device used to create knitted fabrics in a semi or fully automated fashion.
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