This article lists several short overviews of projects very friendly for machine knitters who are just beginning to knit on their machines and are tired of just making swatches. Each project builds on the skills introduced in the previous one.
Enjoy, and let me know how it went!
1. Cord
Knitting a cord on your flatbed knitting machine is very easy and fast. These cords can be used for a variety of projects. I use them to insert into hats, bags, and socks as strings but also for decorations.
Read step-by-step instructions here.
2. Cowl/neck warmer.
This project can be done on a full bed of any flat-bed machine (mid, standard or bulky gauge) with or without patterning capabilities. No swatches are needed. While working on this project, you will learn how to 1) cast on with waste yarn, 2) create mock-ribbing, 3) fold the knitted fabric over, 4) cast off, 5) knit a cord (also a skill from the previous tutorial), and 6) make a buttonhole. You will need to know on your own how to sew panels together (mattress stitch or whatever stitch you feel comfortable with). You will also learn about how 1) your machine knits across the full bed, and 2) how all your needles function (whether you have sticky latches or badly forming stitches). It is a fun project and can be done with any yarn of your choice (as long as it knits on the machine of your choice).
Read the full description here.
3. Vintage girl’s hat, bandana- or headscarf-like shape, with cables
With this simple project, you will learn increases/decreases, buttonhole making, and simple cables. Optional ribbing on the front can be done by hand, on the ribber, or left as is. It can be done on standard, mid-gauge, or bulky knitting machines in a similar way. No gauge calculations are needed.
4. Mock-ribbing, mock-purl stitches double-sided blanket.
This is a very simple project, but it requires a lot of yarn. So it is good for destashing. You will use the skills from the previous projects (making cord, mock-ribbing, and folding the fabric on the machine as well as making cables). It can be done on any machine using ALL needles. If you are using the same two contrasting yarns, no swatch is needed: just keep track of how many rows you knit. If using yarns of a different weight, a swatch is recommended to calculate the appropriate number of rows.
Read the full description here or watch a video tutorial.
3. Simple 1 x 1 rib hat.
For this project, you will need a flatbed knitting machine and a ribber attached to it. By doing this project you will learn how to operate your machine with the ribber, how to adjust/attach side weights, and how to cast on and cast off. It is a fun and very easy project to do. The knitted panel can be finished as a hat or as a neck warmer
5. Christmas Bag for presents and decor.
With this project, you will learn how to make a two-color cord, knit mock-ribbing, to make a buttonhole, basic fair-isle patterning, as well as optional tuck- and slip-stitch patterning, cord making, as well as optional usage of garter bar (but can be done without it as well). You will need to know how to insert the cord into the folded fabric, and how to sew panels together (using basic stitching like back-stitch or mattress stitch).
Best if done on a punch card or electronic knitting machine for faster fair-isle patterning with two colors.
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