Test swatch all new yarns even if you have used that brand before. Yarn brands are not totally consistent. Red heart from several years ago works great in my machine, but I got a couple of new skeins and they are stiffer, thicker and rougher than the older ones. My machine hates it!
I use a lot of wooden clothespins. 1. I put one on the end of my yarn when I start casting on to help pull the yarn down. 2. After I have 6-7 rounds knitted I put 8 clothespins evenly spaced around the inside on my knitted tube. It helps pull the stitches downward also. 3. When changing colors I use one clothespin to hold the 2 ends of yarns together and down until I get enough rounds to tie them together loosely. 4. When casting off with a needle I put a clothespin on the yarn coming out of the last knitted stitch. After I have gotten about a third of the stitches off I can adjust it to include the knitted tube also. I think it helps to prevent the last knitted stitch from dropping off before you can put your needle through it.
I had one in my wishlist on amazon for months before I got mine. It came in today, and I have made already two hats. It was so easy to learn thanks to all these videos online.
Hi Thank you for the tips! I have one too.... To prevent losing stitches... The 'claws' facing inwards.... The hook faces outwards pulling down making the stitch... the wool then passes over the 'claw' and the stitch is formed. However if the wool does not fall over the claw fully and fall under (staying up on the claw and why thicker wools are a pain) you loose a stitch... to combat this I run a left hand finger lightly over the end of the claw as the work goes around using the crank with my right to ensure the wool has fallen underneath it. I found this out on my third attempt using the machine and have never lost a stitch since.... I use the machine over my lap held by my thighs. This makes the machine secure and keeps both hands free to do this. Suction cups do not work on every surface. I have the 48 hook one. I love it. Does this tip work for you?
Red heart from years ago works for the 48pin machine. I tried to get some more because I ran out of the old skein and it is awful! The new skein is stiff and rough! Test all yarn, even if you have used it before. If it feels different in your hand, it will be different in your machine. I've been pushing down all of the stitches just so they don't get stuck and pop off all the time, but it really slows down my progress and at this rate I could just crochet the dumb thing. Sorry for the rant, just had a frustrating morning.
My #1 tip (Cut off the ears on the baby sentro) it makes the cast on/off way easier. I did. 💖💖🙏🙏💖💖👍👍 The performance is not affected by #3, I have one. 💖💖
Great tips. I’ve had the 48 needle Sentro for a while. A tip to help prevent ‘tucked’ stitches is to get a small spray bottle and fill with plain water. Spray at regular intervals one of the following. Either the outside of the yarn ball, or all round the inside of the knitting just below the needles or inside the yarn ball if you’re using centre pull ball. The water reduces static which I understand is a major cause of tucked stitches. Also using centre pull is beneficial. Either find the centre strand of the ball (sometimes a major pain to do!) or better still, get a wool winder and wind centre pull balls from your yarn skein/ball.
@@thecraftygrrl I paid $65 for my yarn winder, I knit and crochet, and I also have 2 of the sentro loom's I will NOT knit unless it's center pull, why? my OCD goes nuts if I'm knitting and the yarn skein starts jumping around my living room, with the center pull, it's alot smoother and faster in my opinion, you won't regret it, my yarn winder is all metal, the handle, gears, the entire thing, it's got some weight to it too, also the yarn cakes after winding them are easier to save and stack up and make it look nice....also, thanks for the color change tip, the off set color changes made me knit with only 1 color again due to my ocd because it was not even....gotta love ocd eh? (NOT)
@@IAMdevilwomen I totally bought a yarn winder and have found it relaxing and now I can't live without it. I've even found it helps with my skeins that are already center pull that get knotted. I did only by a cheaper one just in case but so far, it works great. I also found that the cakes stack up and store much better and they are just so stinking cute! I'm adding this as another top tip in my next top tips video. Thank you.
@@crystald3655, YES, TRUE! When I read that someone is SPRAYING WATER into their machine, or even on the yarns that go thru it, I was appalled; there are better alternatives to this practice; Addis makes an effective yarn conditioner, or you could make a very simple grounding device: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r5nygwFs0Gk.html
my second tip is to use the ball of wool from the other end.... find the end in the centre of the ball of wool not the outside. You do need to worry about unravelling the wool, knots or uneven tension...
I haven’t purchased a machine yet but I’m interested in knowing if you can cast off onto a circular needle and then finish manually using a rib stitch? Thanks so much.
You totally can. I am not a hand-knitter so I couldn't give you the steps but I cast off to a rip cord or waste yarn and finish with crochet so I know it can be done with knitting hooks.
They can get worn out really quickly so if you can, I would return it and get another one that isn't broken. The gears strip since their plastic so just have to watch out for that.
So for casting off with waste yarn, the project just falls off the machine, then you just pull off the waste yarn? doesn't that leave a the project to unravel as well?
I don't have a pattern but I use 60 rows on the 32 pin for newborn beanies so I would start there. Also, I found out that the nurses like the twist headbands for preemies because they don't interfere as much with the machines. Again, I just use 60 rows for those too.
Hey there, so you may not be doing anything wrong. Have you tried continuing on to the 3rd and 4th rows? Sometimes it looks like it's wrong but it isn't.
@@thecraftygrrl Just got the 48 Sentro and the counter is poor; only 1/2 of the # shows, sometimes it doesn't count, then it works but you've got to add the first 4 rows to the total. You'd think after all the years it's been on the market, it would have improved. It may go back.
Great tips!! I. just bought a knitting machine to use while being housebound due to having seizures. I am a sewer but I have not been able to due much of that since being diagnosed with epilepsy. Thanks for sharing some very useful tips and I would love to see one on creating designs. I generally sew purses but would love to knit some and then line with fabric. I used to hand knit but my hands tremor to much and I have RA so knitting by hand is pretty painful. Thanks again and blessings to you.
I purchased from a hardware store a 12” x 12” granite sample. It’s heavy and my machine does not move! Plus I have the ability to move the machine to wherever I like to use it…. Craft room, living room, outside on the deck or whatever! Thank you for these tips! Especially the colour change to make it symmetrical rather than stepped! Again many thanks!😊
really great video, i bought a small table that goes next to a recliner and secured my machine to by drilling deck screws through the suction cups into this table and then i can sit in my office chair and make hats, you can also use a generic wooden barstool turned upside down and set the machine down in it and then zip tie the legs to the wooden legs
Thank you for sharing these tips. You are the First instructor that used “waste yarn”!!!! On regular size singer knitting machine I learned how to use waste yarn in my projects. Since I’ve had my Sentro, I’ve been watching lots and lots of instruction videos in order to learn how to use it! But YOU are the 1st… Thank you.🎉🎉🎉 looking forward to watching more videos on the Sentro. I meant “ravel cord” not waste yarn
#1 Sharpie mark, done! Re:moving around on the table. I had an old mirror in a plastic frame, cleaned it well, cleaned the suction cups, stuck it on the mirror surface and used a hand operated wood clamp to secure it to the edge of the table. That thing does not move. If your table needs protecting try the nonslip cabinet liner as a cushion. The counter is finicky but can be serviced easily. Turn your knitter upside down. Use the tiny screwdriver to remove the small plastic panel under the box and be very careful not to jostle it, all it is is a simple plastic gear mechanism. Dab some mineral oil onto the metal pin and gears to get rid of the friction between plastic pieces. Use an office clip on the end of your cast on yarn to help hold it below the pins in the beginning.
27:55 great video I am a newbie with the sentro also my latest thing-a/ma-bob toy. I like to dabble with a lot of things. But this little machine is fascinating 😂😂
Thanks for the color-changing tip! Also I thought the white pin was the first pin so thanks for setting me straight. My tip #1: I screwed the feet of my 3 machines to wooden TV trays (there's a slot for the screw on the larger machines). There is a crossbar at the bottom on one side that I use as a footrest and this keeps the TV tray from moving as I crank. For my 22-needle machine, I bought one with the same colors as a Sentro without the logo that has big feet but no screw slot so I had to drill holes for the screws. It has a yarn feeder like the Addis but no tensioner. Tip #2: I have a 1/2-gallon jar that I put my yarn balls or cakes into. Tip #3: A ball winder is a time-saver! I just got the el cheapo (it was $17 on Amazon and came with pompom makers as a bonus). It works great! No more long pauses while I detangle yarn from skeins. Tip #4: I bought digital counters for my 40-needle Sentro and the 22-needle and they were very easy & quick to install. They're about $15 on Amazon and so far they're extremely accurate. Tip #5: Lube! I saw one RU-vidr who uses Dritz sewing machine oil to add one small drop above each needle. I've been taking my machines apart to oil the needles with plastic-friendly grease but that is soooo time-consuming! Plus I worry that I'll strip those tiny screws from constantly removing them. I've ordered the Dritz so I can try it out. If that doesn't work, or if I find I still need to open the machines to do a more thorough clean-out from time to time, I plan to invest in some of those little screws so I can switch them out each time. (Make sure they're steel, not aluminum, so they come out easily with a magnetized screw driver.)
These are amazing tips! Once it warms up I'm gonna head to the thrift store to find a more permanent solution for my big machine since it's taken over my whole craft space right now. I LOVE my ball winder! I use a ton of the Pound of Love yarn from Lion Brand and trying to work with that without making smaller skeins is a nightmare. I need to get a new digital counter...I just ordered the Addi Express mini which has a counter (I'll be trying that out soon) but would love one for my Sentro 48. And lube!!! Yes, I just did a quick short on using sewing machine oil to help with sticky pins. I didn't take mine apart though just slowly cranked through and if the pin was sticky I added a drop of sewing machine oil. It works wonders! Thank you again for these amazing tips and for your support!
Thanks for these tips. I did some hats for the shoe boxs at Christmas and were appreciated. I SET UP on waste yarn, knit one row with crochet cotton of contrast colour. Then knit my hat to size. Ķnit one row with cotton yarn then waste yarn at least 8/10 rows. Note## I continued doing hats in this fashion until I had a funnell , maybe 8 or more hats to sew up and finish off. I also left a generous length of yarn after the end of each hat or project and used it on the double to finish the hat on the double, I know it was much stronger finish. Hope this hint helps. From an oap Crafter. ❤
From what I'm understanding, this is a huge help for those that make many tubes (or even panels) at a time to save time. I almost always use waste yarn and a ravel cord (single row of contrasting yarn) when I cast on but never even thought I could do this at the end and just keep going to batch knit things. I HAVE to share this info asap! :) Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!
@@ruthwright8373 My machines are a bit different, flat bed, not circular. But use the same latch hook type of mechanism. Which machine, most of mine are 2nd hand, usually from people nearby, or coming to a class near by.
I do double sided hats so I don’t get that ugliness or stretchiness at the bottom of the hat because each bottom goes inside each other and makes the top but I do like using Waste Yarn when I’m doing ear warmers
I am new to this craft but your top 10 tips are already making a positive difference. I have one extra tip - for those who might end up unravelling and reusing yarn - get a yarn winder. You can also rewind new yarns into a form that you can unravel from the inner part of the reel, and your ball of yarn won’t be playing hide and seek all over your floor. 🙂
Yes! I actually did a follow up video on 10 more tips and that was one of them! I can't live without my yarn winder. Also, my blocking tools and steamer. I think I need to do a video on helpful tools to use with your km.
I've watched a bunch of knitting machine videos. I live for fast you go, the only time ever I've actually slowed the speed down instead of speeding it up👍
I set my 48 sentro in a square basket. The machine is resting just inside and the handle is able to turn freely while giving the machine the stability I need. And I can move it from room to room if needed.
The stitches you added to your fingerless gloves is called duplicate stitch not double stitching. I tape my Sentro down with clear packing tape. It works well
Oh yeah totally. Duplicate stitch is the technical term, I just always find myself saying double stitch for some reason. haha I'm doing a video on that so I should probably train my brain to say it correctly. :)
I just started using a small 22 pin and found your video so helpful Thankyou so much unfortunately most videos on Utube go so fast that I can not understand them but you took the time to show us newbies Thanks again!
For the ravel cord use nylon thread, used in flat bed knitting machines, and it pulls out so easily. I use it for my hand knitted, toe up, socks as well.
Thanks for your tips and tricks. I'm new to using the Sentro machine so I learned a lot. I purchased a piece of smooth ceramic tile and the suction cups stick beautifully!
There's a type of glue called "Tack it" they also have one that is reusable. Paint the suction cups with it let it dry and you will have the added grip but it will still be movable later. Just "peal & stick"
Hey there, did you figure out the casting on process? The first 2 rows are the most critical. I could totally make you a quick video on how to do it if you still need it.
I have sentro and addi. As for marking, i have enamel touch up paint for enamel stoves, sinks, etc. I marked mine with the enamel paint and it works great.
I put mine on an old kitchen cupboard door ( the shiny type) No slipping as it is completely smooth . The problem with most tables is the invisible ridging .
How do I get it to grab the yarn when starting the first row after casting on. I'm having trouble w it. I just got mine. I've made 2 beanies. But it took me a lot of tries from the stitches not being grabbed or dropped stitches. Help a newbie please from frustration
These projects are so thick and bulky. Is it possible to use really fine yarn ( sport weight or fingering weight ) to knit really fine projects like baby hats?
No need to buy a bent tip needle. Simply use a lighter to very very slightly warm a half inch from the tip. Mine bent on its own. Be careful though because it will melt extremely fast. Three quick passes & it was perfect! Thank you for the great tips!
I don’t know if it’s a difference on brands (Addi)but I pick up the cast off stitches to the right of the marked pin. Then continue cranking pick ups few crack pickup repeat.
Ty!! I just got my machine late last week and I was really struggling with the cotton yarn I have. It was stressing me out. Thia explains why! Glad it is not just me 😅. I apppreciate your experience! Ty ty! New fan here.
I love ❤️ to crochet, no and expert but really enjoying. I just discovered this machine 🤯🤯🤯and I want one. My question is with the big one can be done only adult size hats and what projects can be done with the smaller one. Thanks 😊
You can find them on Amazon...this brand is called Sentro and they make different sizes. The bigger one is great for clothing items for adults or children, and the smaller version is great for stuffed animals, gift bags, skinny scarves, trims, etc.
