Top 10 Best Knitting Machine to Buy 2021 – Reviewed

So you love to lay back in your couch or bed and knit just for fun, or you are a professional who loves to knit and sell your piece, it doesn’t matter the category you belong to, you would need a knitting machine to get the job done quickly and smoothly.

You could also get a knitting machine as a gift for your loved one, especially if they are passionate about knitting.

It does not matter whether you have the skills or you are looking to get better at knitting, this review of the best knitting machines will be just the right place to begin your quest for the right one for you. So I encourage you to stick to the end of the article.

Without any further delays, let’s get right into the gist.

What Are The Best Knitting Machine?

• Best Low Budget Pick: NSI Knitting Machine
  Great for learning the craft, and comes with two skeins of thread to get you started.
• Best Value for Money: Addi Express Professional
  Perfect for plain and circular knitting with 22 needles for all types of yarn.
• Best for Professionals: Bond Incredible Sweater Machine
  A versatile machine with 100 needles for the best professional-looking results
• Best for Beginners: Nkok Singer Knitting Machine
  Lightweight design with 22 needles that are not battery operated.
• Best for Scarves: Knit’s Cool Knitting Studio
  Beginner-friendly machine with a lot of cool accessories.
• Best pick for custom jobs: Caron the Ultimate Sweater Machine
  100 needles allow over 1000 stitches per minute and feature handcraft tools for fancy designs.
• Best pick for kids: PowerTRC Smart Weaver
  Stylish modern design that is suitable for kids and newbies to learn knitting.
• Editors Pick: Addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine
  Durable and efficient machine for both amateur and professional knitters.
• Best Pick for Yarn: Prym Knitting Mill Maxi
  A semi-automatic knitting machine for making quick yarn pieces.
• Best Pick for Quick Knits: Pumpumly Knitting Machine

Knitting Machine Comparison Chart

Below is a quick comparison chart of selected knitting machines you can buy for personal use or as a present for your loved one.

Best Knitting Machine Reviews 2021

Now that I have outlined the selection of the best knitting machines available in the market, I will go in details into some of the features and specifications that made these products to stand out from the rest of the pack.

Nkok Singer Knitting Machine

If you are familiar with the Singer brands of sewing and knitting machines, you would agree that they are a household name when it comes to quality products.

With an official license from Singer, you can expect to get the very best from using this simple knitting machine. The full product comes with a knitting machine, tension arm, and plastic needle to get you started right away. There are also product instructions on how to knit scarves, hats, socks, and leg warmers, which makes it a good knitter for a beginner.

Its design is simple, and the material is lightweight, which makes it ideal for traveling. The hand crank operation of the machine means that you do not need any batteries to operate it; all you need to do is loop the yarn and turn the crank handle to start knitting.

Key Features

• Tension arm
• Plastic needles
• Hand crank operated
• Lightweight, portable design

Caron the Ultimate Sweater Machine

If you have some knitting skills and require the perfect machine to make a sweater, then the Ultimate Sweater Machine by Caron may be worth buying.

Although it may not be easy to operate for a beginner, it does have the ability to make some fancy designs and patterns due to the set of hand tools that comes equipped with this machine. You also get 100 needles attached to the knitter, making it possible to knit up to a thousand stitches in a minute.

You can make use of all the different hand knit yarns on this machine to make coats, socks, skirts, cushions, and children’s wear. And if you are willing to take a few lessons, there are training videos and resources that can help improve your skills from beginner to professional level.

Key Features

• Needle bed with 100 needles
• Set of hand tools
• Set of four key plates

PowerTRC Smart Weaver Knitting Machine

If your kid is passionate about knitting or looking to become a professional knitter, then the PowerTRC Smart Weaver is the best present for their knitting lessons.

Its big size and round shape design make it easy to use, while the ABS material adds extra security to prevent injury to kids and other users. Aside from being a toy to get your little ones to knit, it could also serve as a practice knitting machine for those looking to perfect their knitting skills.

You also get after-sales service and a money-back guarantee if you happen to encounter any issues with the knitting machine. As expected, this only applies if you purchase directly from the manufacturer or accredited sellers.

Key Features

• Large size
• Round shape design
• Made from an ABS material

Addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine

It doesn’t matter if you sell knitted crafts for a living or looking for the best gift for a knitting enthusiast, the Addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine could serve both purpose and more.

Aside from its stylish design, you also get all the tools you need to make the perfect knitting piece for your customers. It includes a needle holder, 46 needles, five replacement pins, four base feet, two screw hooks to mount it on a table, and a digital row counter with memory function.

It is suitable for both flat and circular knitting. For flat knits, it can permit widths of up to 18 inches, while circular knits can reach up to 15 inches in diameter. The recommended yarn thickness is around 3.5 to 8mm, so that you can experiment with different yarn materials.

Key Features

• Stylish design
• Needle holder
• 46 needles
• Five replacement pins
• Two screw hooks

Knit’s Cool Knitting Studio

Just as the name implies, instead of an ordinary knitting machine, you get an entire knitting studio with this unique machine from Knit’s Cool.

The setup is easy to use and does not require a needle, so you don’t have to worry about kids getting injured with the machine. There are a lot of accessories included in the box, such as the studio, 20 yards of blue and pink synthetic yarns, 10 yards of purple artificial yarn, one yarn holder, a crochet hook, a storage base, and sewing needles.

You also get four buttons or charms and an instruction guide to help you get started with the machine. The Knit’s Cool is my top pick if you are in the market for the best knitting machine for making scarves.

Key Features

• Selected Yarns in different colors
• Crochet hook
• Yarn holder
• Storage base

Bond Incredible Sweater Machine

Fitted with 100 needles, the bond Incredible Sweater Machine can knit a thousand stitches by the minute, which makes it suitable for making full-size sweaters, coats, afghans, skirts, and kiddies wear.

It also supports most of the popular handknit yarns such as double knit, sport, worsted, Aran, chunky, and mohair. Knitting with this machine is super-fast, and coupled with the versatility, makes it my best knitting machine for professionals.

You also get a set of four key plates and hand tools to take your patterns and design to the next level. You should be patient as you will need to undergo a learning curve if you are using this machine for the first time, but not to worry, there are numerous videos and tutorials online on how to use the knitting machine.

Key Features

• Set of four key plates
• Additional hand tools
• Includes 100 needles

Addi Express Professional Knitting Machine

This professional knitting machine is the second on my list from Addi Express. Just like the Addi Express Kingsize, this can also serve both professional and beginner use as you can find instructions on how to make use of the machine online.

You get the real German quality that the Addi Express is known for and additional tools to knit just the right pieces. Included are 22 needles and an electronic row counter that is perfect for making both plain and circular items.

The knitting machine is versatile, and it is suitable for patchworks or new projects, all that’s required is to turn the winder and knit away. For the best results, a yarn thickness of 3.5 to 8mm is what I recommend you use. For the price, you get a durable and efficient product, which is why this is my best knitting machine with excellent value for money.

Key Features

• 22 needles
• Electronic row counter
• Spare hooks
• Table clamps

NSI Knitting Machine

For those on a tight budget but need a knitting machine that you can practice and also make some professional pieces with, then the NSI knitting machine may be right for you.

It is capable of knitting 20 times faster than needles, so you get to save a lot of time using the machine than your traditional crochet needles. The set comes with the knitting machine, sewing needle with safety features, and two skeins of thread to begin your first project.

While this may not be a good machine for a professional, it could serve as a practice machine for both kids and newbies to learn how to knit. To get the best results, I suggest that you use non-professional yarns such as acrylic or sport weight yarn.

You get over 400 feet of yarn and detailed instructions on how to use the knitting machine so you can be able to assemble it without difficulty.

Key Features

• 400-foot yarn
• Instructional guide
• Budget-friendly

Prym Knitting Mill Maxi

The Prym Maxi also makes it on the list of best knitting machines. It can knit tubes with a diameter of up to 33cm. And can also do flat panels with a width of 43cm, which makes it suitable for hand knitting all kinds of fashion yarns.

The machine comes with a knitting mill, mode switch, tension piece, yarn guide, crank, handle, plastic needle, legs, and instructions on how to use. Knitting with the Prym Maxi is super easy. The foam back covering makes it easy to pin and make markings on the piece.

The machine works well with most yarn, but you want to be careful and go slow as it is common to drop stitches when you knit too fast. Aside from that, the machine is a work of art. And its lightweight design makes it possible to move around without much hassle.

Key Features

• Large diameter and width
• Foam back covering
• Includes instruction manual

Pumpumly Knitting Machine

The Pumpumly knitting machine features 40 professional looking needles. So you can quickly knit hats, sweaters, scarfs, and other pieces with it.

Working with the machine is not all that difficult. All that you need do is thread the yarn into the spindle and turn the crank to start knitting. The hand crank operation does not require battery power. So you don’t have to worry about hitches during knitting.

If what you need is a knitting machine that makes stitches quickly, then this speedster from Pumpumly may do the trick. It can knit a hat or scarf in 30 minutes in the hands of a good knitter. Although for beginners, they may not find them great for panels, they work fine for tubes.

Key Features

• Manually operated
• Tube friendly machine

Knitting Machine Buying Guide

Finding the right knitting machine for you can be quite challenging. First of all, there are too many brands available to choose from, which can make it hard to decide on one. Also, if you have not used one in the past, it could be hard for you to know what to look out for in a quality product.

As promised, I’ve got you covered with a buying guide to help you find the best knitting machine; and some of the features to look for includes

Type

The first thing you need to decide on is the type of knitting machine that suits your needs. You should know that there are different types available in the market, which differ from one another. Some of them require manual operation, while others make use of a punch card, allowing you to create drawings and designs. You can also find high capacity electronic machines that can design garments quickly. They come equipped with software that will enable you to adjust your knits and garment shapes.

You should decide on the type of knitting machine you want and ensure that the one you settle for is capable of meeting your needs.

Machine Ability

Remember that you are buying a machine, and they are usually designed to meet precise specifications. Most knitting machines include a gauge that aligns the needles in place. A standard-gauge is often 4 to 5mm, which is suitable for knitting commercial grade fabrics.

You can also find a chunky machine with needles that are 8 to 9mm away from each other, which is ideal for knitting heavy scarves and sweaters. If you don’t know the gauge to settle for, a mid-level gauge is okay to start with 6 to 7mm in dimension, and you can expect to make some quality knits if you know how to.

Number of Needles

As you already know, knitting machines don’t come with a standard number of needles; they vary depending on the size and ability of the device. Both beginners and professionals will need a knitting machine with an adjustable distance between each needle. I recommend this as it permits quick and straightforward designs and is suitable for large knittings such as sweaters and scarves.

Don’t forget to also look out for the row counter that makes it easy to stick to the pattern without compromising the needles.

Size and Weight

You also need to check the size and weight of the knitting machine. Depending on what you want, if you are in the market for a device your kids can use, then you should opt for a lightweight machine, preferably made from plastic they can move around without stress. For a professional, an industrial knitting machine can be ideal mainly if you handle a lot of orders, or you offer knitting lessons in your locality.

Accessories

Most knitting machines come with additional accessories that make the device more comfortable to use. You should check for a replacement pin, an operational manual, or an assembly guide to help you set up the machine. Some manufacturers also include some yards of yarn to help you get started right away, so endeavor to check what comes in your box to ensure you get everything you need to start knitting.

Warranty

If you want to get good value for your money and don’t want to end up with a machine you never use, you should check that the manufacturer offers some form of warranty or cover in case you are not satisfied with what you get in your mailbox.

Budget

Lastly, I recommend that you work with a budget when looking to buy a knitting machine or any other device for that matter. You could quickly end up spending more than you can afford if you don’t plan for your expenses, which is why you need to have a fixed budget to avoid going above your limits.

The Types of Knitting Machine

I mentioned that you must consider the type of knitting machine that meets your needs when in the market for one. But in case you do not know how to differentiate them from one another or their specific features, you can read up on the different types of knitting machines below.

Circular Knitting Machines

In a circular knitting machine, you have the needles placed on a circular cylinder, which makes knit by combining the stitches from the individual needles. There are circular knitting machines available for both single and double jerseys. Those for single jersey comes with a single-cylinder that has a diameter of about 30 inches. The width can vary depending on the type and requirement of the machine. Fabrics made with this device are known as single-jersey fabrics and are different from those of the double jersey. The other type is the double jersey, and it comes with a double-needle arrangement on the dial and cylinder, which increases the thickness of the designs.

Flatbed Knitting Machine

Just as the name implies, the flatbed machine creates flat pieces. They are more common among knitting hobbyists and those who collect knitting machines.

Flatbed machines are available in the form of manual, computerized, and punch-card operated. Automated models are a lot faster than the manual ones since they include electronic sensors that power the needles. Those that require a punch card will need a lot if you intend to make different designs.

Hand Knitting Vs Machine Knitting

Most professional knitters started with hand needles before moving on to machines. It is not a lie that it is possible to make beautiful knitted pieces with just yarn, needles, and bare hands. But it can be time-consuming having to knit a couple of matching sweaters for the house with just your hands. So it could be worth the investment to get a couple of knitting machines, especially if you are passionate about the craft.

I wouldn’t tell you to give away all your crochet needles just yet. But you should know that apart from saving you long hours on the spot, a knitting machine could also improve the finishing of your pieces. There are lightweight brands made from plastic that weighs next to nothing, for those who love light knitting.

Things to Make with a Knitting Machine

So you may be thinking about what type of pieces you can craft together using a knitting machine. Depending on the kind of knitting machine, you can make sweaters, coats, suits, sleeves, socks, stockings, scarves, including baby wears and other types of garments.

Knitting Machine FAQs

You can find the answers to some of the frequently asked questions when in the market for a new knitting machine.

Our Top Pick

The Addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine is my top pick for both professionals and beginners looking to make some beautiful pieces. It features a stylish design and includes all the tools you need to take your craft to the next level. I also like that it works well for both flat and circular knitting, making it a versatile knitting machine.

I hope that with this review, you would not encounter any difficulties finding the right knitting machine for you. If you would like to ask any additional questions or require any assistance, feel free to let me know in the comment section. I would love to hear from you.