By Emily J Watson

You’ve been knitting by hand for years, and you think you’re ready to move on to machine knitting. Think again. Hand knitting and machine knitting are two totally different crafts. If it took you long hours of practice to perfect your manual skills, getting familiar with your knitting machine requires double the effort but the rewards are truly enormous. A stitch done by hand has an equivalent of an entire row when done with a knitting machine.

What type of knitting equipment do you need? It all depends on the yarn you prefer. There are three basic types of knitting machines: bulky or chunky machines, standard beds, and mid-gauge machines. They come in a wide array of styles ranging from plain looms to really complex computerized models.

Knitting machines can be mechanical or electronic. Mechanical knitting machines are sold with punch cards you can readily use or customize according to your preference. Electronic knitting machines offer more options, with many models providing up to 300 patterns you can mix and match, knit mirror-like, sew in reverse, or alter in dimensions.

If you wish to knit sweaters and afghan blankets, a bulky machine may be the right equipment for you. Bulky machines are built with heavy-duty needles that are placed 9mm apart and hooks and latches that are large enough to handle thick yarns. Silver Reed, Studio and Brother are familiar brands of bulky knitting machines.

Mid-gauge knitting machines stand right in the middle of the pack, with smaller hooks and latches compared to those fitted with bulky knitting machines but larger than those on standard beds. Mid-gauge knitting machines have needles located 6.5mm apart that can knit sport, baby, and worsted yarns, with a variety of techniques like slip, tuck, weaving, stockinet, ribbing, and plating. The downside to mid-gauge machines is that they do not have lace carriages or a collection of patterns.

Built with tiny hooks and latches and needles that are set 4.5mm apart, standard knitting machine beds can easily knit thin yarns. They also offer a myriad of stitch type options.

A typical electronic standard bed has over 650 patterns stored in its memory, with ample space for custom knitting machine patterns. A high-end model like the Brother KH970 has a built-in lace carriage and proprietary software that enable machine knitters to program one garment to various gauges, yarns, and stitch types.

Before seeking out knitting equipment, settle on the knitting yarn type you will be using, which special features you need, and how much money you are willing to fork out. Note that a row counter, strain mast, and ribber are must-haves in a knitting machine. With a bigger budget that can cover a first-class machine, you might want to consider advanced settings such as garter bars, lace carriages, punch cards, intarsia carriages, and automatic color changers.

A feature-rich knitting machine can go a long way to developing your skills. It can motivate you to work on more sophisticated projects as you discover what your machine can do.

Emily J Watson writes articles about knitting, knitting machine patterns and how to make money from your knitting. Visit her blog at http://www.machineknittingadvice.com for more essential advice, ideas and reviews on machine knitting.

Article Source: Emily J Watson == Picking the Right Machine Knitting Equipment

By Jacquie Generra

Do you need a tiny purse for your next night on the town? Maybe you want to reuse your old bra to make it useful again. You can actually do both! A stylish bra purse can be made with the following instructions:

You will need:

- Bra (new or slightly used)
- Sewing needle and thread
- Pair of scissors
- Adornments such as fringe, beads, ribbons, or buttons (your choice)

Make a decision on your preferences for the appearance of the bra purse. Start by designing your purse prior to assembling it. There are many options for enhancing the lace of the bra; either add some intricate beadwork, or leave it as is for simple beauty.

Figure out the bra size. It is important to select the best-sized bra for your purse-making project. Bra cup sizes larger than B are suitable for making purses while A and B cups are better for the construction of change or coin purses.

Clean the bra first. This is especially necessary if you are using a used bra. Strip it of the underwire (your Choice). When constructing bags using bras the removal of underwire will give the bag a more flexible appearance and leaving the underwire in will give it a more bra-like look. If you want to take the underwire out, cut a small opening in the fabric near the wire at the end of the roll. Where you feel a notch, you can slip the fabric behind and softly extract the underwire.

Take off one of the bra straps. Use your scissors to cut the thread between the strap and the top of a cup. Use the remaining bra strap as the handle of the purse, adjusting it to the preferred length.

Line up the cups, one onto the other, by folding the brassiere in half You will have created a little purse with a contoured bottom and a carrying strap, after making the fold.

The purse should then be sewed. Hand-stitch a seam around the rim of the purse. Leave a one inch gap on each side of the bra strap handle.

Be sure to stitch the seams close together avoiding gaps and holes in your purse.

You can add a decorative design to the outside of the purse, which will increase its visual appeal considerably. With the decorations you’ve chosen, adorn the bag. To give a simple bag an evening look, you could sew some fringe or beads to the bottom seam to dress it up.

Use the new purse. Head out the door to show off that purse you bought to match your outfit.

When it comes to accessories a bra purse can be very exciting and fun. By following these easy steps, you can show off your personal style and imagination.

Jacquie Generra writes about Shoes, Purses & Wallets and Fashion & Personal Care as a staff writer for HowToDoThings.com.

Article Source: Jacquie Generra == Make a Bra Purse