NKOK Singer Knitting Machine

I needed to make about 20 scarves to give away as party favors, and with time a limiting factor I decided to order this knitting machine. I didn't want to spring for the more expensive professional models, so I ordered this one. I can't be more pleased with it. Even though it's a "child's toy", it works amazingly well. I have VERY FEW dropped stitches, and it's usually my fault for letting the tension get to tight, or using a yarn that is too bulky. A few tips: Use the correct yarn. A medium worsted weight is usually too bulky, unless you get a smooth yarn. I'm using Caron Simply Soft Medium #4, and it goes through this thing like butter. I can turn out a 4ft scarf in about an hour or less. Let your yarn hang loose. Don't count on the machine to pull the yarn from the skein because the tension will be too tight. Don't let your finished work wad up under the machine. Keep straightening it out every few rounds. Also, none of the needles are marked like in the professional models. To solve this figure out which needle to mark by setting the machine to "flat" and turning it until it stops, note the needle it stopped on, and turn it back the other way. It should stop at the same needle. If it does, this is the one you need to mark. I used nail polish to mark the needle and the fins on either side. This way, you can change colors at the same place in your work each round, or count your rounds. Be aware that this is the model that has undergone improvements. The previous version of this machine did not have legs, sat on it's side, and had 2 fewer needles. That model is still being sold, so be careful to get this model instead. Well worth the $25.

Do not purchase. We purchased for a XMas gift. It isn't hard to load and the circular knitting works fine with no dropped stitches. It is only a few inches around so it isn't big enough to make a hat; at best it could be a wrist or leg warmer for a small child. The rectangular knitting doesn't work at all. The back and forth knitting drops stitches and isn't consistent on how many stitches across it makes before reversing. As a knitter myself i thought this would work for my small children to get started. What a waste.

I bought this to make sock blanks for dyeing and for that it works just fine: I have a tube of sock yarn ready to dye that took only an hour to make instead of three days' worth of knitting time. However, I would not recommend this knitting machine to make actual projects. The crank and gears don't run smoothly for more than a few rounds at a time, the hooks miss stitches more than occasionally (a la slipped stitches in hand knitting where the missed stitch stretches, not dropping them where they'd ladder down), and sometimes will not knit a stitch for a few rows so the fabric bunches when it does finally knit the stitch. And gauge is all over the place - some rows are nice and even, but most rows are uneven, stretched and tiny stitches alternating usually by row but sometimes on the same row. If you can't hand knit or really, REALLY don't want to learn to hand knit, I'd invest in a better quality machine to make actual projects. But if you want to make sock blanks, either to dye yourself or check stripes or pooling, this machine will suit your needs perfectly.

I am an experienced machine knitter. I have no problems using this item. For individuals learning to use this knitter. YouTube videos for Addi express will be a life saver. Overall, to be a very inexpensive toy, it surprisingly does a good job. Circular knitters go for several hundred dollars. So for $20, it's a steal. Stitches may be dropped if you go to fast. I have used fingering weights through super bulky (sizes 2-5) successfully. The bulkier yarns, like homespun, can easily get caught in the tension guide and cause loud popping of the gears. I found it easier to leave the guide open, brace the machine between my knees, and use one hand to twist the handle and the other to hold the yarn up above the tension guide. Watch to make sure each needle picks up the yarn, but it works. The diameter of the machine is small. There is no way to make hats,unless it's newborn size. Scarves will be skinny scarves at best. Socks are possible. Would be nice if it was a little wider. Really the only downside was size and design of the legs. They are made of a flimsy plastic and pop off very easily. They need to stay put better since it's the place u will be holding the machine to keep it from bouncing everywhere. Lastly, this is suppose to be a toy. I wouldn't hand it over to a child and expect results. I was able to show my 11 year old niece how to do it. Supervise a few attempts at casting on the initial rows and then let her take over. Overall, I am happy with this little guy.

i bought this to make tubes of natural wool yarn to dye and make my own self striping yarn. after it is dyed i will unravel it and crochet with it, so gave it a test run with the yarn they supplied and it was to thin and gathered up stitches on few of the hooks. then i tried it with my Fishermen's yarn from Lion Brand that I will use to try out the coloring process. it worked much better with that weight yarn. here are my pros and cons: pros: easy to assemble, just snap the feet on easy to thread and get it started cranked out a 7 foot tube of wool didn't drop any stitches cons: where to start!!! very jerky cranking sliding all over the table, had to hold down the right foot so i could turn it, needs rubber on the bottom of the huge foot pads, used a rubber shelf liner to help stop it from sliding. stopped numerous times to untwist the tube. began hearing popping sounds every few rounds or so then more often towards the end of the skein all in all I don't think it would hold up to the rigorous use that i will need it for, Children may get frustrated because they can't crank it and it will be hard for them to hold it down and turn. probably going to sell this on ebay and save up for an Addi express.

I bought this with very low expectations, knowing the toy knitting machines don't work very well, jam up, break, etc. But I cast the yarn on, worked at a reasonable speed and it made a tube! It didn't drop one stitch either! The trick is that the first 5-10 rows will be hard to crank because you're supposed to have weight on the work to stretch it down, ensuring the next row is caught. Once 5-10 rows are done, there's enough weight on the work for it to be cranked smoothly. The feet are stable and don't wobble. The instructions are really confusing, I looked at the pictures because they're worded really strangely and hard to follow. I also have watched videos on youtube on knitting machines. I've only done circular tubes with this, but I've played around with it on the flat setting. It seems there is a set of 3 'needles' that will always be the beginning and end of the flat setting, no matter where in your work or in the row you turn the flat setting on, so it's best to figure out which ones they are and mark them with a sharpie or nail polish. Overall I'm really happy with my new knitting machine and recommend this to almost anyone.

This thing is a piece of junk. The only reason I am posting one star is that with a little work, one can actually get the thing to do what it's supposed to do. Firstly, there is no way to keep it stable while using because there isn't anything to hold on to. The machine requires two hands to make it work, one to crank and the other to hold it steady, but there is no easy place to put a second hand where it does not interfere with the hooks. On mine, I think I will add suction cups to the feet when I can get the chance and see if that helps keep the darn thing still. Secondly, the construction is exceptionally cheap and the large plastic feet do more to allow it to skate across the table than to keep it steady. Lastly, it can only be used with the thinner yarns like baby weight or lighter. Yes it will work with some convincing on some of the medium weight yarns, but if you want to use 'normal' weight yarns don't buy this. The proclamation that this for younger crafters is false advertising. This pile of junk can be used by an experienced crafter who is willing to make the thing work, but would very quickly exasperate a young or inexperienced crafter possibly making them give up. I can not recommend this product at all.

I'm amazed. It does work. You need to look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egEvPFtA4Fs which describes how to use it and compares it to an Addi. It seems to be best with regular WW and go slow, turn the handle away from you. She notes in the video that it has been redesigned so some of the older reviews here are about that older machine. Make sure you're getting the one that has 4 feet, not the one that stands upright. The upright one is the old model that had a lot of problems, the four footed one is the Addi knockoff! Yes, all you will knit with it is tubes. Or things you have to seam. But if you do knit a lot of hats? This should be great for you. Also if you have RSI from regular knitting, this is a great help. Or if you like making stuffed animals. Use the first few rounds as a provisional CO and unravel them at the end. Amazing! I can't believe it does work!