Pattern of the Month Sock Knitting Machine Information, Sales, Patterns and Museum

Greetings and welcome to "Pattern of the Month". Here, you will learn the history, culture and tradition of circular machine knitting.

Join us on our travels as we explore English, French, Dutch, Canadian, American and German knitting patterns of time past.

Each month, a pattern will be selected from a circular knitting machine manual for you to enjoy and create on your antique sock machine.

Skill levels will range from beginner to advanced. The skill level for each pattern will be indicated by astericks.

Over time, our journeys will span the late 1700s, up through the early 1980s. Travel back in time and experience the victorian and rustic influences that shaped our world.

Each January, a new series of patterns will be introduced. Thenceforth, new patterns will appear each month.

Sock machine owners, collect your sock machines and let's go! It's time to travel!

Those who do not own sock machines or are awaiting their arrival, are welcomed to join us too.

There is much to learn and discover. Bon voyage!

January 2006

"Portrait de Marie-Louise"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

February 2006

"During the Ball"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

March 2006

"Playing with the Kitten"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

April 2006

"The Opera, Paris, 1861-1874"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

May 2006

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"Pardon Mama"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

June 2006

trees in bloom.jpg

"Trees in Bloom"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

July 2006

"The Broken Vase"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

August 2006

The Essence of Water"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

September 2006

"The New Arrival"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

October 2006

emilie munier marie- her new friend2.jpg

"Her New Friend"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

November 2006

"A Careful Stitch"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

December 2006

"The Puppet"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

January 2005

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"Winter Holidays"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

February 2005

february pattern of the month romance1.jpg

"Romance"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

March 2005

march pattern of the month for the love of butterflies.jpg

"For the Love of Butterflies"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

April 2005

april pattern of the month the beauty of spring2.jpg

"The Beauty of Spring"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

May 2005

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"Mother's Love"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

June 2005

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"The Procession"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

July 2005

july pattern of the month the spirit of america4.jpg

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"The Spirit of America"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

August 2005

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"Warm Summer Breezes"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

September 2005

"Tilling the Garden"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

October 2005

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"Monet"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

November 2005

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"Armistice Day"
In Remembrance - 11th November, 1918

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New Pattern Coming Soon!

December 2005

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"Happy Holidays"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

January 2004

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Winter is upon us and it is cold throughout most of the world.

Snow covers our landscapes and paints a wholesome picture of peace and tranquillity.

Indeed, it is the perfect time to wrap up in a thick, wool scarf and keep toasty warm.

Reprinted with permission, "Winter Wonderland" Dr.A.R. Wing and S.Wing, Maine, U.S.A.

Warm, Wintry, Woolen Scarf

Auto Knitter Instruction Manual

Auto Knitter Hosiery (Canada) Co., Ltd. 1924

auto knitter sock machine winter scarf.jpg

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Ribbed Muffler or Scarf

Skill Level Intermediate**

Enjoy the softness of warm wool in this old tyme favourite.

This dainty treasure is knit at half pitch with all needles in the ribber dial and cylinder.

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The standard width of this scarf makes it generously warm. A 36 slot ribber dial and 72 slot cylinder were employed to knit this 2:1 ribbed scarf.

Any ribber and cylinder combination can be utilised. Experiment and customise as you fancy. Now, let's begin.

Set up your machine in waste yarn, placing the ribber at half pitch. Knit several rows of circular web in waste yarn to ensure even tension in both the ribber dial and cylinder.

sock machine knit rib sample scarf21.jpg

Attach main yarn and knit 36 inches or the desired length.

Reattach waste yarn and knit the ribbed tube off of the machine.

Allow several inches of waste yarn at each end of the tube. This will prevent stitch loss.

Knit another tube is the same fashion.

Make certain to keep an accurate count of knitted rows to ensure the pieces will match.

Both tubes should be identical in width and length. A row counter will certainly prove useful.

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Convert the tubes into flat web by cutting down one row of ribbing.

Lay both pieces flat, with the right sides facing you. Seam the web as stated in the Auto Knitter Instruction Manual.

Make certain to seam the web in the same direction that it was knit.

Ensure that the seams are even and flat.

Align stitches from each piece of flat web. Stitch holders are quite helpful.

Make fringe from the remaining yarn as per any standard knitting manual.

Insert fringe into each set of aligned stitches.

Trim the fringe to an even width and enjoy.

Beginner's Level* - For beginner's level, omit the ribber and knit the scarf entirely in stockinette. To maximise width, use your highest slot cylinder.

Knitting tip of the month: Your antique sock machine is equivalent to a large collection of knitting pins of various sizes. Changing the tension settings of your ribber and cylinder regularly will allow you to knit an extensive range of fibres and textures.

February 2004

"For the Home"

New Pattern Coming Soon!

March 2004

"The Innocence of Spring"

Children's Toques

Auto Knitter Instruction Manual

Auto Knitter Hosiery (Canada) Co., Ltd. 1924

child's sock machine toque22.jpg

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Child's Toque

Skill Level - Beginner*

Children simply adore colour. Here's a wonderful way to express your love of sock machine knitting with your child.

Toques will keep your child warm and dry in the Spring rain. They are very easily knit and a clever way to utilise small sections of left over yarn.

Allow your little one to choose 2,3,4 or more of his or her favourite colours. With each colour change, your child will squeal with excitement!

The more colours you add, the livelier the result! Use cottons, wools, acryliques or any combination. It is not necessary to adhere to a specific texture or fibre. The small amount of yarn in each stripe is of little consequence.

These toques were knit on a 72 slot cylinder. 84, 96 or 100 slot cylinders will work just as well. 54 slot cylinders will render a toddler size toque.

child's sock machine blue toque brim closeup.jpg

Now, let's begin. Set up your machine with all needles in the cylinder. Set your cylinder tension as loose as possible. Add waste yarn.

Knit several rows in waste yarn. For this pattern, a selvedge is not necessary. Attach your main colour and knit 60 rows. Pull up your knitting to make a hem top.

Knit 20 rounds with loose tension. Then, tighten the cylinder tension slightly.

Attach your first stripe colour and knit 3- 5 rows. Tighten the tension again.

Attach your main colour and knit 10 rows. Tighten the tension once more. Then, knit the second stripe as previously described.

Continue in this manner, adding stripes as desired for an additional 9-12 inches.

child's sock machine blue toque with bob.jpg

To finish, pass a long section of yarn through each cylinder stitch. Draw the stitches together and secure.

Make a bob and tassel as per any standard knitting manual.

Attach and enjoy!

child's toque sock machine instructions.jpg

If desired, instead of a hemmed edge, the brim can be made to fold over twice. Simply make a selvedge edge and knit 100 -120 rows before knitting your first stripe.

Of note: Both toques were knit on a 72 slot cylinder with the same number of stitches and rows. However, each is a different child's size.

Observe the larger width of the toque on the left. In addition, the brim is wider and slightly longer.

The blue toque on the right is narrower in width. Likewise, its length is longer.

Such variety is easily obtained by varying the tension settings on your sock machine. Knit as many as 5 sizes with just one cylinder. Indeed, the possibilities are endless!

Knitting tip of the month: Weights play an important role in stitch size. By adding weights, you can alter the gauge of your knitting without altering your tension settings. 3-4 additional stitches per inch is not uncommon. Experiment and marvel at your creativity.

April 2004