Machine Knitting with Wire

This video shows how easy it is to knit with wire on a knitting machine. It only takes a couple of minutes to knit a short strip which will be made into an earring.
Erica uses longer knitted wire strips to make beautiful jewellery necklaces and bracelets.
Full patterns, wire, findings and instructions are available on Erica's website at www.erica.co.uk

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Erica
• Thomson
• machine
• knitting
• wire
• jewellry
• jewelry
• necklaces
• earrings
• bracelets

[EntityJewelry]

Great! I was wondering whether it is possible to use wires on the knitting machine. Thanks for showing that it is possible. What tension do you have it set up for wire machine knitting? And, what gauge wires did you used?

Thank you!

[ericamthomson]

@EntityJewelry

I usually use T 6 or 7 and the wires are 0.2mm thick. I suggest just having a play on your machine until you feel comfortable using the wire.

I have several patterns with full instructions for sale. 2 are shown on my website and another 2 are yet to appear on my site, but will do so soon. They come with lots of hints and tips. I also have the wire for sale there. Please visit my website - details above.

[moogie1947]

After seeing your demo at my knitting club recently I was inspired to try a wire bracelet.

But the wire keeps breaking after one or two rows, I've tried 3 and 4 wires, various tensions but the same thing keeps happening. I have a Brother KH860 so hoped it would be fine. The spools reel off OK - I used an old box with a knitting needle stuck through instead of the cones but otherwise followed your instructions. Any ideas?

[ericamthomson]

I suggest that you try using 3 strands of yarn and 1 of wire and see how that goes. Then try 2 yarn and 2 wire, then 3 wire and 1 yarn - you will notice that knitting with wire does feel different and takes some people a bit of time to get used to. You could ask if someone else at your club who has had success knitting with wire could try on your machine. I'm sure you've read the page of helpful tips in my pattern - try the 2nd tip on the page, that should help. Email me on erica@erica.co.uk

[AnnaMWriter]

A better close-up would have been good

[ericamthomson]

@AnnaMWriter Hi, there is a photo of some completed bracelets in the Wire Jewellery section on my website. I hope to add some more soon.

Thanks for the feedback.

[moogie1947]

@ericamthomson Thank you for such a quick response - I'll do that and see how I get on.

[BigTerKC]

Thats pretty cool. When I saw the dark cones of yarn laying down in the back ground in the beginning, I thought "Wow, you'd think they'd clean their knitting space before filming this!" Then you used them to hold the spools. Very neat. I wouldn't have thought to do that! Great job!

[azzazazo]

Thank you very much for expanding the possibilities on my knitting machine!