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If you’ve ever tried knitting before, you know that the quality of the machine you use determines how perfectly that sweater you are knitting for the holiday season will come out.
However, with so many models available in the market, finding the ideal machine might take more than a little due diligence.
To make things easier for you, we are reviewing the Addi Express Knitting machine. We will take a look at its performance, how it handles yarn, as well as its overall ease of use vis-à-vis its cost to determine whether it is worth investing in.
The Review
The Addi Express knitting machine allows you to create beautiful pieces of knitted fabric. It is not only charming to look at but also comes with bells and whistles to make for your perfect knitting partner.
Design
This machine comes with a circular design and measures 10 by 6 by 10 inches.
Its large diameter allows you to create large fabric pieces and even more with a simple turn of the hand. Weighing just around 5 pounds, you’ll have an easy time carrying it around the house.
The Addi Express was designed to sit on the table. It features two clamps at the base that you can easily affix on the edge of the table for stability when the machine is running.
The manufacturer recommends a yarn count of 4-8 on this machine, which will enable you to create flat pieces that are as wide as 18 inches. It comes with 46 needles, as well as 5 replacement needles for your knitting convenience.
Performance
Overall, this exciting machine delivers reliable and satisfying results. It is easy to operate, even for newbie knitters and features a versatile knitting kit that will come in handy during your work.
The 46 needles on the machine have all been numbered and are made from high-quality materials for the needed sturdiness. The speed of the pins can conveniently be increased or decreased, allowing you to create a wide range of scarves, hats, and other knitted accessories.
A built-in electronic row counter on the machine ensures that you have optimal control over the kind of precision you want on your knitting.
The Addi Express works best with worsted weight yarns, but it can also hold finer yarns double.
If you have little experience with machine knitting, you should know that there is a slight learning curve involved. Luckily, there are several books and accessories that you can use to bolster your experience with the Addi Express knitting machine.
Ease of Use
You’ll have an easy time creating great works of art with this versatile machine. The two clamps on the base of the device will readily affix on the edge of the table. You don’t even need a power drill to do this; just use your bare hands.
By simply turning a lever, you’ll be able to begin knitting with this machine. The 46 pins work to produce large knitted items and these can be accelerated or decelerated depending on the speed of work you desire.
This makes the Addi Express a suitable device for your larger-scale knitting gig. Included in the kit when you buy this machine is a detailed pattern book “Winding Instead of Knitting”.
This contains a huge variety of crocheting and knitting techniques that will make your knitting more fun, especially if you’re a beginner.
What Do We Like?
Several aspects make the Addi Express such a desirable knitting machine. The compact and lightweight design ensures that it's easy to carry and store when not in use.
The Addi Express is considerably more price-friendly than the standard flat-bed knitting models in the market. However, you need to note that this machine doesn’t offer all the functions of a full knitting machine, which may be why it is priced lower.
The machine works very fast once it has been set up. You can produce a range of items in a single session if need be, which is just what you need if you’re knitting for profit.
The Addi combines both flat and circular knitting functions, which will be convenient for knitters trying to create designs that need flat pieces. There are also stoppers on the machine that block any needles you don’t want to knit with.
The machine uses high-grade plastic materials in its construction, which makes it sturdy while enabling it to withstand extended use with little signs of tear and wear.
Overall, it is quite user-friendly compared to other models. Setting it up and casting on takes a matter of minutes and this can be done without the need for special attachments.
Pros
What Don’t We Like?
On the downside, the Addi Express does not allow you to mechanically adjust the tension of the device to either make the stitch smaller or larger. This means you’ll need to use a different yarn every time you want to achieve a looser or tighter stitch.
Another thing is that you will find inconsistencies with the tension of the piece, and this will normally depend on how smoothly you feed the yarn into the machine or how loosely you wind the yarn.
Even though it is advertised as being able to support all types of yarns, the Addi plays up with some types. This might require you to experiment with a range of yarns before figuring out which is most compatible with the device.
Cons
Advice to Buyers
Despite a few mishaps that it comes with, the Addi Express is still an exciting knitting device that you can use at home or for your business. It allows you to create wonderful pieces in record time and you don’t even have to spend a fortune to acquire the machine.
Conclusion
Overall, this machine is portable, versatile, and conveniently easy to use. It will be a wonderful addition to your knitting collection if you appreciate a great experience as you work.
If you don’t have the time to search for the ideal knitting machine for your gig, the Addi Express is something you can take a chance on!