>> why would anyone want a machine to knit socks for them rather than
actually knitting the socks themselves? <<
There's no such thing as a 'stupid' question. :) Some people also have
knitting machines, to knit sweaters, etc. While there's a lot of
satisfaction in knitting something by hand, it's labor intensive. Socks
machines are used for the same reason. Socks can't be whipped out in a
matter of a few days (at least I can't do it--yet <g>).
A lot of people, and I used to be one of them, think that machine knitting
calls for a knitting machine, some yarn, and somehow the yarn gets put on
the machine correctly, and the end product is a beautifully knit garment or
sock <g>.
Like the knitting machines, the sock machines are complicated pieces of
machinery. It takes time to set the machines up, to cast on the beginnings
of a garment or sock. The tension has to be just right, just like in hand
knitting. The machine operator has to know what they're doing, and have
some knowledge of hand knitting, to be able to understand some of the
language and techniques, used in machine knitting. The knitted item has to
be charted, or designed and then charted. Or, a pattern has to be followed
correctly. The correct number of stitches have to be cast on. The correct
number of rows have to be knitted. Turning the heel can be tricky. There's
an art to doing 'short rows' on a machine, either sock or flat bed. All too
often, the machine hiccups, or the operator's attention wanders, and the
stitches magically jump off the machine needles.
There's work involved in using a machine. They're not exactly a portable
tool, either. If you think of knitting needles as tools, or machines, to do
work like knitting; then a knitting machine is an object that allows you to
use more of those same tools, to do the same kind of work that two knitting
needles can do. It just allows you to do the work a bit faster. Seaming
still has to be done, as does blocking and/or any other finishing work the
knitted piece requires.
I'm not trying to diminish the importance of hand knitting, or the talent
of those of us who knit my hand, and turn out exquisite works of art. Or,
like me, are just happy to have completed a pair of socks. <g> And there
are some of us who enjoy the challenge of learning how to use a decades old
sock machine, that also has a long history behind it.
wrnk
d2(who is not going to let either of her machines get the better of her)
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