Hi Barb - Glad to see you on this list.
> > Can you use handspun on the hand crank sock machine? A sock knitting machine used fine yarn - I believe it is fingering weight. If you can spin that fine, you can use your yarn. They are expensive machines, I have been looking for an affordable one for years. Aknitting machine will knit socks, and a whole lot more. > I've also heard you can make socks on a knitting > machine, how do you do the toes and heels then? The technique is the same as on a sock machine (I think) - you put needles in "hold" to decrease and take them out to come back out. I know this is a very simple explanation, but if you haven't seen how either machine works, a more complex one won't help. It is not difficult. > I'm thinking of getting a knitting machine, what is > the best kind to get for handspun yarns? It depends on the type of yarn you like to spin. If you spin a fine yarn, a standard gauge - 4.5mm - would work for you. If you spin a heavy yarn, a chunky - 9mm - would be a better choice. Somewhere inbetween? - mid-gauge - 6.5mm. You might want to take a look at this site: http://www.burles.com/Selectingyourmachine.htm it has a lot of good information. You can join this list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Knittingmachines/ and get the help and advice from 1300 members. Good luck. Robin Murphy, in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where we are expecting a January thaw - but have hardly any snow to melt. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.InTheNorthwoods.eboard.com To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
