top of page

What You Learn in Beginner Machine Knitting at Rainbow Feathers Farm

Tim Miller
1 day ago
3 min read

A cone of yarn, a flatbed knitting machine and a couple of hours can turn into a hat or scarf faster than most people expect. If you have ever watched a knitting machine at work and wondered how it all comes together, our Beginner Machine Knitting class is where we start. It is hands-on, it happens in our studio here on the farm, and no knitting experience is needed.

Who the class is for

Anyone ages 14 and up who is curious. You learn on a Brother flatbed knitting machine, and the class covers both standard and bulky machine editions. We keep class sizes small, with a limit of 6 students, so everyone gets real time at the machine and real attention from us.

Student works bright yellow fabric on a Brother knitting machine

A student practices shaping bright yellow fabric on a Brother machine.


What we cover

We want you to understand your machine, not just push the carriage and hope for the best. Here is what the class covers:

  • How stitches are formed. We show every knit and purl by hand first, then at machine speed.

  • Machine anatomy, including the needle beds, carriage, tension dial and sinker plate.

  • Yarn selection, plus the wrap-per-inch method for testing a mystery yarn.

  • Machine setup from scratch: mounting, threading, tension settings and safety basics.

  • Three ways to cast on: e-wrap, waste yarn and latch tool.

  • Tension and swatching, and why a 10-minute swatch saves hours of frustration.

  • Casting off and finishing, including blocking and weaving in ends.

Hands use a transfer tool on navy ribbed knitting

A close look at using the transfer tool on ribbed fabric.


What you make and take home

You choose a hat or a scarf and knit it from start to finish. You leave with the finished piece, a tension swatch and notes to use on your next project. Most of all, you leave knowing how to set up and run the machine on your own.

Machine knit honeycomb beanie and scarf with bee details made at Rainbow Feathers Farm

A machine knit honeycomb beanie and scarf, made by Tim. This is the kind of piece you can make after our more advanced classes.


A finished teal and off-white Fair Isle beanie

A finished teal and off-white Fair Isle beanie.


The studio sits on the farm, so the alpacas are never far from class. You can choose the option for the studio to provide the yarn needed in class for a nominal fee.

Lily Tomlin, our newest cria, exploring the pasture

Lily Tomlin exploring the pasture.


Lily Tomlin, our newest cria, resting in the grass beside her mom

Cosette with her 5 pea chicks.


What comes next

Beginner Machine Knitting is the required first step for our Knitting Studio Membership. Members can use our machines during Open Knitting hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 PM and on Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. It is also the first step for private one-on-one training.

Many students go on to our all-day Machine Knitting Basic Ribbing class. It is a small group of 6 with lunch included, and the Beginner class is required first. The current Basic Ribbing class runs Saturday, October 24, from 9 AM to 6 PM. We reach out to Beginner graduates directly about ribbing dates.


Join the November Beginner class

Our next Beginner Machine Knitting class meets on Mondays from November 2 through November 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at the studio at 69 Western College Road in Cedar Rapids. The cost is $85, and class size is limited to 6 students.

Questions? Email us at tim@rainbowfeathers.farm. We would love to see you at the machine.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page