Infiniti

Oct 31, 20233 min

How To Knit Kneesocks on the Sentro Knitting Machine [An Advanced Technique]

Updated: Jan 5

I've been wanting to do this one for a while now, Super Crafties! I must also admit that I am a huge fan of placing Easter eggs in obvious places. These kneesocks have been featured in the background of my podcasts for a little over a year now. One big question I get asked about frequently is how to do kneesocks on the Sentro. I first started exploring the idea with some Christmas socks 2 years ago. Now I've developed this method that looks and feels a lot better. Combined with the updated heel tutorials, I think you'll really enjoy this tutorial.

Now be prepared, this is a fiddly and advanced method that requires two machines. Even being the original author of the socks made on this machine, I frogged more socks that I care to currently admit to but with a little patience and my instruction, you'll be making kneesocks in no time!

Materials

4 - 6 skeins of Kroy Sock Yarn for a main color

1 skein of Paton's classic wool

Sentro 32 Needle Machine

Sentro 22 Needle Machine

Yarn Needle

Scissors

Loom Pick

2.25 mm 9 in circular knitting needles

Cable needle

A strand of waste yarn

Locking Stitch Markers

Tape Measure

Fray check

Instructions

How to Knit Kneesocks on the Sentro Knitting Machine

Supplemental Videos

The machine does not come with a stitch counter so all of my measurements are done with a cloth tape measure.

  1. You will knit 14 inches (47cm) of fabric on the Sentro 32. Crank up to 8 inches, fold it over and create a double brim on the machine. Then crank up 6 inches more. Then we will switch to the Sentro 22 needle machine in tube knitting mode.

  2. Using a loom pick, we will place 2 sts from our cast off line onto the black indicator needle.

  3. Place 1 stitch onto the next needle.

  4. We will repeat steps 2 & 3 until we reach the 10th needle, which should only have 1 stitch on it.

  5. Place 1 stitch onto needle 11.

  6. Place 1 stitch onto needle 12.

  7. Place 2 stitches onto needle 13.

  8. Place 1 stitch onto needle 14.

  9. Place 2 stitches onto needle 15.

  10. Place 1 stitch onto needle 16.

  11. Place 2 stitches onto needle 17.

  12. Place 1 stitch onto needle 18.

  13. Place 2 stitches onto needle 19.

  14. Place 2 stitches onto needle 20.

  15. Place 1 stitch onto needle 21.

  16. Place 1 stitch onto needle 22.

Now crank out 4 - 5 inches of fabric. At this point, you will probably want to use a tighter tension. use a stitch marker to indicate where your smaller knitting began so that you may measure properly.

We will cast off 11 stitches. Then, crank 6 - 8 rows.

Place waste yarn around the base of the pegs and re cast those 11 stitches. Crank slowly to make sure you don't lose your stitches.

Now you'll crank for the length of your foot. On my sock, I cranked a total of 6 inches, 4 for the body and 2 for the toe.

Cast off.

Maker Notes:

  • Use the loosest tension possible when casting on. You want those loops at the beginning to be relatively loose because later on, you'll be grafting these loops onto the pins on your machine. If your tension is too tight, when you go to transfer these stitches onto the pins, it can cause the gears inside to grind which, if done repeatedly, can wear out your Sentro Knitting Machine.

  • I did my sample on the Sentro 32 and cranked a total of 8 inches of fabric, for a 4 inch brim.

  • When making my project, I cranked fabric in the largest hole on the tensioner.

  • As I went around to place the bottom row of stitches onto the pins, I made sure to only place 1 loop around each edge.

  • I used a loom pick toward the end as the loops started to give me some resistance. This helped to finish the process smoothly.

  • Crank that first round of stitches after this process very slowly and carefully to see if any stitches were dropped.

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