Where to Start?
Buyer’s guide
I want a Circular Sock Machine!
Where do I start?
You’re interested in getting a circular sock knitting machine (CSM), but so far haven’t found one in your basement or attic? Most of us had to buy one. Take this short quiz to find your path.
1. How eager are you to start producing socks?
A I want to learn quickly so I can crank out socks soon.
B I know there’s a learning curve so I’m in no hurry.
C I enjoy the process more than the product. Whenever! It’s a journey.
2. How mechanically minded are you?
A I don’t care how my car is constructed, I just want to drive it.
B Knowing how things work is pretty interesting.
C I like to take things apart. Dirty fingernails don’t scare me.
3. How much of a stick knitter are you now?
A I’ve never knitted by hand.
B I’m a hand knitter with some experience.
C I’ve knitted by hand and with flat-bed or other types of knitting machines.
4. What’s your budget situation?
A I’ve got the funds to get whatever I decide on.
B I have a reasonable cash stash, but can’t spend top dollar
C I really need to find a bargain.
Mostly A’s
$1,600–$5,000+
Buy new
A precision-engineered machine, works right out of the box. Backed by a current manufacturer with replacement parts available. You’ll know any mistakes are operator error, not the machine’s fault.
Mostly B’s
$1,000+
Buy used or refurbished
A recently manufactured or vintage machine in good working order. Sold regularly through eBay, Ravelry, Facebook, and Craigslist. Ask the seller for a demonstration video before you buy.
Mostly C’s
$300+
Take on a project machine
Disassembling, cleaning, and restoring a vintage machine is your kind of hobby. Scour auctions, yard sales, flea markets, and antique shops. Patience may yield a real bargain.
Price ranges are rough estimates. An antique Gearhart once sold for $5 at a yard sale (with the stand!). A NIB 1924 Gearhart turned up in an antique mall for $285. A new Tuttle repro runs about $5,000. The range of possibilities is huge.
There is a definite learning curve with CSMs. Many teach themselves from a manual, but most take advantage of YouTube videos, Facebook and Ravelry chat groups, crank-in classes, and personal mentors. While you’re contemplating your purchase, start exploring those resources now.
As the popularity of these circular sock knitting machines has grown, numerous people around the world have become available to refurbish and sell old machines as well as to provide goods and services related to the hobby. The list is ever-growing and changing. The best way to find these helpful folks is to search for individuals, groups, and pages on Facebook, Ravelry, and eBay. Online browser searches also yield results. Use search terms like CSM, circular sock machines, sock knitting machines, or the brand names listed above. There is a wealth of advice and assistance from other CSM enthusiasts as close as your laptop or phone!