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This site is an online resource for antique sock knitting machine enthusiasts.

I am very often asked "What is the best way to purchase a sock knitting machine?" or "What should I look for?"

I'm afraid that there isn't simple answer and I will try to as clear as possible.

There are many places to find a sock knitting machines. Antique stores, a friend's attic, Ebay, and through someone that reconditions the machines and sells them, are all ways that you might find one.

Often machines that are found in attics and antiques stores are incomplete but usually the price is right. I would look for any obvious cracks or chips and gently see if the handle turns. Sock machines usually come with many accessories and I would also see what else comes with it. It might help to look at pictures of various sock knitting machine, many of which may be found on the internet, to familiarize yourself with the way they look and to get some idea of what should come with them.

Ebay is another popular place for people to buy one. There seems to be no real science to finding a good one. Often it is just luck of the draw. Most of those people on Ebay selling sock knitting machines know NOTHING about their operation and therefore cannot give reliable answers to your questions. If you choose to buy one on Ebay you should be prepared for any outcome, good or bad.

Neither the auction price, nor the number of people bidding on a machine, determines whether or not a sock machine may be a good one. Others may be bidding on a machine just for parts, as I often end up doing. I've gotten some outstanding machines at very low prices and bought several pieces junk at very high prices.

Needles. Sock knitting machines use latch needles and rarely do any machines in antique stores or on Ebay have a decent set of needles. There are two different sets of needles on most machines called cylinder needles, and ribber needles. They are not interchangeable. Needles are still being produced for many machines include Legare, Auto Knitter, and Gearhart.

There are three major brands of machines found today: Gearhart, Auto Knitter, and Legare. Some of the other brands are Verdun, Creelman, and Home Profit which was also called a Master Machine.

My take on the various machines are as follows. Gearhart's are nice little machines. They are fairly difficult machines to find parts for, the crank ratio is a little confusing to some. One crank of the handle does not equal one turn of the cylinder.

Legare's are by far the sturdiest of machines but they are also the heaviest. This might matter if you plan on attending a lot of events to do demonstrations. Parts are also a little difficult to find but since the machines are so well built it's usually less of a problem.

Auto Knitter machines usually have a wide range of stitch length but unfortunately are not as sturdy at as Legare. They are lighter however and there are many parts floating around for them.

Many times machines come with different, interchangeable, cylinders. These different cylinders help to determine the size of the socks you want to make. The number on the cylinder refers to the number of slot (and therefore, the number of needles) that are on a cylinder. Some common sizes are 54, 60, 72, & 80. There are corresponding ribber dials for these cylinders, 30, 36, 40.

Whatever machine you decide on you should know that one cylinder is probably not going to do everything you want it to do. I usually recommend that people get a machine with a smaller cylinder 54 or 60 as their first machine and with it should be able to make nice range of sock sizes. I think that for a first machine either a Legare or Auto Knitter is probably best for most people.

I hope this helps to answer your questions. It is often best to find someone with a working machine near where you live and spend an afternoon watching that person making socks.

And finally, don't be in hurry to buy the first machine you see. Shop around, compare prices.

-John Loeffelholz