Sock Knitting Machine

Unless you live in Miami or Hawaii, you’ve probably worn a pair of socks at sometime in your life. Most of us wear socks that we purchase in the clothing department at a local men’s or women’s wear store. However, back in the days before you were born, socks were usually made on a sock knitting machine.

It’s very much what it sounds; a machine whose purpose is to knit socks. Wearing a pair of wool socks doesn’t seem terribly appealing but they certainly did their job of keeping people’s feet very warm in the cold winter months.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who still uses one of these machines to make socks for their family. You will however often see a sock knitting machine in antique shops and at estate sales. Depending on the quality and condition of the machine it may even be operational.

Another place where people often stumble upon a treasure like this is in the attic of an elderly family member. Perhaps your grandmother or great-grandmother even held onto some old sock knitting patterns. If her machine is still working, you can do some sock knitting for yourself to get a sense of her life when she was younger.

When you go get your hands on a machine like this you can have it restored if that’s your desire. Many companies specialize in the repair of sock knitting machines and they can also perform routine maintenance on them to keep them in running condition.

If you are purchasing a machine from an antique shop they will often have the original documents that came when the machine was first manufactured. From a collector standpoint this is a treasured find as it can significantly increase the value of the knitting machine.

In the event that you don’t get an instructional manual when you buy one, it’s really not that difficult to understand how they operate. In fact, you’ll probably find it so easy and so much fun that your enjoyment alone will encourage other members of your family to join in the fun and to do some sock knitting of their own. Don’t be surprised if the teenagers in the home ask for a sock knitting machine lesson too.

Past generations can offer us so much in the way of understanding how people lived centuries ago. Items like a sock knitting machine give us a glimpse into a past that was much simpler than it is now, when people took great care and joy in everyday things we now take for granted.