Addi Knitting Machine Tips – All Your Questions Answered

By Jodie Morgan

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Circular Knitting Machines are fabulous for when you want to knit faster than by hand. Read my reviews of the Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine and the smaller Addi Express Professional Knitting Machine.

Addi Knitting Machine Guide & Review

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An Addi Knitting Machine is a great way to churn out more knitted items than when you’re using knitting needles. Great if you’re knitting for charity or profit! It creates knitted fabrics, whether in the round or knitted in flat panels. Make all sorts of garments and accessories.

My Quick Recommendations

I reviewed, fact checked and updated this post on Dec 31, 2023.

Table Of Contents

Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine With Row Counter

The #1 Best Selling larger-sized Circular Knitting Machine. The addiExpress King size Extended Edition is worth the money. This large knitting machine is loved by knitters who complete hats, baby blankets, and scarves effortlessly.

To speed up your gorgeous, finished knits, you should consider the addiExpress King size Extended Edition. You can knit stockinette panels up to 17.5 inches wide!

The kit includes

  • King Size Knitting Machine
  • Five plastic replacement needles
  • One threading tool
  • Two stoppers
  • 4 feet
  • Two clampers
  • addi Express Hook

This machine with 46 needles has twice the number of the original, allowing for larger pieces. Perfect for knitting scarves and woolly hats, or an infinity scarf. Knit fabric panels for jumpers, knitting sweaters, and blankets.

You hand crank the machine by turning the handle. You finish in a shorter amount of time than if you hand-knit. These knitting machines work best with medium-weight yarn. (Worsted weight yarn (no.4) or Aran weight, DK weight (no.3).)

They have a fixed gauge. They can’t be adjusted to accommodate the lighter-weight yarns or heavier-weight yarns. The fabric you achieve using sock yarn, for example, turns out to have an open weave.

In hand knitting terms, it’s like having one set of needles, and the fabric created with those needles changes depending on what yarn weight you use. Thinner yarn, a more open fabric, thicker yarn, a tighter fabric.

Here’s more product information.

Pros

  • Made in Germany, sturdy construction materials
  • Simple setup, easy to use, suitable for beginners
  • Portable and space friendly
  • The express kingsize knitting mill is transportable
  • Make complicated and plain knitted items
  • Enhance your knitting experience and learn a new skill
  • They offer excellent construction quality, and they’re straightforward to use
  • Speedy in completing knitted projects
  • It offers rows back and forth and circular knitting functions, a bonus for projects requiring the assembly of pieces
  • Cost effective
  • Makes flat panels
  • It has spare needles
  • Lifetime warranty from authorised dealers

Cons

  • Lacks tension control mechanism: the only thing controlling your stitch size is your yarn. The yarn guide is there to keep your yarn in place. However, if you have access to 3-D printing, the clever user binarypickle has a model for a tension fork knitting machine adapter you could use.
  • No way to mechanically adjust tension to make the stitch smaller or bigger.
  • Need to experiment to determine whether your yarn works with the machine.
  • Prices are a little expensive, so shop around to see if there’s any discounts.
  • Doesn’t offer anything other than a 46 stitch knitted circle.
  • Digital row counter can be unreliable.

Addi Express Professional Knitting Machine

The addi-Express Professional has 22 needles. Machine knit circular knitted items in knit stitch and panels on this machine. The size of the knitted tube is something fitting around your arm or leg. Stitch together flat panels to make items wider.

Premmie hats, doll bonnets, narrow scarves, mittens, fingerless gloves, baby sweaters, and toys would be good ideas. To see how much yarn you need for a medium sweater, see my post.

  • Circular knitted items – From 10 to 15 cm (4″ to 6″).
  • Plain knitted items – From 15 to 20 cm (6″ to 8″) wide.

Pros

  • 22 needles (You can buy AddiExpress replacement needles if necessary.)
  • Circular and flat panel knitted items (create seams)
  • Use many yarns but medium weight yarns (Worsted or DK) are best
  • Made in Germany with sturdy materials
  • Every product purchased from an Authorised Dealer has a Lifetime Warranty
  • Easy to create a good quantity of smaller sized projects in a short time
  • This knitting machinery is great for hobby purposes
  • Many reviews for this addiexpress knitting machine are five stars
  • Perfect for making a minature type of project, like small hats for Premmie babies or dolls, sock, scarves and finger-less gloves
  • Available in the United States and United Kingdom
  • Comes with an instruction manual and replacement pins
  • Reasonably priced shipping, and sometimes you’ll get free shipping

Cons

  • Difficult to get neat edges when creating rows of knit stitches for flat panels.
  • Bulky yarns, stiff yarn or cotton are a challenge.
  • It’s a little tricky to cast on, especially for beginners.
  • Be mindful of the yarn weight you’re working with
  • One problem is the counter sometimes restarts by itself

Recommended Addi Machine Comparison Chart

Our Selections

Best For Most People

For Larger Projects

Made By

Addi

Addi

Product

Professional

Kingsize

Made In

Germany

Germany

Ease Of Use

✓✓✓✓

✓✓✓✓✓

Stitch Quality

✓✓✓

✓✓✓

Instructions

Yes

Yes

Needles No.

22

46

Size

Medium

Large

Comfort

✓✓✓

✓✓✓✓

Weight

1.76lb

4.74lb

Height

9.06″

14.57″

Length

9.84″

16.93″

Width

5.91″

5.71″

Portability

✓✓✓✓

✓✓✓

Versatility

✓✓✓

✓✓✓✓

Replacements

Yes

Yes

Threader

Yes

Yes

Book

No

Yes

Stoppers

No

Yes

Clamps

No

Yes

Durability

✓✓✓✓

✓✓✓✓

Price

$$

$$$

Value

★★★★

★★★★

Returns

30 Days

30 Days

Warranty

Lifetime

Lifetime

Overall

★★★★

★★★★

Comparable Products To Consider: The Sentro machine.

FAQS About Addi Express Knitting Machines

Addi express knitting machines

What Can You Make With Addi Express Machines?

With an Addi Express Pro (the smaller model): socks, scarves, a knit hat, mittens, gloves, cozies, beanies, and toys. With an Addi Express King Size Knitting Machine: long, groovy scarves, sweaters, child and adult hats, skirts, clothing like t-shirts, a knit cardigan pattern, shrugs, and afghans.

You could also make ponchos, pillow covers, or a scarf. Or, you can create thick i-cords on addi’s smallest machine? The addi egg knitting machine is only 6 needles.

Here are some excellent tips and tricks from Whitney Betz in this YouTube video.

YouTube video

Margaret Olander from the YouTube channel Sheepishly Sharing shares her top tips and recommendations for knitting with the Express Model.

YouTube video

Check out the other videos she has for more helpful tutorials.

Making A Hat On The AddiExpress Machine

SkacelKnitting on Youtube has created a fantastic tutorial on making a knitted hat in less than thirty minutes. Impossible? Not if you’re the proud owner of an Express Knitting Machine!

YouTube video

A Flat Panel On The addi Express Kingsize

Here’s a tutorial on Knitting a Flat Panel piece by SkacelKnitting on YouTube.

YouTube video

Free Tutorials For Using Your Addi Express Machine

Yarn Yay has some useful tutorials for making a sweater.

YouTube video

Magaret Olander from Sheepishly Sharing is a wiz at making wearable garments on her Addi Knitting machines. Take a look at her cute Knot Top Hat tutorial using the Addi Express Professional Machine.

YouTube video

Suzy teaches you how to make mittens using the Professional model.

YouTube video

Yarn At Play offers this fantastic knitting blanket machine pattern and tutorial. Check out their other knitting patterns on their channel.

YouTube video

Pin Now to Save for Later

Addi Knitting Machine Pin

Can You Make Different Hat Sizes With One Machine?

Yes. The rows you knit in the round determine the length of the hat. The Addi Express Professional makes premmie hats, children’s, small adult hats, and the Addi Express King Size makes adult hats.

Can You Make Blankets On Addi Knitting Machines?

Absolutely! By making flat panels, different colored squares look great, with your machine, sew each strip together to create a blanket. Or you can make tubes which creates a lovely thick fabric. Here’s Casey Kinsey making tubular panels for a beautiful machine made blanket.

YouTube video

Can You Make Scarves?

Yes! These machines are perfect for making beautiful scarves. Using the circular mode to make a tube means the scarf is double the thickness, warm and comfy.

Is It Possible To Increase And Decrease On These Machines?

Yes, but only when you’re working a flat panel on your machine.

How Do You Make Different Sizes Of Hats?

  • Premmie hat, you’d need to knit 20-25 rows on the Professional machine
  • Adult hat using the King size edition, you’d need to knit 55-60 rows

What Do I Do To Stop My Machine Dropping Stitches?

This sometimes happens when you’re adjusting the stitches. It also occurs when the yarn isn’t compatible with the knitting machine, and the machine drops stitches by itself. Use medium-weight yarn.

The Tube From A 22 Needle Machine Seems Narrow. What Is It Good For?

Depending on the yarn used, the width of the flattened tube is around 3″. This is perfect for children’s scarves and smaller adults. Make mittens and tube socks, assuming the wearer is of average size. 

Preemie hats for hospital donations are another widespread use. Make a flat panel option to get a wider strip (not a tube). Also, sew flat panels together to create many different items.

The yarns that work best with these items are worsted weight yarns, and synthetic fibers with a low ply number. Animal fibers like wool yarn is prone to splitting and sometimes jams the machine.

What Accessories Come With Addi Knit Machines?

The accessories included with addi knit machines are plastic replacement needles, a threading tool, stoppers, feet, clampers, a book, and an addi Express Hook

What Is The Best Addi Machine?

Of all the Addi products we researched, reviewed and tested, we liked the Addi Kingsize Extended Edition the best. The product is packed with the essential features.

It’s sturdy, has a lifetime guarantee, and suits many yarn weights and patterns. Given those qualities, we believe so many reviews from happy knitters can’t be wrong.

They’re great for speeding up the knitting process.

Conclusion

The Express King Size and the Addi Express are great for machine knitting enthusiasts. Regardless of your reason for wanting a knitting machine, one of Addi’s models is sure to suit your preferences. Built to last, quick and efficient to set up and use, they’re a handy tool.

About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Knit Like Granny

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

jodie@knitlikegranny.com | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate knitter and blogger with 40+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother and wonderful grandmother “Mama”, she fell in love with crafting from a young age. When she’s not knitting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online knitting community. Get to know Jodie and the team on our meet the team page.

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Comments

  1. I am researching which Addi machine to purchase. In reading your review, you listed items that they could make. Can the Addi King also make items listed under the Addi Pro-specifically mittens, gloves and socks? Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Liz. Thanks so much for your question. The Addi Pro with less needles makes smaller circumference items than the Addi King version, so it is great for mittens, gloves and socks. The Addi King which makes larger circular projects such as hats or flat panels, so mittens, gloves and socks would not be as easy on this larger machine. Cheers Jodie

      Reply
  2. Hello. I just opened my addi-express kingsize and I’m not youtube friendly; nor have I used a machine. I need to understand my new toy and I’m getting flustered trying to find something to read instead of watch. Is there anything you can suggest to help me? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Keli. Consider the book Winding Instead of Knitting by Addi. Amazon didn’t have it. Try eBay. I’ll check other places. Cheers Jodie

      Reply
      • I recently found out that my mother in law has two books that she is letting me have. Looking forward to getting them. I have only watched a few videos on YouTube, due to not knowing they were on there. My husband only used for fail army or something in that nature, which is not my cup of tea. It just left a sour taste in my mouth. Lol. The machine did not come with a pattern book. The book it had was only about a page in length in English, which is why I don’t understand this machine at all. The book you mentioned is one of the ones my mom has. Thank you for responding and I will contact you if I have questions. Thank you again.

        Reply
        • Hi Keli. That’s great news that you can get access to some books. Let me know how you get on. If you are willing to give Youtube another go the videos that are listed in my post are worth a look to see the Kingsize Addi machine in use. Cheers Jodie

          Reply
  3. Worse machine I have ever bought. Paid top dollar and I spend more time trying to fix drop stitches. I can hand knit on loom in less frustrating time. Wish I would have sent it back.

    Reply
    • Hi Debi. That’s not good to hear of your frustrating experience. I’ve done some more research and people talk about ensuring your tension is correct. Did you play around with tension at all? Cheers Jodie

      Reply
  4. Could you please make a tutorial demonstrating how to knit half a round in one color, and the second half in a second color? Love the patterns you shared! Thank you!

    Reply

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