Addi Review

So you are thinking about purchasing an Addi Express Knitting machine,  but haven't quite determined if it's right for you. What are its' strengths? Weaknesses? How does it compare to a conventional flat bed knitting machine?

The purpose of this review is to explore these questions, and help you make an informed decision about your prospective purchase. When buying any type of knitting machine, it is very important to understand what it cannot do, before exploring it's capabilities. In other words, knowing what the machine is incapable of will help you to embrace what it is, and thus make the most of it's advantages and limitations.

Addi Express Disadvantages/Cons... 

 

Lacks tension control mechanism:

For a machine knitter, this means that the only thing controlling your stitch size on the Addi is the yarn that you choose. There is no way to mechanically adjust tension on these machines to make the stitch smaller or bigger. It is what it is. So if you want to achieve a tighter or looser stitch, you'll need to work with a different yarn, and continue experimenting until you find the look/tension you are aiming for. Additionally, the lack of tension control can lead to irregularities within the knitting itself, making for occasional tight and loose rows, depending on how smoothly you feed the yarn into the machine, and how tightly or loosely the yarn you are pulling from is wound. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome 'some' of these tension issues, but overall there is no way to fully compensate for the lack of mechanical tension control on these machines.

Tendency to drop stitches (lacks weight system):

Knitting machines, from the most complex to the simplest design, will drop stitches from time to time. To minimize the headache of picking up dropped stitches row after row after row, most machines will come equipped with a basic weight system to help keep stitches in place. On the Addi, however, there are no weights included to serve this function, making life quite difficult for the beginning knitter. Fortunately, the machine's tendency to drop stitches can be easily overcome with the use of weights (more on this in future newsletters), but these weights will need to purchased separately from other sources, and are not available from the manufacturer directly.

Lacks hold position across multiple needles:

While the Addi does allow you to block off a singular section to knit with stitch stoppers, there is no hold position for knitting patterns across multiple needles. This means if you want to achieve patterned circular knitting, where some needles will knit and others will remain idle, there is nothing to keep the idle needles out of service, making automated pattern knitting impossible on the unit.

Quirky row counter:

The digital row counter on my Addi Kingsize is unreliable at best. I have watched it skip forward at random, adding numerous extra rows to the count. This problem did not go away with a battery change or physical reset either, as recommended in the manual. In the end, I had to resort to other means to maintain row count--which is a shame--since a built in counter is such an added convenience, but totally useless if it cannot maintain an accurate record of rows.

 

Upper/fixed limit on circular piece:

The Addi cannot offer anything other than a 46 stitch knitted circle on the large machine, and a 22 stitch circle on the small machine. This is somewhat restricting compared to knitting a circular piece on a double bed machine where your knitted circle can be be bigger and smaller, only limited by the size of your needle bed.

Fussy about some yarns:

Despite advertised claims that the Addi takes all types of yarns, the machine does appear to have its' own preferences in this direction. Experimentation is required to determine whether your yarn will or will not work with the machine compatibly. Some bulky/fancy yarns are particularly trying for the unit, and in my opinion, are best avoided for optimal results.

Tricky cast off:

While the cast on for this machine is a breeze, the cast off could be easier. Hand worked, it is very challenging to close that last row on the machine (without dropping any stitches) before removing the piece. Ultimately, I have resorted to casting off on waste yarn and transferring to circular needles to minimize the headache, but would much prefer casting off directly on the machine if only it were any easier.

Not much after market support:

Because these machines are usually sold through third parties, there is not a lot of 'local' support for the device. Made in Germany, many online fan forums are in presented in German-- not directed at English speakers, making troubleshooting and discussion difficult at best. This is starting to change, however, as the machine gains in popularity and more English speaking groups are popping up around the net.

Sloppy edges on the flat:

When knitting flat pieces, the Addi sometimes produces a very 'sloppy' loose edge--this is better or worse depending on the tension produced by the yarn you have chosen. The manual says adjusting the hand tension of your feed should improve edges, but I have found this to be an unreliable and challenging solution at best.

Nice instruction books but...

Addi offers a variety of pattern/instruction books to support their line of machines, but from the looks of it, they have been translated into English from German. I believe this makes some of the pattern and useage instructions read unclearly at times, especially where technique descriptions are concerned, thus lengthening the learning curve somewhat.

Addi Express Advantages/Pros... 

Highly portable and space friendly:

Compared to a full double bed knitting machine, both Addi Express machines are very lightweight, space efficient and portable,  making them the ideal tools for the travelling knitter. Set up and storage are a breeze, with no special tables required to start knitting. Just fasten to a flat, solid surface with the provided clamps, and you are off and running! These machines are also sized efficiently, and occupy the minimum amount of table and shelf-space.

Cost effective:

Once again, compared to a double bed knitting machine, Addi Express units are priced very economically. It would cost many times more to purchase a fully functional knitting machine capable of knitting in the round. Of course, that machine would be able to do much more than the Addi in other respects, but if you were looking to purchase a larger machine mostly for circular knitting, the Addi is still more cost effective, just not as robust an option if you are looking for more features.

 

Sturdy:

Made in Germany, Addi Express machines offer excellent quality in terms of their construction. The grade of plastic employed for the machines is sturdier than I have seen in other plastic bed machines, and has withstood quite a bit of useage in my studio with no signs of deterioration.

 

Easy Cast-On:

Addi Express machines are very easy to set up and begin knitting on. Once committed to memory, the cast sequence on takes minutes to complete, with no special attachments (such as weighted hems etc.) required to initiate the first row. This means you can start knitting very rapidly when the mood strikes!
 

Speedy: 

Once setup and knitting, the Addi is a speedy device. Instead of lingering on your knitted work for days (and sometimes losing interest), the Addi allows you to crank out numerous projects in an evening. This is a great advantage for charity knitters, wishing to complete multiple projects with ease and efficiency.

 

Extra Large Needle Size:

Addi needles are spaced 

 

Combines flat and circular knitting:

The Addi offers both flat and circular knitting functions, an added bonus for the knitter looking to complete projects that require the assembly of flat pieces. Knitting 'stoppers' allow you to block off the number of needles you want to knit, up to the 46 or 22 included, depending on whether you are working on the larger or smaller machine.

Summary:

All in all, despite it's rough spots, I would still consider the Addi Express machines to be well worth the investment!!! In my studio, they are reliable little workhorses, capable of speeding and simplifying all my circular knitting projects. Rugged, portable, lightweight and reasonably user friendly, I have found that the Addi is best employed not as my 'only' knitting machine, but as an additional tool in my knitting arsenal--something to turn to when the project demands a simple yet swift knitting method. Ultimately, with a little tlc, the Addi can be improved through a few creative additions/modifications, many of which I discuss in my bi-weekly newsletter, Addi/cted to Knit. For this reason, I feel both units are highly useful knitting aids and offer great creative potential for the motivated owner.