addiExpress King Size Knitting Machine, 46 Needles Circle Knit Loom Machine with Row Counter and Hand Crank, Black, 17.7 Inch

I was torn about my initial urge to rate 5 stars, but, I am going with it. For the cost of the machine, it's not reasonable to expect it to be perfect with all yarn. If you pick the right yarn - it's flawlessly wonderful. So, for the cost and for what it is capable and compared to competitor machines - I love my Addi. It does have issues with less expensive yarn - but shouldn't that downgraded review go to the yarn? It works perfectly with most yarn. It's fairly well known that the less expensive yarns are problematic for Addi & Sentro machines. I did buy an upgraded part on Etsy to make my Addi work better with cheaper yarn like Red Heart. I prefer the Addi to the Sentro, and I did upgrade the Sentro gear prior to trying the Addi. Also, I did find that the right tension is also a factor in avoiding skipped stitches with both when using less expensive yarn.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:I absolutely love this knitting machine! Easy to use and set up. I make hats and headbands with these machines. I use #4 worsted weight yarn in the Addi machines and have had no issues. My favorite yarn to use is the I love this yarn brand at Hobby Lobby. You can make a beanie in less than 30 minutes once you get the hang of it. If you are thinking about purchasing one I highly recommend it!! They also make great gifts for kids too!!

I purchased the “other guys” machine and was so underwhelmed that I almost gave up circle knitting. This thing blew the competition away. I love it! Sew easy to use

This machine is an absolutely great tool for making stockinette tubes quickly and easily! I had mixed feelings about whether or not to purchase this thing based on negative reviews I had been reading. I have to say that I am extremely impressed, and it has been worth every dollar spent. They even throw in extra needles in case any break, although I can't even think how you would break one, they're that sturdy.The circumference of a finished beanie in Caron - Simply Soft (doubled for warmth) is big enough to fit a child to medium-sized adult head with a little wiggle room. My boyfriend has a large noggin and he can squeeze into one of the hats, but it isn't very comfortable. A finished tube, laid flat and unstretched, is close to six to eight inches wide, depending on the yarn used.The most important advice I can give you is to choose the RIGHT YARN for the machine. I have used a wide variety of weights and fibers and here is what I think are the best choices:1. Worsted Weight - Caron Simply Soft. I can't say enough about how great the Addi Express works with this yarn. I've made scarves, hats, and blanket panels and they turn out great. Not a dropped or twisted stitch to be seen with more than 800 rows on the longest piece I've knit. I cast on and just crank the handle, most of the time I just watch TV and mindlessly knit, that's how dependable the combination is!2. Worsted Weight - Lion Bran Vanna's Choice. Very occasionally the machine doesn't quite catch a full stitch and splits the yarn on a needle, but it has never been a huge problem as long as I keep an eye out and have a crochet hook handy.3. Worsted Weight - SMOOTH wool yarns. If your yarn is boucle, plied loosely, or splits easily, you will not get a good fabric out of this machine. Wool blends have worked amazing for me, but I have yet to try any of my higher-end wools on it for fear of ruining them. I would stick to acrylics until you're comfortable with how the machine works.Bulky yarn will not work well at all, you'll end up with a stiff chunky fabric that is a pain to keep on the needles. I haven't experimented with smaller weight yarns either, but your fabric will obviously turn out lacier than worsted.I have no idea why, but Red Heart Super Saver absolutely kills this machine. I've tried many combinations, and I am constantly dropping stitches when using this brand, and the machine makes a terrible clicking noise. It's baby melter yarn, so I can't say I'm disappointed, I just would have loved to mindlessly crank out tubes of the stuff for charity scarves since I have a lot of it sitting around.All-in-all, I'm pleased with this purchase, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid starter machine with a relatively low cost compared to professional machines of the same size.

I got this item a couple of days ago. I followed other user recommendations and watched several YouTube tutorials on setting up and running the machine. THAT REALLY HELPED! I set up the machine this afternoon and made a knit hat this evening. I am really looking forward to having fun this fall and winter making stuff! Watch the tutorials, be patient with yourself, and have fun.