The Sentro Knitting Machine is truly unconventional in every sense of the word. It looks like a child’s toy but can make wonderful knitting projects like woolen beanies, scuffs and so much more. All of this whilst again looking like an open plastic pot with a huge hole in the middle. But with an entirely plastic build the Sentro knitting machine tends to be cranky and fiddly as if to break at any second. It does however help make the most amazing knitting designs and with a machine like that you will always want to know how to troubleshoot it so as to keep it running for more years to come. This piece seeks to help with the troubleshooting of the Sentro knitting machine.
Table of Contents
When It Breaks
The Sentro Knitting Machine has helped plenty of knitters around the world make wonderful and colorful designs. However it is made entirely of plastic, and most users will tend to overuse it. Unfortunately the plastic build of the Sentro Knitting Machine is not strong or reinforced plastic. It is instead made of fickle plastic like the sort of plastic uses to make toys.
To Troubleshoot This
- The Sentro Knitting Machine is a toy and it is advertised to users as such. It may be very useful to the point of receiving acclaim from professional knitters all around the world but it still is just a toy. And usually when parts of a toy break you only need to replace the entire toy.
- The Sentro Knitting Machine (toy) does not have any repair parts.
When It Is Making Noise
It is usually because the plastic gears on the inside are overlapping and not properly catching one another. This produces a terrible sound when cranking the lever on the side of the Sentro knitting machine. Most of the time it is also because the woolen thread (you use) is caught up in the plastic needles of the knitting machine such that it causes the upper components to hault, whilst the inner components try to move, this then causes the gears to again overlap.
To Troubleshoot This
- You should make sure that your wool thread is as smooth as can be, so as to pass easily through the Sentro Knitting Machine .
- You should always remember that the Sentro Knitting Machine is a toy designed for children, often with less strength than you so be gentle with it.
- Do not attempt to oil the Sentro Knitting Machine (as you normally would with a more advanced metal frame knitting machine) because there are no metal parts in or on the Sentro Knitting Machine. Friction (if there ever is any) from plastic to plastic cannot be reduced by a lubricant like oil.
When The Lever Is Hard To Crank
For the Sentro Knitting Machine to create a good knitting project, you have to have good control over the lever when cranking or turning it (in a clockwise direction.) As that is what makes the knitting machine create knit after knit seamlessly. When it however becomes hard to crank it can be because of a few things, some of which have already been mentioned above. But it is also due to lint (very common when working with wool) or debris getting stuck in the knitting machine. And because of its size the Sentro Knitting Machine is as delicate as it is small.
To Troubleshoot This
- Therefore it is important to make sure you use good quality wool thread for your Sentro Knitting Machine.
- Make sure that the woolen thread is moving along the needle path so as to not get stuck in the knitting machine.
- Make sure that the wool isn’t too tight in the knitting machine as well.
When Wool Is Dropping Off
This is a very big issue when knitting with the Sentro knitting machine. If the wool is dropping or coming off the rails it can cause the knitting project to have holes which will ultimately lead to the knitted garment tearing or falling apart. It happens because the Sentro Knitting Machine’s needles are also made of plastic, which has a glossy and slippery make up that makes it difficult for it to grip on the wool at times.
To Troubleshoot This
- Make sure you pass the wool through the correct channels on the Sentro Knitting Machine.
- Which is easy because all you have to do is place one end of the wool thread on a needle and then start cranking or turning the lever, this will move the wool thread correctly along the circulated needle alignment.
- Make sure that the wool isn’t so loose that it falls off from the Sentro Knitting Machine’s needle. The wool thread should be rightly tight.
When Stitches Tuck
This is when two stitches are knit together without the intention of doing so. Usually because one needle is off course or is skipped by the wool. This can happen quite often on the Sentro Knitting Machine because if you’re aggressive or move the lever too fast, this problem will most likely come afoot.
To Troubleshoot This
- Again make sure that you are as gentle as possible with the Sentro Knitting Machine.
- When you knit two stitches together such that they become one, you can technically fix it on the Sentro Knitting Machine and you can do this by turning the lever counterclockwise whilst unwrapping the knitting to a point past the tuck. And then thread the wool through the again by turning the lever in a clockwise direction.
Conclusion
However helpful the Sentro Knitting Machine may be to knitters, it was designed for and with children in mind for them to play with it, which means it has the simplest of materials and compartments that a toy can have. Therefore if you purchase this knitting machine you should be expecting to buy another and another because they will eventually break due to constant use. If you’re looking for a more rigid and more adult knitting machine then there are plenty of them out there. Because the Sentro Knitting Machine is definitely not one of them.
