Yarns for Knitting Machines

It’s a common myth that knitting machines can only use yarns made specifically for machine knitting and wound on cones. 

At Knitcraft, we certainly appreciate the ease and convenience of coned yarn, but we’re just as enthusiastic about the beautiful variety found in yarns that come in balls, cakes, and hanks. With a little know‑how, many of these yarns can be used very successfully on a knitting machine. There are just a few key things a machine knitter needs to understand to get great results.

How to select yarns for knitting machines.

Yarns perfect and not-so-perfect for machine knitting

Smooth Yarns

Knitting machines form five or more stitches with every single pass, so the yarn is doing a lot of work very quickly. Yarns with a bit of natural stretch are easier on both the machine and the knitter. Wool and wool blends are excellent choices, especially multi‑ply yarns like Berroco Vintage DK ,  Malabrigo Rios or Cascade Heritage. These yarns are smooth, strong, and consistent—qualities that make them especially well‑suited for machine knitting.

Non-Stretch Yarns

Because a knitting machine is pulling five or more stitches over the tops of latched hooks, there’s a lot of tugging going on — more than most people realize at first. The yarn has to be able to give just enough as a stitch slides over the latch hook and pops off to form the loop.


Yarns that don’t give much are cottons, rayons, linens, and silks. Now, some machine knitters absolutely knit a ton of cotton — and that can work — but there are a few things worth keeping in mind.


First, forcing a non‑stretch yarn puts extra stress on the machine. Over time, that can mean bent needles, flippers under the carriage getting bent or broken, or little dings in the bed where the needle butts travel back and forth.


Second, experienced machine knitters learn how to watch their machine closely, understand its limits, and know just how far they can push without causing damage.


And third — we’re not saying you can’t use these yarns. We’re saying that while you’re still getting to know your new machine, it’s best to avoid them.


And while we’re at it… here’s a fourth thought: consider blends. A non‑stretch fiber mixed with something that has give can make a big difference. Cotton blended with acrylic, for example, often has just enough stretch to run smoothly and keep everyone — you and your machine — happy.

Can you knit novelty yarns on a knitting machine?

Sometimes — and usually with patience, experimentation, and lowered expectations.

Novelty yarns (think eyelash, boucle, ribbon, thick‑and‑thin, fuzzy, sequined, etc.) were largely designed with hand knitting in mind. Knitting machines, on the other hand, like smooth, consistent yarns that behave predictably as they’re pulled over latch hooks at speed.

That mismatch is where the trouble starts.

Why novelty yarns can be tricky

Knitting machines form multiple stitches with every pass, and each stitch has to:

  1. Sit properly in the hook
  2. Close the latch
  3. Slide over the hook
  4. Drop cleanly off

Novelty yarns often interfere with one or more of those steps because they:

  • Have slubs, loops, or fuzz that catch the latch
  • Beautiful sequins will pop off!
  • Are inconsistent in thickness, causing dropped or tight stitches
  • Have very little stretch, putting stress on needles and carriage
  • Don’t sit well in the hook, especially on finer‑gauge machines

That doesn’t mean they’re impossible — just unforgiving.

Yarn Sizes Do Matter

Silver Reed knitting machines come in three gauges, and together they’re designed to cover all six yarn weight groups. Choosing the right yarn for the right gauge makes a big difference in how smoothly your machine knits — and how much you enjoy the process.

Standard Gauge Machines

Standard gauge machines are happiest with the finer yarns.

They knit:

  • Lace Weight [0] and Fingering Weight [1] beautifully
  • Sport Weight [2] can work, but it’s important to test first, as some sport yarns can run thin, which is to your advantage

Standard gauge models:

  • SK280 – a mechanical machine with a 24‑stitch punch card repeat
  • SK840 – an electronic machine that uses DesignaKnit software instead of punch cards
    • A computer is only needed for patterning
    • If you’re knitting plain stockinette, you don’t need to be connected at all

Mid‑Gauge Machines

Mid‑gauge machines are incredibly versatile and very forgiving.

They will:

  • Knit Fingering Weight [1] loosely — perfect for flowing scarves and shawls
  • Handle Lace Weight [0] silk and mohair blends beautifully when knit loose enough to let the fibers bloom
  • Knit Sport [2], DK [3], and Worsted [4] like butter

Where they struggle:

  • Bulky Weight [5] yarns — these tend to split and cause problems

Mid‑gauge model:

  • LK150 – our best seller
    • Easy to learn
    • Fun to create with
    • A favorite for knitters of all experience levels

Bulky Gauge Machines

Bulky machines are built to handle thicker yarns with ease.

They knit:

  • Worsted [4] and Bulky [5] weight yarns very well

They can knit thinner yarns, but:

  • The wider needle spacing
  • And larger hooks
    mean you may not get as small or firm a stitch as the yarn label suggests

Bulky model:

  • SK155 – a 12‑stitch punch card machine with a metal bed

The big takeaway

Matching yarn size to machine gauge sets you up for success. When the pairing is right, knitting feels easier, stitches form cleanly, and your machine stays happy.

Cones, Cakes, Hanks, or Balls?

Here’s the thing: on a knitting machine, you don’t control stitch size by pulling on the yarn — the tension mast and tension dial do that job. The yarn’s only responsibility is to flow smoothly through the machine.

For that to happen, the yarn has to feed freely and easily, without any extra tugging. If the yarn isn’t already on a cone, take a minute to wind it into a loose, center‑pull cake. And yes — loose really matters here. Tight balls or firm cakes can create drag, which leads to uneven stitches and unnecessary frustration.

When the yarn feeds without resistance, the machine knits happily, stitches form smoothly, and everything just feels easier — which is exactly how machine knitting should be.

If you plan on using hand‑knitting yarn with your knitting machine, having a swift and ball winder on hand really helps and makes the whole process smoother. Swifts and Wool Winders.

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