AutoKnitter Circular Sock Machine Stand

thingiverse

This is a stand for an AutoKnitter Circular Knitting Machine. These are antique sock knitting machines, made during the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were popularized during World War I and II to knit socks, hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves for the war effort. The Autoknitter unit is similar to the Legare, Creelman, and other brands of machines. I have an AutoKnitter, and my problem was that unless the table was very heavy, the assembled knitter would top-heavy and prone to pulling the table over. They were also difficult to take along since the availability of a proper table could not always be assured. UPDATE: 12-12-2018 - I updated the stand's top parts to better fit and support the Autoknitter base plate. If you downloaded, please redownload! The originals wouldn't work for very long..... All screw holes for the top and brace are in the same places. The leg pivots have a larger hole to allow for heavier bolts to secure better. The Top Support piece now supports the entire machine, so the filler is no longer required. The ribber adjuster is still a bit tight. I recommend using a piece of wood or metal between the clamp screws and the plastic – a paint stir stick works fine. I have made a three-legged stand for mine, and it's fairly easy to assemble from common electrical tubing. I used lamp extension tubes which are 12mm OD and 9mm ID, but anything would work. The three parts for the top of the stand are required due to the arrangement of the original fasteners on the knitter. There is currently no provision for a cone stand, but there are holes in the top for common tools and spare needles. The shape of the base allows the knitting and weight to be suspended below the machine. TO DO: - Take photos of the assembled machine - Take photos of the parts - Design a cone stand(s) - Test the cylinder design (designs uploaded) - Test the ribber dial design (designs uploaded)