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How to Make I-Cord Quickly on a Knitting Machine

Use tube mode where available, feed yarn loosely and evenly, and crank steadily. A faster turn is not necessarily a better one—and no comparable output-rate test establishes a speed winner.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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For reliable machine-made i-cord, use your machine’s tube or circular setting if it has one, feed yarn loosely and evenly, stabilize the machine, and crank at a controlled pace. Turning faster is not a proven shortcut: the Sentro 32-needle manual warns that cranking too fast can damage that machine and cause dropped stitches. No cited source gives a comparable cord-length-per-minute test, so there is no evidence-based speed ratio to promise.

Set up for a steady run

  1. Choose the right mode. On the Sentro 32-needle machine, set the switch to tube mode for circular knitting. Other models may use different controls; follow the instructions for your machine. Sentro 32-needle user manual
  2. Feed the yarn freely. Keep the yarn feeding loosely and evenly rather than pulling it tight. The Sentro manual identifies yarn feed and suitable tension as operating considerations; the exact adjustment depends on the yarn and machine. Sentro 32-needle user manual
  3. Stabilize the machine. Set it up securely before knitting, following its own instructions. A steady setup helps you keep the crank movement controlled.
  4. Turn smoothly, not aggressively. Maintain a pace at which the machine forms stitches consistently. The Sentro manual specifically cautions: “Do not turn the crank handle too hard or too fast as this may damage the machine and dropped stitches will be unavoidable.” That warning applies to the Sentro model covered by the manual; check the guidance for any other machine you use. Sentro 32-needle user manual

Choose a machine suited to cords

A general circular knitting machine can make tubes, while dedicated cord makers are designed for knitted cords. The available product information documents different designs and yarn guidance, but does not provide comparable output rates or independent performance tests.

Option Documented design and yarn guidance What the information does not establish
Caydo H1 Manufacturer lists a manual four-needle i-cord machine with larger hooks and a stated WPI 6–18 range. Caydo H1 product page No comparable cord-length-per-minute result or independent performance test is stated.
addiEi addi describes this as a mini machine for knitted cords and says medium yarns for 3–4 mm needles are particularly suitable. addiEi product page No comparable cord-length-per-minute result is stated.
General addi crank machines addi describes addiExpress machines as crank-operated machines for round or flat pieces; its instructions also describe the six-needle addiEgg for cord-making with 3–4 mm yarn. addi operating instructions No comparable output-rate or independent performance result is stated.

Use the yarn guidance published for the specific model rather than treating one maker’s range as universal. For addi’s machine instructions and project guidance, see addi’s knitting-machine instructions.

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Finish the cord and secure the end

When the cord is complete, remove the remaining loops and secure them so they do not unravel. The Caydo electric i-cord machine manual hosted by Manuals.plus instructs users to remove the loops at the end and secure them with a crochet hook. It does not specify a universal hook size, and this is not necessarily the finishing procedure for every machine. Follow the manual for your model. Caydo electric i-cord machine manual

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What “high speed” means here

Home crank machines and industrial high-speed equipment are different categories. Jakob Müller’s type 1700/20 is an industrial machine for chainette cords, configured with multiple heads and interchangeable cylinder and needle options; it is not a consumer craft-machine recommendation. Jakob Müller type 1700/20

For home crafting, “high speed” is best treated as a goal of efficient, consistent work—not as a documented production rate. The cited product pages and manuals do not establish how many times faster machine-made i-cord is than hand knitting, or which home machine produces the most cord per minute.

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