I’ve been away for a while, but now that I’m back, I’m excited to launch a brand-new segment on my blog called—Knitting Relics. In this series, I’ll be showcasing vintage, antique, and collectible knitting machines that are no longer in production. These fascinating tools are a window into the past, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
I’m kicking things off with a machine I’ve been hunting down for some time: the MEDA Knitter.
I finally found one on eBay! While there isn’t much widely known about this model’s history, I do know it was manufactured in Russia. The one I acquired came with an instruction manual dated 1991—though it’s unclear whether that’s the production year of the machine or just the manual’s print date. From what I’ve gathered, MEDA machines were built during the 1950s and 60s, which is reflected in their characteristic mid-century blue or green colors.
What makes the MEDA knitter especially intriguing is its long cylinder and a mechanism where the hooks advance as a lever slides across the machine. It features a bar with pegs—reminiscent of garter bars on more familiar knitting machines—called a pin comb, and it even includes adjustable legs for modifying stitch length. The machine works best with yarn no thicker than medium weight.
One of the most charming things about this machine is how beautifully it creates garter stitch, which is fully reversible and doesn’t have a “right” or “wrong” side. Unlike stockinette stitch, which alternates knit and purl rows, garter stitch is achieved simply by knitting every row—perfect for a machine like this, built for simplicity and efficiency.
Getting Started
While the MEDA manual was helpful, I also found a manual for a similar machine called the ZIP Knitter, which provided extra insight.
Here’s how I got started:
- I used a simple e-wrap cast on to begin.
- I placed the yarn cake on the floor to the left of the machine, keeping it in a recycled plastic container to stop it from rolling around and tangling.
- I knitted a loose swatch of about 20 stitches and 40 rows to get a feel for the machine.
The MEDA is an all-metal unit, built with a refreshingly simple construction—no fragile moving parts, no finicky mechanisms. It’s sturdy and straightforward. To keep it running smoothly, it’s recommended to add a few drops of sewing machine oil to the mechanism beneath the handle now and then.
I hope you enjoyed this little piece of history, and remember, be happy and knit on! #medaknittingmachine #vintage #collectible #yarn #knitting #instruciton #tutorial #manual #steps #crafts
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