The Machine Knitters Guild has exhibited our machines at multiple Maker Faires since 2016, including two Bay Area Maker Faires held at Mare Island, the former naval shipyard in Vallejo, CA. They were in October of 2023 and 2024.

The Maker Faire celebrates all kinds of making. There’s an emphasis on tech such as robotics and 3D printing, but it also covers all sorts of art, craft, performance, etc. Everything from rockets and robots to urban farming and alternative energy ideas.

We brought three knitting machines: a Silver Reed LK150 basic plastic-bed machine, a Brother punchcard machine, and a Brother KH910 electronic machine with the AYAB hack, which updates a 1980s vintage knitting machine to talk to today’s computers. Both adults and kids were fascinated to learn about the machines and knit a few rows.

Some were already hand knitters wanting to know how it might complement their existing hobby. Others were content to push the carriage back and forth a few times and see the knitting get created.

And as it’s Maker Faire, many were engineers or young budding engineers who wanted to do a deep dive into exactly how it all works, and geek out with us, admiring the precision mechanics and vintage electronics.

They also enjoyed discussing where the history of computer technology overlaps with the long history of textiles.
The garments and posters in the background of the booth were all made on our knitting machines!