Sentro vs Addi Knitting Machine: Which Hand-Crank Machine Should You Buy?
Buy the Addi Express Kingsize (about $157) if you will crank out hats, scarves and blanket panels regularly and want a published flat and circular size. Buy the Sentro 48 (about $50) if you want to try machine knitting cheaply. Both are hand-crank machines that knit plain stockinette only.
addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine, 46 needles $157.12 Check price on Amazon The verdict
The Addi Express Kingsize is the better long-term machine for knitters who plan to make many hats, scarves and blanket panels, because its maker publishes its flat and circular sizes and it ships with spare needles and mounting parts. The Sentro 48 costs about a third as much, which makes it the sensible way to find out whether a knitting machine fits how you like to make things.
Both are hand-crank circular machines, not programmable flatbed machines. They knit stockinette tubes and panels quickly, but they do not knit ribbing, cables or colorwork patterns. If that distinction is new to you, read knitting machine vs hand knitting first.
Sentro 48 vs Addi Express Kingsize: side by side
| Feature | Sentro 48 | Addi Express Kingsize |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $50 | About $157 |
| Needles | 48 | 46 |
| Knitting modes | Flat and circular | Flat and circular |
| Circular size | Not listed in the specs we verified | 13.8 in |
| Flat width | Not listed in the specs we verified | 17.7 in |
| Operation | Hand crank | Hand crank |
| Row counter | Yes | Yes, built in |
| Included extras | Row counter | Threading tool, 4 feet, 2 clamps, 5 spare needles, 2 stoppers |
What can a hand-crank knitting machine actually make?
Both machines turn a crank to move yarn across a ring of latch needles. In circular mode they make a seamless tube; in flat mode they knit back and forth to make a panel. That is ideal for simple hats with a pom-pom, cowls, leg warmers, scarves and rectangular panels you seam into a blanket. It is not a replacement for hand knitting when a pattern calls for ribbing, cables, lace or shaping, and most owners finish pieces by hand, for example gathering the top of a hat with a tapestry needle.
| Project | Good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beanie hats | Yes | A tube gathered at the top, the classic machine project |
| Scarves and cowls | Yes | Long plain tubes or panels |
| Blankets | Yes, in panels | Knit strips, then seam them together |
| Ribbed cuffs and brims | No | Stockinette only; rib by hand if needed |
| Cabled or textured sweaters | No | Needs hand knitting or a flatbed machine |
Is the Addi worth three times the price of the Sentro?
It is for frequent use. The Addi Kingsize comes with spare needles, feet and table clamps, and its maker states both its circular and flat sizes, so you can plan projects. Owners of budget machines commonly mention dropped stitches and needle wear as the things that end their machine's life, and spare needles address exactly that. The Sentro 48 is still a reasonable first machine: at around $50, it lets you learn the rhythm of cranking, weighting the fabric and fixing dropped stitches before deciding to spend more.
Whichever you choose, bulky yarn feeds unevenly on these machines. Most owners get the best results with light to medium weight yarn that runs smoothly; check the yarn weight chart before buying yarn for a machine project.
Weight the fabric
Hanging a light weight or clip from the fabric as it leaves the machine helps stitches form evenly and reduces dropped stitches.
How much yarn does a machine-knit blanket need?
A throw blanket made from machine panels needs thousands of yards, just like a hand-knit one. Plan your yarn with the blanket yarn calculator, and buy all skeins in one dye lot. A swift and ball winder helps when you are feeding many skeins.
Choose Sentro 48 if
- You want to try machine knitting for about $50.
- You plan a few hats or scarves as gifts rather than a steady stream of projects.
- You are comfortable fixing dropped stitches by hand.
Choose Addi Express Kingsize if
- You will use a knitting machine often for hats, scarves or blanket panels.
- You want published flat and circular sizes for planning projects.
- You value included spare needles, feet and table clamps.
Machines and the gear that goes with them
SENTRO 48-Needle Knitting Machine with Row Counter
$50.32The low-cost way to try a hand-crank machine.
Check price addi Express Kingsize Knitting Machine, 46 needles
$157.12The more complete kit for frequent machine knitting.
Check price
Stanwood Needlecraft 10 oz Metal Ball Winder and Amish Style Swift Bundle
$121.95Wind many skeins into cakes for long machine projects.
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
This comparison is drawn from published specifications, owner manuals and the consensus of verified owner reviews, not side-by-side testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sentro or Addi knitting machine better?
For regular use, the Addi Express Kingsize is the better kit: it lists 13.8 inch circular and 17.7 inch flat sizes and includes spare needles, feet and clamps. The Sentro 48 is the budget choice for trying machine knitting. Both knit stockinette only, so choose based on how often you will use it.
Can a Sentro or Addi machine knit ribbing?
No. Both are single-bed circular machines that knit plain stockinette in tubes or flat panels. For ribbed brims or cuffs, knit the ribbing by hand and join it, or fold a stockinette brim for a doubled edge. Textured stitches like cables and ribbing need hand knitting or a more complex flatbed machine.
What yarn works best on a hand-crank knitting machine?
Smooth light to medium weight yarns feed most reliably. Very bulky, very fuzzy or splitty yarns tend to catch and cause dropped stitches. Test a few rows with a new yarn before starting a big project, and keep the yarn feeding freely from a ball or cake rather than a tight skein.
How long does it take to make a hat on a knitting machine?
Once you are practiced, cranking the tube for a simple hat is fast, often a matter of minutes, and finishing takes longer: gathering the top, weaving in ends and adding a pom-pom. The first few hats take longer while you learn to cast on and handle dropped stitches.
Should I buy a knitting machine or learn to hand knit?
They are different tools. A hand-crank machine is quick for plain hats and panels, while hand knitting handles every stitch pattern and shape. Many makers do both. Read our comparison of knitting machine vs hand knitting to decide which fits your projects.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.