addi Express Kingsize Review: Is This $157 Knitting Machine Worth It?

addi Express Kingsize specs

Specs above come from addi's addiExpress Kingsize product page and the manufacturer feature bullets on the Amazon listing.

What does the addi Express Kingsize do best?

It is best at fast, repeatable plain knitting at a useful size. Turning the crank carries yarn around a ring of 46 latch needles. In circular mode you get a seamless tube of about 13.8 inches, enough for adult hats, cowls and leg warmers. In flat mode the machine knits back and forth across up to 43 needles for a panel about 17.7 inches wide, which is the building block for scarves, cardigan pieces and blankets.

Because addi publishes those figures, you can plan. addi's own pullover tutorial for the Kingsize casts on 38 stitches for small sizes and 43 for large, knits panels of 92 to 122 rows, and joins them with mattress stitch. It uses a gauge of 15 stitches and 20 rows to 4 inches with a worsted-type merino, which gives a sense of the fabric this machine produces.

The kit is complete: feet and clamps to fix it to a table, a threading tool, stoppers and 5 replacement needles. Needles are the wear part on any crank machine, so having spares on hand keeps a project moving.

What is the honest weakness of the addi Express Kingsize?

It is still a single-bed crank machine. Every row is stockinette. Brims and cuffs roll unless you fold them double, sew in hand-knit ribbing or add a crochet edge. There is no shaping, so garments are assembled from rectangles and tubes, and the finishing takes real time.

The price has climbed. addi lists a net price of about 104.58 euros before tax, while the listing sells at about $157. That is three times a SENTRO, and the machine is still largely plastic. It earns the premium through published sizes, spares and warranty, not through a different kind of knitting.

It is manual by design. addi states plainly that its machines are not suitable for attaching electric screwdrivers or drills. Owners who want to motorize for big blanket projects are working against the maker's guidance and, likely, the warranty.

Finally, yarn matters. addi recommends yarn for US 6 to 11 needles; very bulky, slubby or fuzzy yarns catch and drop stitches. Check the yarn weight chart before buying a big batch.

What do addi Express Kingsize owners consistently report?

• Praise: a hat tube in minutes once practiced, making it a favorite for charity and gift batches.
• Praise: sturdier feel and more reliable stitch formation than budget machines.
• Praise: spare needles and table clamps in the box.
• Praise: the flat mode and published width make blanket strips predictable.
• Complaint: dropped stitches during the first rounds and with unsuitable yarn.
• Complaint: a learning curve on casting on, switching modes and binding off.
• Complaint: the price compared with look-alike machines.

Owners who start with smooth worsted yarn, clamp the machine firmly and crank at an even speed report the fewest problems. addi also sells an instruction book with 24 knitting models for the Kingsize if you want tested project ideas.

How does the addi Express Kingsize compare with the SENTRO and smaller addi?

Our Sentro vs addi comparison covers the most common cross-shop in detail.

Read the SENTRO 48 review for the budget option, and our knitting machine guide explains when a flatbed such as the Silver Reed LK150 makes more sense than a crank machine.

What can you make on an addi Express Kingsize?

The machine suits any project built from tubes and rectangles. addi's own tutorials include a pullover assembled from flat panels, sleeves knit in the round in the smallest size, and smaller projects such as arm warmers and pot holders.

A throw made from machine strips still needs thousands of yards. Plan it with the blanket yarn calculator and check your stitch gauge with the knitting gauge calculator.

What warranty and support come with the addi Express Kingsize?

addi states on its product pages that it provides a 10-year warranty on all products, and the machine is made in Germany. Keep your receipt, and buy from an authorized seller so warranty help is straightforward. Replacement needles and an addiExpress hook are sold separately if you wear through the 5 spares.

We found no recall notice for this machine on the manufacturer or listing pages we reviewed; CPSC's recall search by company is the place to check for any future notice. Our expert knitting setup shows how a crank machine fits alongside needles, a swift and a ball winder such as the Stanwood Winder + Amish Swift (about $122) for feeding many skeins.