Did you know: computerised knitting machines

Odina Keim, Teaching Fellow in Knitwear, Fashion and Textile Design using a knitting machine at WSA

Did you know that Winchester School of Art (WSA) houses three computerised knitting machines?

With a single machine able to knit enough panels for 30-40 jumpers in just 24 hours, the production speed of our two Shima Seiki (SES 122-S) computerised knitting machines enables our students to spend more time designing garments and testing out new ideas. The campus also houses an additional model of the Shima, the SES 122-F.

When they were first installed, the two SES 122-S machines had to be winched through a first-floor window by a mobile crane at WSA, due to their size and weight.

“The Shima Seiki machines are so much fun to use,” says Odina Keim, Teaching Fellow in Knitwear, Fashion and Textile Design. “They produce never ending fabrics, structures and patterns and are a great way for students to experience experimentation on an industry standard knitting machine.”

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