You just saved me with this! My machine works! My daughters helped me fix it today. I didn’t even know knitting machines existed until I saw one at the local thrift shop! Thank you!!
Thanks to your advice connected to another of your videos, I replaced the sponge bar as well. But there is a very easy help tip! Take a piece of transparent/scotch tape and wrap it around the tip of the bar so that it squeezes/tapers the end. This made feeding it under the bars go so much faster!
Just got a machine off eBay and had heard that I should replace the sponge bar just by tho hs I had read, but when I say that my sponge bar was just a stripe of fabric😂 definitely needed this vid
Upon arrival (9/6/21), the sponge strip on my KX350 was flat. Have ordered a new strip, pulled out the needles, soaked and lubricated them. Spent time cleaning the bed and lubricating the carriage. Now waiting for the new sponge strip to arrive. I realize that whoever owned this KX350 did not really use the machine much. Came with its original VHS, the manual and other paperwork. It was originally purchased in 1986. The last time I replaced the sponge strip for my KX390 Convertible I unscrewed each of those metal units. I'm hoping I won't have to do that with the KX350 (though I think I will). While I wait for the new sponge strip, I am knitting a sweater on my Bond Elite. Would love to find the ribber for the Elite. There are times I enjoy knitting with the Elite just a bit more than my LK150, Studio 560 or Brother KX390 (sounds weird, doesn't it?😊) My KH260 carriage needs cleaning. The KH260 is my absolute favorite machine.
Good to hear from you. You can put in the sponge strip without taking off the metal brackets if you have some forceps or something to go under the little plastic things. If you do end up taking off the brackets, be careful not to strip the screws. A regular phillips head screwdriver will work but the JIS screwdrivers are much better. It sounds like you have a lot of machines, so I would invest in a set of the screwdrivers to save yourself a lot of agony. (There's a link in the description of the video.) I have many machines and am constantly having to loosen old screws that might be rusty or corroded and these make it a lot easier. It's not difficult either way you replace the sponge, just make sure to put your screws somewhere safe, go slow and gently pull the sponge through. I have changed the sponge strip on at least ten of these; it's easy. Replacing the needles is the time consuming part.
Thankyou!!! I learned some new information from this video! I might be buying a KX350 so Im doing my studying first! Im prepared to fix thr sponge bar or some bent needles, but are problems with the carriage itself common? would I be able to know/see easily if something is wrong with it?
They're usually fine but check and see if the levers snap into place and if the underside looks really worn. If the sponge bar is flat which it most likely will be, don't try to run the carriage over the bed. Change the sponge bar first.
Hello. I have an old KX 350 that I am trying to learn about and use. I'm glad I found out about needing to replace the sponge bar! May I ask where you found a replacement that worked? There are several on Amazon (Canada), but very few reviews. I'd love it if you could tell me the dimensions of the strips that the machine was originally supposed to use. I'd like to get it as close as I can so that I don't end up doing it over and over or hurting the machine. Thanks for any help!
@@AnnaHaferman Thanks. That link says it's for several other machine's and doesn't list the 350. How did you know it would work? Are the all very similar?
I don't know how I knew. I may have already had some for other machines and just tried them out. I put another link in the description for one that says it's for the KX350. They are the same thing as the ones I linked to before.
I have an overly long machine... with more needles... I can't find a long sponge for it. I don't know how to bring several sponge parts together so that everything works well. Can you please advise on this? thanks!
The sponge does not have to be continuous. The sponges are long enough for one full bed and they extend beyond the needles a few inches. Just install them normally before you attach the two beds.
Have you ever tried to use a piece if wire through from the left to the right and use it to pull the new sponge straight through by pulling on the wire?
@@AnnaHaferman : Learned that lessons the hard way. Fortunately I did not lose too much of the end. I do wish these plastic bed machine had a sponge bar vs the sponge strip. Would make knitting life easier.
Great video I am able to replace my sponge on my kx350. However my handle is stuck do you how to fix it? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks ☺️
@@josephinedelreal4009 You might have to take the carriage apart, but they are tricky to get back together and there are pieces inside that will spring out of place once you open it. I have never done this, but it might help to put a drop of oil in the metal parts that you can see through the holes at the base of the handles.
Hi, I don't know where you are located, but this model isn't made anymore. I put a link for a very similar machine that is still being made in the description for this video.
Thank you for the video, well done and explained. That said, I have a complaint (not at all about this video, but about the machine): I hate this machine for this reason. this is the STUPIDEST design for a knitting machine/sponge bar I've ever seen. This is like having to take the tires off and the engine out of a car in order to change the oil.
Hahahaha. I've done at least 10 of them at this point and it does become easier, but I agree that it's much more difficult than it needs to be. The LK 150 sponge is much easier to replace. That said, I love the KX 350 machines; they work so well.
I live in South Africa and to import anything from overseas is extremely costly with our horrific exchange rate and import duties so we make. I refurbish all my machines sponge bars/strips with high density foam and satin ribbon. For the plastic bed machines I cut the ribbons 10cm longer than the strip before sticking it into the foam with double sided tape. When changing the strip I attach the new to the old and pull out the old one which in turn pulls the new one into place. I don't trim the dangly bits as it's not in the way.
I have made my own sponge strips with foam and iron-on fusible interfacing. First do the interfacing and then cut a strips to size for your machine. As to pulling the old one out and installing the new, I usually try it that way at first. It works sometimes but not with very old cruddy sponge strips as they usually break.
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You just saved me with this! My machine works! My daughters helped me fix it today. I didn’t even know knitting machines existed until I saw one at the local thrift shop! Thank you!!
You will love it!
Thanks to your advice connected to another of your videos, I replaced the sponge bar as well. But there is a very easy help tip! Take a piece of transparent/scotch tape and wrap it around the tip of the bar so that it squeezes/tapers the end. This made feeding it under the bars go so much faster!
Good idea! Thanks!
Exactly what I was looking for thank you. Now to find the right spongebar
Thank you so much didn't know how to fix my old knitting machine back in business and I'm ready for a new project
Great! I have lots of tutorials for this machine or the LK 150 which are almost exactly the same thing.
Ty!! I saw your post in knitting group. Can’t wait for my sponge to arrive tomorrow
That's great! The KX 350 is a great knitting machine.
Just got a machine off eBay and had heard that I should replace the sponge bar just by tho hs I had read, but when I say that my sponge bar was just a stripe of fabric😂 definitely needed this vid
Yeah, they are almost always completely flat. Let me know how the sponge changing goes!
Very educational, Anna. Thank you.
Love this! Would have loved to see the cleaning too!
Thanks! I'm sure I just wiped it down with a damp cloth. This one was pretty clean when I got it.
@@AnnaHaferman great I have a spongebar coming for this machine today! It’s kinda beat up but I think it will work
@@AnnaHaferman I changed my sponge bar for this machine tonight with the information from your video it worked great thank you!
Great! Thanks for watching!
Upon arrival (9/6/21), the sponge strip on my KX350 was flat. Have ordered a new strip, pulled out the
needles, soaked and lubricated them. Spent time cleaning the bed and lubricating the carriage. Now
waiting for the new sponge strip to arrive. I realize that whoever owned this KX350 did not really use
the machine much. Came with its original VHS, the manual and other paperwork. It was originally
purchased in 1986. The last time I replaced the sponge strip for my KX390 Convertible I unscrewed
each of those metal units. I'm hoping I won't have to do that with the KX350 (though I think I will).
While I wait for the new sponge strip, I am knitting a sweater on my Bond Elite. Would love to find the
ribber for the Elite. There are times I enjoy knitting with the Elite just a bit more than my LK150, Studio
560 or Brother KX390 (sounds weird, doesn't it?😊) My KH260 carriage needs cleaning. The KH260
is my absolute favorite machine.
Good to hear from you. You can put in the sponge strip without taking off the metal brackets if you have some forceps or something to go under the little plastic things. If you do end up taking off the brackets, be careful not to strip the screws. A regular phillips head screwdriver will work but the JIS screwdrivers are much better. It sounds like you have a lot of machines, so I would invest in a set of the screwdrivers to save yourself a lot of agony. (There's a link in the description of the video.) I have many machines and am constantly having to loosen old screws that might be rusty or corroded and these make it a lot easier.
It's not difficult either way you replace the sponge, just make sure to put your screws somewhere safe, go slow and gently pull the sponge through. I have changed the sponge strip on at least ten of these; it's easy. Replacing the needles is the time consuming part.
Thankyou!!! I learned some new information from this video! I might be buying a KX350 so Im doing my studying first! Im prepared to fix thr sponge bar or some bent needles, but are problems with the carriage itself common? would I be able to know/see easily if something is wrong with it?
They're usually fine but check and see if the levers snap into place and if the underside looks really worn. If the sponge bar is flat which it most likely will be, don't try to run the carriage over the bed. Change the sponge bar first.
Hello. I have an old KX 350 that I am trying to learn about and use. I'm glad I found out about needing to replace the sponge bar! May I ask where you found a replacement that worked? There are several on Amazon (Canada), but very few reviews. I'd love it if you could tell me the dimensions of the strips that the machine was originally supposed to use. I'd like to get it as close as I can so that I don't end up doing it over and over or hurting the machine.
Thanks for any help!
I put a link in the description for the ones I usually order. I don't know the exact width, height, length but they work.
@@AnnaHaferman Thanks. That link says it's for several other machine's and doesn't list the 350. How did you know it would work? Are the all very similar?
I don't know how I knew. I may have already had some for other machines and just tried them out. I put another link in the description for one that says it's for the KX350. They are the same thing as the ones I linked to before.
I have an overly long machine... with more needles... I can't find a long sponge for it. I don't know how to bring several sponge parts together so that everything works well. Can you please advise on this? thanks!
The sponge does not have to be continuous. The sponges are long enough for one full bed and they extend beyond the needles a few inches. Just install them normally before you attach the two beds.
@@AnnaHaferman Thank U , I try it 🙂
Thank you, I just did it :-)
How did it go?
Where do you get needles for this machine?
Look for needles for the LK 150. They will fit the KX 350.
@@AnnaHaferman thank you.
Have you ever tried to use a piece if wire through from the left to the right and use it to pull the new sponge straight through by pulling on the wire?
No, but I have sewed the new sponge to the old one and tried to pull it through. It will only go so far before the sponge rips.
Good to know. I am learning a lot. Thanks.
@@AnnaHaferman : Learned that lessons the hard way. Fortunately I did not lose too much
of the end. I do wish these plastic bed machine had a sponge bar vs the sponge strip.
Would make knitting life easier.
How long does a sponge bar last like with a new one in it
Probably a few years but it depends on how much you use it and probably climate- like if you left it in a really hot place it would degrade faster.
Great video I am able to replace my sponge on my kx350. However my handle is stuck do you how to fix it? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks ☺️
Is it flat against the carriage or standing up?
@@AnnaHaferman it's flat against the carriage
@@josephinedelreal4009 You might have to take the carriage apart, but they are tricky to get back together and there are pieces inside that will spring out of place once you open it. I have never done this, but it might help to put a drop of oil in the metal parts that you can see through the holes at the base of the handles.
Thank you so much I will try the oil first 🙂
Thanks so much yay 😁 it worked I put oil on the top and pulled gently and it worked thanks again I'm ready to start knitting again. 😊
I believe I need to do this to my new, to me, machine as if you tip it over the needles all fall down.
Yes, almost all used knitting machines need a new sponge strip.
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Hi, I don't know where you are located, but this model isn't made anymore. I put a link for a very similar machine that is still being made in the description for this video.
FYI - If anyone has a KX-355, you pop off the numbered panels on top to remove the sponge.
I have never seen one of those. Is that the one with an electronic component?
Love to watch your videos but why do you look at your watch so much during a video
So I can make sure what I want is in view. The watch is a monitor for the camera.
Thank you for the video, well done and explained.
That said, I have a complaint (not at all about this video, but about the machine):
I hate this machine for this reason. this is the STUPIDEST design for a knitting machine/sponge bar I've ever seen. This is like having to take the tires off and the engine out of a car in order to change the oil.
Hahahaha. I've done at least 10 of them at this point and it does become easier, but I agree that it's much more difficult than it needs to be. The LK 150 sponge is much easier to replace. That said, I love the KX 350 machines; they work so well.
I live in South Africa and to import anything from overseas is extremely costly with our horrific exchange rate and import duties so we make.
I refurbish all my machines sponge bars/strips with high density foam and satin ribbon. For the plastic bed machines I cut the ribbons 10cm longer than the strip before sticking it into the foam with double sided tape.
When changing the strip I attach the new to the old and pull out the old one which in turn pulls the new one into place. I don't trim the dangly bits as it's not in the way.
I have made my own sponge strips with foam and iron-on fusible interfacing. First do the interfacing and then cut a strips to size for your machine.
As to pulling the old one out and installing the new, I usually try it that way at first. It works sometimes but not with very old cruddy sponge strips as they usually break.