Learn to connect the Brother KH-930e knitting machine to any computer to knit any pattern you can create in a graphics program like Photoshop or Paint in this week’s CRAFT Video. This video tutorial supplements Ladyada’s knitting machine hacking tutorial, which provides more detail on things like making the custom serial cable. Limor and I got a huge leg up on this project from Steve Conklin’s knitting machine wiki page (no longer live). The machine that appears in this video is pretty consistently available on eBay.
42 thoughts on “How-To: Hack Your Knitting Machine”
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I love this idea! Where could someone get a giant knitting machine like the one in this video?
ebay! Thx for reminding me, I’ll add that to the post.
I just looked at my knitting machine and it seems to be labeled as “KH-930” — no “e”. It looks the same as the one in this video. Do you have any idea whether they’re different models or actually the same thing?
Thanks!
I haven’t a clue, but I would imagine that the differences must be trivial. Strange that they would release two models that are so similar, but who knows! Let us know how it goes when you try!
I have a KnitKing Compuknit III it is the same thing as a Brother KH-930 both machines are programmed with 555 stitches..
http://www.yarns-and.com/brother.htm
These are the same machine, except for the name and color. All parts of like machines are interchangeable.
AMorgan
This is great…thanks :-)
Hey Becky – I was wondering if you could tell me where you get your cone yarn for your machine? Your awesome tutorial pushed me over the edge into purchasing an electroknit machine that I’d been eyeing for awhile!
Webs: yarn.com! I find the 8/2 cotton works especially well.
Thank you!
This is just what I’ve been looking for to connect my Brother to a Mac, but I have the K970. Do you think this hack would work with a model other than the KH930e?
Thanks, again awesome job!
Read your manual. If the instructions and commands we put forth look familiar, then you’re probably in good shape. We think most of the Brother machines from around this time will work with this hack, but we haven’t tested them so we can’t be sure. Good luck!
Hello, please, someone could provide me the manual for Brother KH-930 knitting machine compuknit III on the cover of the manual there are two pink elephants, because I lost mine, I have the machine and want to connect a computer to achieve better designs and finishes on fabrics.
Thank you very much.
Ramiro
Thanks Becky for sharing the videos and the step-by-step instruction at Ladyada.net. On this website, you’ve stated that it was not possible to back up the built-in patterns from the KM to the PC. Was there a reason why?
I tried the hack but I get an error during backup :(
>python PDDemulate-1.0.py img COM4
Preparing . . . Please Wait
Ready!
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “PDDemulate-1.0.py”, line 631, in
emu.handleRequests()
File “PDDemulate-1.0.py”, line 382, in handleRequests
self.handleFDCmodeRequest(inc)
File “PDDemulate-1.0.py”, line 504, in handleFDCmodeRequest
self.write(id)
AttributeError: PDDemulator instance has no attribute ‘write’
Hi
Has anyone been successful in hacking a kh970 I would love to try it on my machine but i am afraid it may blow up or damage the computer in the machine ? Any help would be appreciated.
regards
Caroline
I have a brother knitting machine 950i. This is my very first machine. I tried a couple stitches of scarf it works. I’ve watched your video. I am a beginner knitter. I made scarves and hats hand knits. My question was I was looking for a Brother Link 5 with USB connection/ cable and it’s pricey. Mentioned a regular usb cable to help me save i don’t know how to modify it!
I will appreciate any help! Thanks!
Please advise if this is possible for both a KH940 and a KH270 actually the knitking bulky compuknit? Would the DAK cables be able to be used to download the python converted files? I spoke with someone who advised the cables someone else altered fried his KMs computer.
Thank-you for your information,
Katharine
Hi, I have a KH950i, there seems to be some problem with the computer interface lead. Does anyone have the circuit diagram for the components inside the connector?
Many thanks
Chris
Does it matter what version of Python 2.6 or 2.7.3, or 3.2 an installed? Which Python interpreter to use with Windows7 to run Python?
Is there any way to hack a Brother KH 950 knitting machine? Im asking because I have one and I would like to knit designs from computer.
I need the information about hacking your km.
Hello! It is amazing stuff! I was wondering if you can use this algorithms on other knitting machines like singer? Would be great to let me know
Amazing stuff! I was wondering if you can use this algorithms for other knitting machines like singer? Would be great to let me know, thanks!
Andreea Vasilcin • a few seconds ago
Amazing stuff! I was wondering if you can use these algorithms for other knitting machines like singer? Would be great to let me know, thanks!