Knitting machine or hand knitting - which is worth it?

Forget the idea that a knitting machine will produce tons of finished sweaters for you in no time. It doesn't work the way a lot of people think - even with a machine, you need time for threading, adjusting, and especially for finishing (sewing seams, attaching sleeves, etc.). Plus, good machines aren't cheap, and smaller mistakes can be frustrating.

Hand knitting makes sense especially if you actually enjoy the process itself - not just the end result, but also the relaxing handcraft vibe. I honestly find it relaxing to just knit while the kids are playing. You have maximum control, can switch colors spontaneously or improvise. For special patterns, fancy yarn, or small things like socks, hand knitting is usually easier. And cheaper - you only need needles and yarn.

A knitting machine is worth it more if you want to regularly make larger, uniform pieces (like actual sweater components or scarves in standard patterns) and you're willing to put in the learning time. But that's really more for people who knit a lot and could even see it as a side business. For occasional knitting, I'd honestly say: save yourself the money and knit by hand. It's more relaxing, more flexible, and you won't get frustrated with machine errors.

If you already do stuff with your hands and have patience, hand knitting is just worth it more - you only need needles and yarn, no expensive machine.

I looked into it once because I like having something to do when I'm camping, and I quickly figured out that a knitting machine is kind of frustrating for beginners because you have to mess around with it first.

Hand knitting is way more relaxing to watch, and honestly, most people I know who knit prefer doing it that way - you just feel what you're actually doing.