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YOU CAN 3D PRINT A MACHINE THAT KNITS SOCKS

A 3D-printable sock machine that copies the metal ones from a century ago, turning one crank per row.

by MrRoboto19

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

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Built with3D printing

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend-plus
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a fully mechanical replica of vintage circular sock machines like the Legare and Auto Knitter, redesigned for 3D printing. You print the frame, gears, and needle beds, then buy the latch needles named in the parts list (style #7, 12 ga) plus metal hardware and assemble the machine. Turn the hand crank and it knits a tube of fabric one row per revolution. The design has many community remixes, which means a lot of assembly questions have already been answered, but the original instructions assume you already know how sock machines work. The hardest part will be the metal work (cutting, filing and bending rod and wire) and getting the tension right; if the needles bind or skip, the whole thing stops. The licence forbids commercial use of the design, so you cannot sell printed machines. If you have never knit on a circular machine, expect a learning curve before you get clean fabric.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —STL files and assembly instructions are on Thingiverse (thing:4695746).
  • —A full parts list is on the Thingiverse page: style #7, 12 ga latch needles (Auto Knitter / Legare, regular hook), cylinder spring, a skateboard bearing, drill rod, music wire, M3 hardware and torsion springs, with supplier links for the needles and spring.
  • —Licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: non-commercial use of the design only, so no selling printed machines or kits.
  • —A popular remix by JeepingJohnny on Printables drops the hard-to-source torsion springs and adds a ribber; MrRoboto19 himself recommends it.
  • —MrRoboto19 has detailed build videos on their channel.
  • —This is purely mechanical; no electronics or firmware involved.

Parts to buy

9 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

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Can I build this?

PrintFull machine frame, gears, needle beds, and crank assembly from the STL files on Thingiverse.
BuyLatch needles (style #7, 12 ga, per the parts list), cylinder spring, skateboard bearing, drill rod, music wire, M3 screws, torsion springs, brass tubing, epoxy, and yarn.
Tools3D printer (bed size for the largest parts not stated), a drill, a saw or cutter for steel rod and music wire, files, pliers for bending wire, hex keys and screwdrivers.
SkillsIntermediate 3D printing (large multi-part assemblies, fit tolerances), mechanical assembly, and willingness to learn circular knitting if you have never done it.
TimeLong print time for all parts (not stated by the designer), plus metal work, assembly and tuning; a weekend-plus is realistic for a first build.
Cost$$ — filament for a full machine, plus needles and hardware; total will depend on how many needles you need and where you source them.
SafetyNo mains voltage or motors; it is hand-cranked. The build involves cutting, drilling and filing steel rod and music wire and using epoxy, so wear eye protection and work in a ventilated space. Keep fingers clear of the needles while cranking.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Two minutes of the 3d printed csm in action

A two-minute clip of a printed machine knitting, filmed by builder Jason Hitesman. MrRoboto19 asks builders to watch his assembly videos, referenced from the Thingiverse page, before printing.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Download the STL files from Thingiverse thing:4695746 and review the assembly instructions. (Check the remixes tab and comments for community fixes and sourcing tips for needles.)
  2. 2.Identify the needle type and quantity required, then source them from a knitting supplier or eBay.(The parts list specifies style #7, 12 ga needles with a regular hook; buy that exact spec.)
  3. 3.Print all parts, test-fit the gears and needle beds, and sand or reprint any parts with tight tolerances.(Fit tolerances matter; if the gears bind, the crank will not turn smoothly.)
  4. 4.Assemble the machine following the instructions and MrRoboto19's build videos.(Expect to disassemble and adjust needle alignment at least once.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • The needles must match the spec in the parts list (style #7, 12 ga, regular hook for Auto Knitter / Legare machines); the wrong hook size or gauge will not knit cleanly, so order from the linked supplier or match it exactly.
  • Tight print tolerances mean that gears or needle beds may bind if your printer is not well-calibrated; test-fit parts before final assembly.
  • The licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which forbids commercial use of the design; you cannot sell printed machines or kits made from these files.
  • If you have never used a circular sock machine, the learning curve for tensioning the yarn and avoiding dropped stitches is real; expect practice rounds.
  • The original instructions assume some familiarity with how these machines work, and the torsion springs are hard to install and hard to get outside the US; the designer points to a popular Printables remix that does without them.
  • There are many parts printed with 4 perimeters and 20% infill, so expect long print times, a few parts that need supports, and possibly reprints if the fit is off.

Can I sell socks made on this machine?

The design is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which forbids commercial use of the files, so you cannot sell printed machines or kits. The licence covers the design, not the yarn you knit; if you plan to sell socks, ask the designer on Thingiverse first.

Where do I buy the needles?

The parts list on Thingiverse specifies style #7, 12 ga needles for Auto Knitter / Legare machines (regular size hook) and links Angora Valley as a supplier; the cylinder spring comes from the same shop.

Do I need to know how to knit?

Not by hand, but you do need to learn how circular sock machines work — how to load the needles, set tension, and fix dropped stitches. Expect a learning curve if this is your first time.

How long does it take to knit a sock?

It depends on the yarn, the cylinder size and how fast you crank. The machine knits one row per revolution, so it is far faster than knitting by hand once it is tuned, but the designer does not publish a time per sock.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The parts list names the needle style and gauge, but builders still trade notes on where the needles fit best and which suppliers ship reliably. If you have built one, where did your needles come from and did they work first time?

CompareeTEAM7d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the Thingiverse page has the STL files, assembly notes and a full parts list, including the needle spec (style #7, 12 gauge, Auto Knitter / Legare regular hook) with a supplier link, plus the cylinder spring, 608 bearing, drill rod, music wire, torsion springs and M3 hardware. The creator warns that assembly involves cutting, gluing and bending metal parts and asks you to watch all of his videos before printing. The licence is CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, so commercial use of the design is not allowed. JeepingJohnny's V2 remix on Printables adds a ribber and has over a hundred logged makes. Footage in our video is a short demo by Jason Hitesman, not by the original designer. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

MrRoboto19

Steve Turner (MrRoboto19 on Thingiverse) redesigned vintage circular sock machines like the Legare and Auto Knitter for 3D printing, making a tool that was once metal-only accessible to anyone with a printer. The design has many community remixes, and he asks builders to watch his assembly videos before printing.

Web

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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