Open up the world of machine knitting!

Everything you need to get started with machine knitting, and more inspiration to develop your skills.

Close up of all the beautiful textures on this wall hanging

Spotlight on my new class

Knitweave a wall hanging

I’m excited to invite you to my Knitweaving a Wall Hanging workshop! Come along as I design and knit a textured wall hanging in real time, sharing tips, yarn choices, and finishing techniques. Plus I've videod all the swatches from the weaving chapter of my book "Texture & 3D Effects". It’s a playful, practical way to explore texture, use up yarn scraps, and bring your own creative ideas to life.

Amber sitting at a knitting machine

Hi I'm Amber...

I'm a knitwear designer, author and tutor based in Newport, Wales, previously Bristol.

I'm hugely passionate about machine knitting and passing on those skills. I focus on teaching the mechanics of both the knitting machine and the basic techniques and then show you many things you can do with them. I love to experiment and play and encourage you to do the same.

Take a look at my online workshops below, all of which are perfect for beginners in machine knitting to intermediates who are looking to brush up their skills. (Or learn a different take on machine knitting).

Online machine knitting courses

Suitable for beginners, intermediates and more. If you’ve tried to learn how to use a knitting machine at home alone and are stuck, these workshops are for you!

Online Courses

  • £40 or 4 monthly payments of £10

I-cord & 3D Embellishment machine knitting workshop

  • Download
  • 4 files

Learn how to create i-cords with a knitting machine and then how to apply them onto the fabric whilst still on the machine. See a variety of swatch videos of samples created for my book "Texture & 3D Effects" along with inspiration and how to develop ideas further.

  • £45 or 4 monthly payments of £11.25

Intarsia- machine knitting

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  • 5 files

Learn how to make patterned colour work with more than two colours in one row and no floats on the back! Intarsia is a fantastic technique, giving you complete freedom to “draw” on your knit, creating motifs, text, landscapes or abstract shapes.

  • £65 or 4 monthly payments of £16.25

Joan Jumper Workshop + Machine knitting Pattern

  • Course
  • 11 Lessons

Want to learn how to make my best selling product, the Joan jumper? These notes and videos take you through everything you need to machine knit your own. Knit on a domestic knitting machine with the ribber attachment, this jumper is the ultimate cosy rollneck.

  • £50 or 4 monthly payments of £12.50

Knitweaving a Wall Hanging (Machine Knitting Workshop)

  • Course
  • 4 Lessons

In this one-hour workshop, join me as I design and knit a small wall hanging using knitweaving techniques from the weaving chapter of my book. You’ll see the piece take shape in real time as I talk through yarn choices, textures, and finishing techniques — including picot and scalloped hems plus videos talking through samples from the weaving chapter in my book T"exture & 3D Effects"

  • £75 or 4 monthly payments of £18.75

Machine knit jumper course + pattern

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  • 5 files

Suitable for beginners in making garments, this machine knit jumper class will talk through all the techniques required to put together a crew neck jumper with drop sleeves using the knitting machine. It is essential that you have completed a beginner machine knitting workshop (either with me) or equivalent before beginning this workshop, you’ll need a basic understanding of machine knitting & shaping.

  • £80 or 4 monthly payments of £20

Machine knitting for beginners

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  • 6 files

During this workshop you will learn a variety of techniques such as; casting on/off colour changing (striping) lace holes & ladders manual tucks for texture punchcards for pattern- fairisle, weaving, hold, slip & tucking increasing & decreasing combining different yarns You will also learn how to solve and avoid common problems, useful tips for steaming & making tension squares.

  • £80 or 4 monthly payments of £20

Ribber attachment for beginners-machine knitting workshop

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  • 6 files

Suitable for beginners to the ribber attachment or those looking to refresh their skills, this workshop will give you a firm understanding of the basics in machine rib knitting and more creative ways to create fabrics. It is essential that you have either completed a beginner machine knitting workshop (with me) or equivalent before attending this workshop.

Why learn from me?

  • I have 17 years experience with knitting machines, learning at University whilst studying fashion and textiles.

  • Taught 100's of people both in person and during online workshops in machine knitting since 2016.

  • Taught a Masterclass, workshop and presented for the online Machine Knitting Community.

  • Author of "Machine knitting techniques: Texture & 3D Effects". Published in 2023 by The Crowood Press. I love showing what incredible things you can do with this machine.

  • I use my many years of experience & large collection of samples & garments to cover the basic techniques but expand them & give you lots of new ideas and the confidence in using them.

  • Over the past 8 years I've made and sold luxury knitwear products direct to customers and through several stockists. In 2020 I showcased & sold products in a pop-up with John Lewis in partnership with The Great British Exchange.

  • A first class BA (HONS) in fashion/textile design and was selected to show at Graduate Fashion Week in the Bristol and Gala show. My work has been exhibited as part of Shanghai Fashion week and as a finalist at the Knit and Stitch Graduate show where I was presented with an innovation award by the Craft Council.

Come and see what amazing things you can create with a knitting machine!

amber hards knitwear

What previous students have to say...

This is hands down the best online machine knitting class! Amber is so thorough with her explanations, she goes through the basics to get you started understanding how the machine works, how to set it up, and how the main techniques you’ll need work, but she also includes TONS of AMAZING inspiring samples that combine different techniques and yarn types and talks through how they’ve been made. This part of the course is SO inspiring and will go a long way in nudging your imagination. Absolutely recommend Amber’s classes, I’ll take any new one she puts out there!

Machine knitting for beginners

This workshop was so helpful in going through different techniques on the ribber as well as explaining the processes behind each one through a step- by step layout. The notes are great for referring to whilst knitting and really clear and easy to understand. I found this workshop to be so well thought out and communicated and it’s really helped me learn so much on the ribber. After going through all of the information that Amber has provided in this ribber workshop, I plan to finish the crew neck workshop as I really enjoy the way that this material has been laid out. Would definitely recommend!

Ribber for beginners

I would really recommend Amber’s machine knitting workshops. I learned so much in two well-structured and info-packed sessions. She is clear, thoughtful and thorough as well as being a complete expert and very inspirational. I came away feeling properly empowered to knit garments using the correct techniques and calculations.

Crew Neck Jumper

Want to learn even more machine knitting techniques?

You can order my book "Machine knitting techniques: Texture and 3D Effects" now.

For machine knitters with a few basics under their belt or for those with more experience, this book aims to inspire and spark new ideas whilst working with traditional methods. It offers plenty of inspiration and encourages you to explore and experiment with confidence to produce exciting, tactile knitwear.

It showcases the limitless possibilities of fabrics achievable with domestic knitting machines and demonstrates a variety of techniques, such as using yarns with different properties, the functions of the carriage and machine, and various ways of applying texture to the fabric.

Chapters are organised into seven different techniques, with step-by-step instructions and images detailing how each technique is created.

Considers yarn types, functions of the carriage and hand manipulation whilst on the machine.

Provides tips for working with highly textured or 3D fabrics, from avoiding mistakes and dropped stitches to working out tension squares.

Includes three full patterns, to practise working with the techniques on a larger scale