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If you’re shopping for a circular knitting machine, you may wonder which brand is better, Sentro v Addi. There’s not a simple answer to that question, but let’s look at the pros and cons of each to find the best circular knitting machine for your needs.
All About the Sentro Circular Knitting Machine
I think the Sentro is the circular knitting machine that most people start with. This entry-level set of machines comes in a variety of sizes for different projects and is more affordable than the Addi machines. (There are other machines like the Sentro with different names, but Sentro is the most popular.)
Sentro knitting machines come in three sizes:
- 22 needles: this small machine is good for socks, skinny scarves, headbands and home accessories like pumpkins and Christmas balls. It has little ears that are purely decorative.
- 40 needles: the 40 pin is my favorite size for scarves (loop scarves in particular), and they’re also good for toys, wide headbands and other projects.
- 48 needles: this one is the classic size for knit hats, and you can make wider scarves with this machine. While of course you can use any size machine to make flat panels, I like the bigger machines for this purpose because you have a lot of options as to the size of your panel.
Sentro knitting machines are plastic and don’t feel very heavy duty. They were originally made for kids and are almost like toys, so they’re a great way to get kids into knitting without a lot of cost.
The cost is probably the biggest thing in favor of the Sentro in the battle of Sentro v Addi. The most expensive Sentro is around $50. The 48 needle machines include row counters, and both the 40 and 48 come with helpful accessories like suction cups for sticking the machine to a surface (which I immediately lost), a circular knitting needle, sewing needles and a crochet hook.
Some packages may also include a small screwdriver, an additional yarn tensioner or other accessories. They all come with a bit of practice yarn.
Addi Circular Knitting Machines
The first thing you’ll notice when shopping for an Addi circular knitting machine is the price. That may be as far as some people need to go when considering Sentro v Addi because the Addi machines are a lot more expensive.
Addi circular knitting machines come in two main sizes: the 22 pin and the 46 pin, known as the King Size. Check out my unboxing of the Addi:
These machines are much heavier than the Sentros, and while they come with clamps to attach them to a table I’ve never needed to use them. (The feet are a little grippy and the machine is just heavier, too.) These machines come with a sewing needle and a few extra needles.
I have a King Size and it also included a couple of stoppers for use in knitting flat panels. Both sizes of Addi machines have a built in row counter.
Sentro v Addi: What’s the Best Circular Knitting Machine?
Of course there are a lot of considerations when it comes to Sentro v Addi and picking the best machine for you. If cost is a big factor, you can buy all three sizes of Sentros for less than the cost of the King Size Addi. These machines are almost always on sale on Amazon or from other retailers, so if you just want to try one out they’re a fine place to start.
If you want machines of various sizes, the Sentro is a good choice, or you can get the smaller Sentro and a larger Addi.
Performance-wise, I feel like the Sentro is a little less reliable than the Addi. I feel like there are yarns I have more problems with on the Sentro (see my favorite yarns for the Sentro here) that work better on the Addi. Projects feel like they go faster on the Addi because I don’t have to keep as close an eye on it for tucked or dropped stitches.
If you’re getting a circular knitting machine because you want to make products to sell, or you know you’ll use it a lot for charity projects or other things, investing in an Addi will make your process smoother. If you’ve had a Sentro but would like a machine that feels a bit more heavy duty, I do think an Addi is worth it.
I started with a Sentro 40, then got a 22 because I wanted to play with that size (and wasn’t sure the Addi was worth it for the smaller size). Then I saved up to get an Addi King Size so that I would be able to show patterns using the different brands.
If I’m making large things I’m much more likely to grab the Addi than the Sentro, but I do try to use both of them and they’re really both fine. It just feels like it takes more time and attention to make things with the Sentro and I enjoy using the Addi more.
So what the best circular knitting machine for you? Have you tried both and have a strong opinion? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
4 Comments
Other than cost you don’t really give thorough comparisons of the two brands. I am interested in the best yarns for each machine. The best fiber as well as the best weight. Also, the maintenance on both. I have heard the Sentro needs more maintenance being that it is a cheaper made machine. I am looking for people to explain their experience and for those who have success with the Sentro, what they do to keep it running smoothly.
I have another post on yarn (https://www.ourdailycraft.com/2024/01/08/best-yarns-for-sentro/) which is more about the Sentro but the same generally applies to the addi as well. You use weight 3 or 4 yarn in either machine (that’s DK or worsted weight). I haven’t had to do maintenance on any of my machines, though I did break the tensioner on my sentro (I don’t really use it anyway so it’s fine).
I have the Sentro 40, Sentro 48, and Sentro 22. I am considering purchasing an Addi because I have found the Sentro machines to be quite troublesome and unreliable.
You can start a project thinking you are using the ideal yarn, only to have the machine suddenly begin dropping stitches, seizing up, or making loud popping sounds when you turn the handle. Before you know it, you can spend a significant amount of money on replacement parts and repairs just to get the machine working again.
When you add up the cost of all those parts, it makes more sense to invest in a machine that is more reliable—assuming such a machine exists. At this point, I am honestly beginning to think it might be easier and less frustrating to learn how to knit by hand!
I love knitting by hand, too, and it’s not really that hard to learn. But I think there’s a use for both — I make things with my machines that I wouldn’t make knitting by hand. And while I do use my Sentro 22 for certain things I almost always reach for my Addi when I need a bigger machine.