Tables & Crank-Ins

I needed a small table for using my sock machine in the RV during the winter, and also for bringing to crank-ins. The dining table in the trailer will not work because there is not a good place to attach the CSM, and also we need that surface for other things. Wayne said he would make me a sock machine table, as well as a small side table for the RV. He got started on the tables at home, but was not able to finish them before we had to leave for Arizona at the end of December.

We were able to get small pieces of wood for the table tops, leftover from my uncle’s recent new house construction project. The wood was milled from trees that had fallen down in our extended family “woodlot”.

I wanted the CSM table to be small for using in the RV and taking to crank-in’s, but big enough to be stable and hold a few work tools. The widest boards that my uncle had in his garage were 12″ wide. I might have wanted it a bit wider, but given what was available we went with that, and cut a piece 20″ long. Wayne also picked out a piece of wood for the RV side table.

When my cousin was in town, he made a cutout in the wood for the CSM table. This is helpful so that when the heavy sock machine is clamped on, the weight will be closer to the middle of the table, rather than hanging off the front. Following is a photo of the wood, with the cutout in the front.

I had ordered a set of adjustable height table legs online, but when they arrived we decided they were not right. I thought the table would be done before we left for Arizona. There was not enough time to get alternative legs, and our hardwood floor installation project used up a lot of time in December. On to plan B, completion of the table using the woodshop at the 55+ resort in Gold Canyon, Arizona.

We also needed a small side table to put between the matching RV recliner chairs in the RV, for setting down beverages and the TV remote. I had been keeping my eye out and had seen a few tables that might have worked, but Wayne had something very specific in mind. Last year, and the year before, he said he was going to make a table at the RV Resort woodshop, but it never happened. Now that he was committed to making my CSM table, it was the motivation he needed to make the RV end table.

Wayne worked on sanding and preparing the table tops on the patio area outside our RV in Arizona. He bought one and a half inch wide dowels for the legs, four for the CSM table, and three for the end table.

Following is version one of the sock machine table, after the legs were attached.

The end table is just the right size, although it is a little tippy. The chairs swivel, so it is easy to accidentally hit the table with one of the chairs. We have learned to be careful.

The floor in the RV is somewhat uneven. The CSM table was too wobbly and unstable with the legs going straight down, given the small size of the surface. I had to put some rags under the legs to make them all touch the floor. When I clamped the CSM on, there was too much weight on the front and it was going to tip over. We could see that this was not going to work. For the short term I bought some hand weights to set on the opposite side of the table to balance it out, while we figured out what adjustments to make.

Wayne ordered alternate hardware so the legs could be mounted at an angle, adding some stability. We also ordered rubber tips to put at the bottom of the legs. After putting on the new hardware and reattaching the legs, we attempted to put the rubber tips on. When trying to put the fourth tip on, the hardware attaching the leg to the table broke. Wayne put the old hardware back on that leg so it came straight down instead of at an angle. Following is a photo of version two of the table with the three angled legs and one straight leg, rubber tips, hand weights and a lamp. It looked funny but worked.

I have seen many unique versions of hand made sock machine tables, both in person and online. For the record, you can buy a specially designed CSM table for taking to crank-ins that is adjustable in height and folds, with legs in the style of an ironing board. I was starting to think I should have just bought one of those.

It is amazing how you can find your people that you did not even know existed a year ago. When I started thinking seriously about buying a circular sock machine, I researched online for information and resources. It turns out there is a ton of information, and people with sock machines who get together regularly to “crank” at “crank-ins”.

I found a Facebook group of crankers in Arizona. They share ideas and progress, and have crank-ins in Prescott, and sometimes in Tucson. I was surprised that there were no crank-ins in the Phoenix metro area. There was a crank-in scheduled near the end of January in Prescott, which is about two and a half hours north of Phoenix. Wayne, along with his sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Steve, agreed to drive up there with me.

On the day of the crank-in we hit rush house traffic at 7:30 am. The Phoenix metro is huge, spread out over a large geographic area. Gold Canyon is on the farthest eastern edge. After driving west for an hour, we were still in the metro area! It ended up taking 3 hours to get to Prescott.

Wayne, Marlene, and Steve, dropped me off, and then went hiking and to Jerome, while I was at the crank-in. Their brother is named Jerome, so there are always jokes about going to Jerome. Marlene bought a “Jerome” tee shirt for their brother. Following is a photo of me at the crank-in at my wobbly table with three angled legs and one straight leg.

Going to a crank-in involves taking the sock machine apart and bolting the parts into a special box, packing up the table and a bunch of stuff to bring, loading it all in the car, unloading it at the crank-in, setting the machine back up, then taking it all down, packing it up, etc, after the crank-in is over. The benefits of attending make it worth the trouble.

I have seen a photo of a large group of people associated with the Arizona crankers group. Only three other people attended this event, a married couple and another woman. The married couple each have their own sock machine. Interestingly, I am aware of several people who own two or three sock machines.

The people at this crank-in gave me some helpful information for more successful cranking, and I was able to get ideas for efficiently packing and transporting the necessary equipment and supplies.

I had arranged for a friend who lives in Prescott to pick me up at the end of the crank-in. We had a little time before meeting up with my group, so she took me to the local yarn shop that was only a short distance away. Fiber Creek LLC was huge and active and wonderful. As usual I was very inspired and of course I had to buy more sock yarn. There were sample socks knitted up in the following two yarns that I bought. The one of the left in the photo below is a cotton blend. Most sock yarn is wool with some nylon for strength, but it will be interesting to try the cotton yarn. We still had some time to visit at Wild Iris Coffeehouse, a fun quirky place nearby, before my friend dropped me off with Wayne and the others on the main drag in Prescott.

After the Prescott crank-in, and with the right parts, Wayne got four matching legs on the sock machine table all installed at an angle, with rubber tips at the bottom, and cup hooks underneath. Version three of the CSM table is shown below.

Having the two three pound hand weights hanging underneath the table adds plenty of counter weight, so the table is very stable, and gives me more space on the surface for supplies as I am working.

The table is not going to tip over, but it jiggles a little when I am cranking on the machine. It is not perfect, but it is serving the purpose for something portable and not too big to use in the RV. I may try to come up with something collapsible for taking to crank-ins after we are back home.

Given that no crank-ins were scheduled in Phoenix, I decided to organize one myself. First I posted on the Facebook group to get an idea if anyone would come. After receiving some positive responses, I scheduled a room to use in the activity building at the 55+ resort where we are staying. I figured that even if only one other person came, it would be worth it for me and I would not have to drive somewhere else.

Two people ended up coming. A couple of other people wanted to come but had conflicts. One of the people that came, Nicole, was a little less experienced than me, or about the same. She was grateful to get some help and have someone on hand to answer questions and provide assistance. The other gal, Sheila, was very experienced. I was glad to have her help in figuring out how to use the ribbing attachment on my machine. Both Sheila and Nicole own a different brand of metal circular sock machine, but they all work the same way. In the following photo the ribber attachment is on the top of my CSM.

The next photo shows the machine making knit 1 purl 1 ribbing stitches. It was amazing to watch.

Once I had cranked a length of practice ribbing, I started a sock with a ribbed cuff.

The following photos show the practice ribbing, and then the sock attached to the green ribbing.

Sheila had a clever combination CSM travel box and table.

Nicole completed cranking a pair of self striping socks. She had another style of table using a Black & Decker folding workbench for the base. Two people at the Prescott crank-in had tables like this.

I am generally a reserved person, being happy for hours by myself. At the crank-ins I am completely at home and immediately feel a rapport with the other attendees. My new friends and I pose with our projects below.

I need one of these shirts. Sheila said that they are not available any more. I know people who can do graphic art and a source for custom tee shirts, so maybe I will get some made.

I spent more time on my own with the ribber after the crank-in.

I was sad having to pack the sock machine up at the end of our time in Arizona, but also ready to go home. When we get back home I will be focusing on other things for a few weeks, including meeting our new granddaughter, expected around the beginning of April.