JUKI K 882 has 200 needles, 4.5 mm apart, which makes it a standard-gauge knitting machine.

The machine has eight pushbuttons which activate (i.e., push forward) the needles are when the ratchet tool is turned. The pushed-forward needles then help to form various stitches depending on the carriage settings.

This (as well as JUKI K881 and K883) machine is equipped with a “reversed” picker: a small carriage tucked in the lid when not in use. This mini-carriage reverses the selected needles. For example, you originally selected every two other needles to be pushed forward. With the reverse picker, you will move forward the six other needles and the original two will be pushed back into B-position.

Similarly to the JUKI K861 and K871 models, there is no need to memorize which buttons are responsible for bringing which needles because the schematics is posted right on the buttons themselves.

However, unlike JUKI K861 and JUKI K871, JUKI K-882 has four (not three) button on the top section of the carriage). The extra button is marked with two lines and is responsible for two-color fair isle and for slip-stitch patterns.

Another more advanced feature of JUKI K-882 in comparison with JUKI K861 and K871 is the pull-up levers that are used for “holding stitches” (refer to the manual, available online for free).

All other features are still vintage: screw-on carriage handle and S-shaped table clamps.

Other JUKI pushbutton knitting machines are JUKI K881 and K883. I have one of those machiens in my stash so stay tuned to know more after I get my hands on it. Can’t wait myself!