…I am currently testing this machine… Come back for more information and videos of this machine.

Studio SK301 knitting machine was released onto the market in 1964. It is a standard-gauge knitting machine with 200 needles and a turn-knob-controlled needle selection mechanism to knit patterns.

Studio SK301 is a Western-market clone of the Silver SK301 knitting machine (which was made for the Japanese markets only judging by all Japanese writing on Silver SK301). It also has very similar features as Singer 666 (except for the color).

Models SK301 (Studio SK301 and Silver SK301) were the first knitting machines with this novel turn-knob technology for automatic needle selection. It is somewhat similar to the Brother’s push-button machines, although it seems that the turn-knob machines offer a bit more diversity in needle selection while Brother’s push-button machines offer a bit more straightforward (and more visual, in my opinion) approach in needle selection.

It can be matched with a Studio SR301 ribber (which is very rare). The machine also comes with pattern cards, which show turn-knob positions and position changes to knit patterns.

If your machine did not come with these cards, their PDFs (scanned from the original copies) can be found online for free (the same website that posts all the manual – sorry, I get penalized by my website if I post too many external links).

These cards are very easy to read: they clearly show the positions of all three turn-knobs.

Other very similar turn-knob knitting machines are Silver SK301, SK302, SK303, and SK305, as well as Singer 666, and 888 in addition to Studio SK303.

There are a couple of differences between Studio SK301 and its younger sister Studio SK303 (besides the color scheme).

Some turn knobs are of a different shape: more like round radio knobs rather than lever-like turn knobs.

The dial indicator (with different combinations of needle selections depending on which knobs are turned to which position) is on the right-hand side of Studio SK301, while it is on the left-hand side of Studio SK303.

Studio SK301 has both carriage buttons 1 and 2 marked as “tuck” while on the Studio SK303 carriage, “tuck” is only under the left and right carriage buttons marked as “1”. The “off” wording is also a bit more down on the Studio SK301 carriage. Definitely, the engineers improved the design of this model after their initial launch of this new technology.

Both models have a vintage look (e.g., with the boxy and squarish needle bed case, and slip-on row counter). However, the 3-thread tension mast was only supplied with the SK301 models and not with later turn-knob knitting machine models.

I also like a very distinct carriage handle shape – slightly slented probably for ergonomic reasons. This handle is advanced for vintage machines: it folds when the carriage is not in use.

However, the Studio SK301 model still has metal end-caps, while on Studio SK303 they are already plastic.