The Silver Reed LK150 is a good first knitting machine if you want to knit stockinette panels in sport, DK or worsted yarn much faster than by hand. It’s a hand-driven flat-bed machine with 150 needles at 6.5 mm spacing, light enough to move around the house, and it sold for $650 to $700 at a U.S. dealer on October 3, 2026. Skip it if you want automatic ribbing or patterning: those are done by hand on this machine or with optional carriages.
One correction first: the LK150 is not a Brother machine. It’s made by Silver Reed and sold in the UK under the Silver brand. Searches for “Brother LK150” usually mean this machine.
Key specs
| Spec | Silver Reed LK150 |
|---|---|
| Type | Hand-driven flat-bed knitting machine |
| Gauge (needle spacing) | 6.5 mm (mid-gauge) |
| Needles | 150 |
| Yarn range | Sport, DK and worsted (U.S. dealer); DK, worsted/aran and some chunky (UK distributor) |
| Stitch work | Stockinette; tuck and slip stitches set manually; ribbing by hand manipulation; intarsia with optional carriage |
| Weight | 6 kg (about 13 lb) |
| Warranty | 3-month limited (U.S. dealer listings) |
| Price band | $650 to $700 at Fuzzy Goat (U.S.); £450 to £500 at Silver Sewing Machines (UK) |
Sources: Silver Sewing Machines LK150 page and the Fuzzy Goat LK150 listing .
What it does well
Fast plain knitting at a common gauge. A 6.5 mm needle spacing suits the yarns most hand knitters already buy. Fuzzy Goat describes using it to machine-knit the plain parts of a sweater and hand-knit the more interesting sections, such as a yoke.
Full-width panels. With all 150 needles in use, you can knit wide panels for adult garments, according to the UK distributor.
Portable and simple. The distributor lists a weight of 6 kg and describes roller-capped latch needles for smooth, quiet operation. There are no electronics or punch cards to set up.
A complete starter box. Fuzzy Goat lists the tension mast, main bed carriage, row counter, table clamps, latch tools, transfer tools, cast-on combs, weights, tapestry needle, gauge scale and instruction book as included.
Limits to know before buying
- Ribbing is manual. Silver lists ribbing as hand manipulated. There is no built-in ribber.
- Patterning is manual. Tuck and slip stitches are set by hand. Fuzzy Goat lists “manual pattern selection,” so there’s no punch card or electronic patterning.
- Intarsia needs an optional carriage (Silver’s AG11 intarsia carriage, sold separately).
- Yarn choice matters. Angelika’s Yarn Store, a long-time LK150 dealer, warns against pure cotton, rayon and silk on this machine because these inelastic fibers strain the needles, and recommends wool, acrylic and blends. It also notes problems with low-quality worsted yarns.
- Short warranty and strict return terms. Both U.S. dealers checked list a 3-month warranty for manufacturing defects, and both say no returns or exchanges on knitting machines.
- You still finish by hand. The machine knits flat panels. Shaping, seaming and finishing are still your job.
Buying on Amazon: check the seller
On October 3, 2026, the Amazon listings using the LK150 name were sold by third-party marketplace sellers, not by Amazon or Silver Reed. Some titles describe the machine as “automatic,” which doesn’t match the manual operation the distributor describes. If you buy there, confirm in writing that it’s a genuine Silver Reed LK150, what’s in the box, and who handles warranty claims. Search Amazon for the Silver Reed LK150 (Amazon search; results vary by seller).
Buying used
- Ask for photos of the full needle bed, the underside of the carriage, the clamps and the tension mast.
- Check for bent needles and damaged latches. Ask the seller to knit a few rows on video.
- Price any missing parts (weights, combs, transfer tools) before deciding a used machine is the better deal.
- Allow table space on both sides of the bed for the carriage to travel.
Verdict
Buy the LK150 if you want to machine-knit stockinette in common yarn weights and you’re happy to hand-manipulate ribs and patterns. It’s simple, portable and comes with the tools you need to start. Skip it if you want automatic patterning, mostly knit very fine or very bulky yarn, or need a long warranty and easy returns.
Sources
- Silver Sewing Machines (UK distributor): LK150 specifications, capabilities and price
- Silver Sewing Machines: LK150 instruction manual (PDF)
- Fuzzy Goat: LK150 listing with U.S. price, contents, yarn range and warranty
- Angelika’s Yarn Store: LK150 listing with yarn guidance and warranty terms
- Amazon search results for the LK150 , checked October 3, 2026
This review is desk research from the distributor’s specifications and dealer listings. Nobody used this machine for this page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the LK150 a Brother knitting machine?
No. The LK150 is made by Silver Reed and is sold in the UK under the Silver brand.
What yarn does the LK150 use?
It is a 6.5 mm mid-gauge machine. U.S. dealer Fuzzy Goat lists sport, DK and worsted weight yarns, and the UK distributor says DK, worsted/aran and some chunky yarns.
Does the LK150 knit ribbing automatically?
No. The distributor lists ribbing as hand manipulated. There is no built-in ribber or punch-card patterning; tuck and slip stitches are set manually.