The Silver Reed SK840 is one of those machines that keeps resurfacing in knitting forums, online marketplaces, and conversations between hobbyists who are ready to move beyond hand knitting. For crocheters and amigurumi makers who follow Crochet Craze, the appeal is easy to understand: a punch-card-free electronic machine with a 24-stitch built-in pattern memory and the ability to design your own stitch structures. But “electronic knitting machine” is a serious investment, and the reviews are scattered across decades, so it’s worth pulling the picture together.
This guide compiles what experienced users, machine-knitting communities, and long-term owners say about the Silver Reed SK840 as of 2026 — its strengths, its quirks, what you need to run it, and whether it makes sense for someone whose main craft is amigurumi.
What the Silver Reed SK840 Actually Is
The SK840 is a standard-gauge (4.5mm) electronic flat-bed knitting machine manufactured by Silver Reed, a Japanese company with a long history in the craft market. It’s part of the same family as the SK830, SK860, and SK280, and it’s often sold as a bundle with a ribber, a knit leader, and a lace carriage.
The headline feature is that the SK840 replaces mechanical punch cards with electronic memory. Instead of feeding a plastic card through a reader, you select a pattern from the machine’s internal memory or build your own in the companion design software. That single change is what makes the machine attractive to anyone who wants complex colorwork, tuck, slip, and weaving patterns without hunting down rare punch cards.
Key specs owners consistently mention:
- Needle count: 200 needles in a 4.5mm standard gauge bed
- Pattern memory: built-in electronic patterns, expandable via design software
- Carriage function: supports knit, tuck, slip, weave, and fair isle
- Ribber compatibility: pairs with the SRP60N ribber for true ribbing and circular work
- Power: mains-powered with a control panel and pattern selector
By 2026 standards this is a mature, well-documented machine. It’s no longer in active production, which shapes everything about how you should evaluate it.
How the SK840 Performs in Real Use
Reviews from long-term users tend to cluster around a few consistent themes.
Pattern versatility is the standout strength
Owners who knit garments, lace shawls, and fair isle sweaters almost universally praise the pattern range. Because the machine reads patterns electronically, you can do two-color fair isle with long floats, complex tuck textures, and lace-like transfers without the card-feeding ritual that slows down punch-card machines. Users who came from a mechanical Silver Reed often describe the SK840 as a genuine step up in speed and flexibility.
The learning curve is real
This is not a “unbox and knit a sweater” machine. Practically every experienced review warns that you’ll spend the first several sessions learning cast-on methods, weight management, and how the carriage behaves at the edges. Standard-gauge machines drop stitches if the work isn’t weighted properly, and the SK840 is no exception. The common advice is to start with waste yarn, a simple stockinette swatch, and a lot of patience.
It’s mechanically robust but not indestructible
Silver Reed built these machines to last. Provided the sponge bar (the foam strip that holds needles in place) is replaced when it deteriorates — a consumable part that crumbles with age — the SK840 tends to keep running for decades. Most “it stopped working” complaints in reviews trace back to a worn sponge bar, a bent needle, or a carriage that needs cleaning and re-lubrication rather than a fatal electronic failure.
The electronics are the risk factor
Here’s the honest caveat that shows up in nearly every serious review: the SK840’s control board and pattern electronics are not user-serviceable in the way a purely mechanical machine is. If a chip or motherboard fails, repair options in 2026 are limited to specialist technicians and cannibalized parts. That doesn’t mean the machine is unreliable — most units run fine — but it does mean you’re buying a piece of vintage electronics, and you should budget accordingly.
Silver Reed SK840 vs. Its Relatives
Buyers often compare the SK840 to the SK280 (mechanical punch card) and the SK860 (electronic, with slightly different pattern capacity). The practical summary:
- SK840 vs. SK280: The SK280 uses punch cards and is cheaper, simpler, and easier to repair. The SK840 wins on pattern complexity and design freedom, but loses on serviceability.
- SK840 vs. SK860: Both are electronic; the SK860 offers a different pattern memory and sometimes a higher price on the used market. For most home knitters the difference is marginal, and condition matters far more than model number.
- SK840 + ribber: Nearly everyone who owns a ribber says it transforms the machine, unlocking ribbing, circular knitting, and far better garment finishing. If you can find a bundle with the SRP60N, that’s usually the better buy.
Setup, Software, and Accessories You’ll Want
The SK840 needs more than a power outlet. Before you buy, plan for:
- A sturdy table or stand — the machine, ribber, and carriage are heavy, and vibration ruins tension.
- Yarn that behaves — smooth, consistent, cone-wound or fingering-to-sport weight yarns feed best. Fuzzy or novelty yarns snag and jam.
- Design software — pattern design on the SK840 leans on external software for custom work, so factor that into your workflow.
- A sponge bar replacement — buy one before you need it. It’s inexpensive insurance.
- Spare needles — latched needles bend. Having a small reserve saves a lot of frustration.
Community knowledge matters here too. Machine-knitting groups, video tutorials, and the manual itself are your real support network, because there’s no manufacturer hotline for a machine this age. Treating it like a professional knitting machine means respecting its maintenance schedule and understanding its limits.
Is the SK840 Right for an Amigurumi Maker?
This is the question Crochet Craze readers ask most, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you want.
The SK840 is a garment and flat-panel machine. It knits flat pieces, not seamless three-dimensional toys. It won’t crochet in the round, it won’t produce a magic ring, and it won’t give you the tight, structured fabric that makes amigurumi hold its shape. If your goal is to churn out stuffed animals faster, a knitting machine is the wrong tool.
Where the SK840 does earn its place is in the supporting work around your crochet practice:
- Blankets and afghan panels that become backdrops for amigurumi collections
- Bags and pouches to package and gift your finished plushies
- Scarves and hats to sell alongside your crochet items at markets
- Sweaters and cardigans for the humans who love your amigurumi
Many crafters who run a small handmade business use a machine like the SK840 to produce the easy, repetitive items at speed, freeing up hand-crochet time for the detailed amigurumi work that actually commands a premium. That’s a smart division of labor, and it’s why machine knitters and crocheters so often overlap.
If you’d rather keep everything in the crochet world, that’s completely reasonable — and Crochet Craze’s pattern library is built for exactly that. But if you want to expand what you sell or gift, the SK840 is a capable second tool.
Pricing, Condition, and Buying Tips in 2026
Because the SK840 is discontinued, prices vary wildly based on condition and included accessories. A working machine with a ribber, carriage, and accessories typically sells for considerably more than a bare carriage-less unit, and “sold as is” listings are common.
Buying advice that experienced owners repeat:
- Ask for a video of the carriage moving across the bed and the pattern selector cycling. Photos hide dropped needles and dead electronics.
- Check the sponge bar — if it’s crumbling, factor in a replacement.
- Confirm the power supply and control panel work. This is the part you can’t easily fix.
- Prefer complete bundles over piecing a set together later; individual accessories are scarce and pricey.
- Buy locally if you can. Shipping a flat-bed machine is risky, and inspecting it in person is worth a lot.
Conclusion
The Silver Reed SK840 earns its reputation as one of the better electronic knitting machines of its era. Reviews consistently praise its pattern flexibility, its durability when maintained, and the depth it adds to a home knitting setup. The trade-offs are equally clear: a steep learning curve, a dependency on external software for custom designs, and vintage electronics that can be hard to repair.
For crocheters and amigurumi makers, the SK840 is best understood as a companion tool rather than a replacement for your hook. Use it to knit the blankets, bags, and garments that surround your handmade plushies, and keep your hand-crochet time for the detailed work that makes amigurumi special. If you’re ready to explore patterns, tutorials, and a supportive community for your crochet side, Crochet Craze has thousands of amigurumi PDFs and guides to keep your hooks busy while the knitting machine hums in the background.
