Electronic Machine, without electronics?

So what if you are missing that seemingly small piece the power cord? Well all is not lost. An electronic knitting machine will work without the power but all of those really nifty features like color changing and pattern knitting and such will have to be done manually or not at all. As you will soon find out when working with your knitting machine, if you can't do the fancy stuff you might just be better off buying some fabric and sewing whatever it is you are going to knit.

So you need the power cord and you don't have one, now what? Well if you are rich then just putter on over to Ebay and find yourself a replacement. If however you, like me are using a 20+ year old machine for a reason then I have a solution that will cost you a lot less than the $30 replacement. This cord will likely only work with Brother KH-930e machines (or machines that share the same cord).

You will need:
2 Pairs of Pliers
1 2 Prong Extension Cord
2 .187 Female Quick Disconnect Terminals
1 Long piece of heat shrink tubing
1 Electrical Stripper/Crimper
1 Heat Gun

If you do any home improvement/repair projects you probably have the pliers, electrical stripper/crimper, and heat gun already. If you don't they are probably good investments although you might try a hair dryer to replace the heat gun if you are going for cheap. The extension cord and quick disconnects you should be able to find at the local hardware store they should each cost about $3. A package of heat shrink tubing should also be at your local hardware store and shouldn't set you back that much.

Once you have all your materials take your extension cord and cut off the end where you plug things in. Split and strip the wire (far enough down to attach the quick disconnects and not much further) and slip the heat shrink tubing (large enough to fit over the ends of your quick disconnects) over the wire and slide it down below the stripped part of the wire. Take the quick disconnects and bend the curled parts outward so you have sort of a rectangular slot that fits tightly over the prongs of your knitting machine (found on the right side of your machine). Now take your newly configured quick disconnects and put them on the end of your newly stripped wire. Crimp your quick disconnects on to your wire, slide the heat shrink up to cover the connection between the quick disconnect and the wire and shrink it with the heat gun. Fit the quick disconnects around both prongs of your knitting machine plug then plug it in to the outlet.

Congratulations you have just made a knitting machine cord for less than $10!