SilverKnit Pattern Control Box, USB, Cord, 100-240V Adapter +Bonus RKC1000E Emulator Software

SilverLink4 has been existing since 2002 and is a very stable product. Silverlink 5 is a later product (kind of copy of SL4) made by Softbyte in UK. Functionally for DAK is the same. Main differences: - SL4 is upgradable to SilverKnit, still keeping full SL4 functionality for DAK7/8. SL5 is not. - SL4: Communication with PC protected by robust protocol - SL4 has shielded connector for the curl cord to guarantee good Ground connection. SL5 has non-shielded connector. These are known for problems after frequent use. - Price is almost double for SilverLink5 ! More complete overview CB-2 software version 1.17,72 is available for free download here. Only for Brother KnitKing KH970, replaces the CB-1 Controller Box CB-2 is a completely different product. - SilverKnit is for Silver Reed knitting machines only -CB-2 is for Brother KH970 only (replaces the CB-1 controller box. With the new "program" feature you can combine multiple patterns into a new pattern with total freedom. You can select (a portion of) any of the designs you can access with the Browse function and position it anywhere on the target pattern. In case of repetitions, you can specify the first needle position or have CB-2 software position the design for you. A number of differences between CB-1 and CB-2. * more than 9 patterns can be programmed * patterns don't have to be aligned horizontally * all accessible patterns formats can be used KH910 patterns are included and also the Electronic Pattern Card patterns. With the program feature you can knit all Electronic Pattern Card patterns as shown in the pattern booklet. (CB-2, the replacement of CB-1) please visit Click here For more information on Control Box 2

where do I download the designs because I am in no way ready to make my own designs?
Maybe it is a good idea to consult Google anyway and the search string "silver reed machine knitting patterns download" Above search string will result in links to free download of pattern manuals and free download of stitch files for Brother and Silver Reed in one or more of the DesignaKnit formats.
SilverKnit supports both DesignaKnit stitch formats. [email protected]

{Q I am very interested in buying this (SilverKnit) for my Singer 580. I was wondering if it can communicate with the disks and patterns saved to the FB100 Emulator.
You can extract the patterns saved using FB100 Emulator into .PAT files.
SilverKnit Utility can load and knit .PAT files.
This way you can use all patterns you use on Brother machines. Jos

1. With which software - instead of DAK - can I create pattern that are 200 stiches wide and more than 500 rows high.

A: SilverKnit supports lots of file formats

You can even use Notepad to cerate a pattern that is 200 stitches wide and more than 500 rows high.

Not a very good user interface for that, but it is possible and free, so is MS Paint too.
2. How do I get the data to the silverknit. Is there an instruction how to operate the patterning software, how to create the control data and how to bring the file to silverknit? What kind of file is it?

A: On above page you find a link to the documentation. Patterning is done with external software, you download the file to the SilverKnit box; after that the SilverKnit box does the needle selection and the PC shows the progress.
3.Which parts do I need in total (silverknit, cable ...), where do I get a quotation?

A: On above page you also find a Where to buy section
4. What is exactly about the possibility to knit lace with the KM560, lace garriage and silverknit? No possibility?

A: You need the lace carriage 560LC; SilverKnit supports knitting of lace using symbols. You can use the DesignaKnit lace module, Stitch Painter, or even Notepad.

Obviously you can do your own separation and download a pattern with selects and not selects (black and white or bicolor if you like)
5. Are all other kinds of knitting like tuck, fairisle...supported?

A: That type of support is provided by the knitting machine. As stated earlier, you can knit a black and white pattern; the position of the dial determines what you knit.
6. Consideration/Proposal: A still existing border for me is a connected PC at my knitting machine. That needs
too much space....

A: The software is Windows software which runs for example on a Acer Windows 8 tablet. Conversion to Android is not a 5 minute job. We are considering wireless interfaces at the moment to accommodate tablets and other wireless PCs better.

With SilverKnit you have more functionality than you get from an EC1/PE1 combination.
You use SilverKnit in the place of the EC1 and PE1, hence replacement. You cannot connect a SilverKnit with an EC1.
Having mylars is not functionality required for knitting patterns.
Software and hardware exists to read mylars and store them on your computer.
And as far as Mores Code goes: with SilverKnit you can do the same as with a mylar: do the separation yourself using the graphics package of your choice. Jos Timmermans
This is exactly what I needed to know. I read the manual and in the lace it says for lace you must use DAK or Cochenelle as it translates it to what I call Mores Codes or use Word pad and do the code yourself. I read nothing about being able to to still use a mylar style graphic. If it is there I did not see it. Knowing this I have a program that I can scan these Mylars in with and turn them into a proper file type for Silverknit. I am now sold on the Silverknit system and will be looking to buy one very soon. Now I wish I hadn't shelled out for blank mylars. lol. Sounds like the perfect accessory for the 500's and 800's knitting machines. Robert

Q: Why should I buy SilverKnit?

A: SilverKnit is less expensive, but one shouldn't compare apples with pears.

In terms of knitting, SilverKnit is probably the stronger package.

In terms of design: SilverKnit doesn't have design functionality.

But... one of the reasons to develop SilverKnit was that users have design software other than
Design A Knit, but cannot knit because there was no package that supported electronic SilverReed machines other than Design A Knit.

Q: It is really nice to see someone developing software and hardware for our machines! I was beginning to think that they were a dieing breed.

A: Not really; we have developed recently the USB cables.

Q: I have a few questions about your new software and hardware package SilverKnit. First is do you plan on adding any other file formats. KnitWare and Garment Designer come to mind. I see that Stitch Painter is supported but isn't this a motif or stitch pattern designer only?
I'm informed that Garment Designer can export to Stitch Painter. You can indeed make your patterns with Stitch Painter.

A: SilverKnit is a package that can do knitting from stitch files. If there are any stitch formats not supported and the developer of the format is willing to share the format and/or I can work out the format, they will be added to the SilverKnit softare.
SilverKnit is not design software.

Q: Can one still use a garment pattern designed in Garment Designer with Stitch Painter somehow? If I'm not mistaken, they can be exported.

A: Naomi seems to be the expert in this field.


Q: Does the SilverKnit give me KFS like DAK, audio ques and so on?

A: While knitting, SilverKnit shows on screen what you're knitting (what you see is what you knit). There is not such a thing as shaping.On the other hand, SilverKnit maintains the carriage position, point cam position, row counter, contrast color.

Q: Will it convert a pattern it does not support?

A: II it would convert, they would be supported, so answer: no.

Q: Does SilverKnit read Lace files?

A: On can develop lace in multiple ways. technically speaking, lace is nothing else than fairisle. I know various DAK6 users who knit lace patterns, so not sure what the right answer is here.

Q: Do you have a complete feature list, something that explains all that can be done using SilverKnit.

A: SilverKnit has 2 basic functions:
1. download a pattern to the SilverKnit box after applying variations
2. knit the pattern downloaded to the SilverKnit box
You can consider SilverKnit as a replacement of the EC1/PE1 combination with more functionality.

Q: Would the curl cord of an SK830 be enough?

A: Yes any curl cord will do.

Q: So, all things considered, this would be cheaper than DAK and the SL4?

A: Correct. SilverKnit is cheaper than DAK + SL4; SilverKnit is also cheaper than the PC10. And... you can use more or less any program to develop your patterns. SilverKnit works with Stitch Painter from Cochenille for example.

Q: If I understand well, with the SilverKnit you don't need DAK but how about the cable?

A: The SilverKnit package includes the grey SilverKnit box, power supply and USB cable + software
(SilverKnit Utility) to operate the SilverKnit box. A curl cord is not standard included. SK5xx and EC1
users have one already. You are right, SilverKnit Utility does the knitting. You can create patterns in
any format supported by SilverKnit Utility including Microsoft Paint.

Q: What do you mean exactly by "The SilverKnit software can be upgraded to DK7 using SilverKnit hardware."?

A: If a user buys SilverKnit and decides later on he or she wants to use DK7, he or she doesn't have to buy an SL4; there will be made available an upgrade path in DK7 to use the SilverKnit box.


In [email protected], "northtipton" wrote:
If I may state the obvious (at least to many of you), I want to
make sure I understand what SilverKnit is. I looked at some of the
screen shots with the designs having a .pat file association. But
I also see that the program has a control (?) box and cables.
Could this program be used solely, through the EC-1 cable, to
design patterns and knit those patterns interactively?
SilverKnit is a package: A SilverKnit box and a program to drive the SilverKnit box: SilverKnit Utility.
Together they replace the EC1 and PE1.
The SilverKnit box is a superset of the Silverlink 4.
SilverKnit Utility enables you to knit almost any knitting pattern on an electronic Silver Reed/Studio/Knitmaster/Singer machine.
To give you a simple example: one can design a lace pattern in Stitch Painter from Cochenille.
One of the main reason for developing SilverKnit is to create a package for those users who want to knit patterns on a Silver Reed machine, but don't want DesignaKnit for that purpose, but a package with the fucntionality of an EC1 (+PE1) using the features of a PC.
One could argue that the PC10 is such a package, but the PC10 lacks the user interface capablities a PC can offer like a large screen where you can see lots of stitches instead of a tiny screen.
I can give multiple more advantages of having a PC, which you can probably dream up yourself too.

I do recall when the EC-1 and PE-1 were available and were
interactive with DesignaKnit. Am I reading the information
correctly that the cables for SilverKnit could be used instead of
the current DAK SilverLink cables?
Very close. The connectivity function of the SilverKnit can completely replace the Silverlink 4. The only function not taken over from DesignaKnit is shaping instructions. For the rest, the SilverKnit package supports a lot more file formats (10+), does not suffer from problems with large pattern download, or carriage moving wrong direction other than user error. There are also more variations possible which can be applied during download of the pattern to the SilverKnit box.

I, for one, do not enjoy working with mylar sheets, so that is
already a major plus for me with this SilverKnit program.
Mylars are no longer required and you can develop your own patterns with simple tools like Notepad or Paint.

All mylars that come with the EC1 or a machine are provided in electronic form with SilverKnit Utility.

And... one of the stronger points of SilverKnit is that the features of the package are determined by the users. There are some limitations due to development choices, but suggestions from users are always very welcome and will be implemented if feasable. Jos.

Hello Erica

Like you I have an SK860
I have EC1 and a curly cord.

I also spent ages trying to figure out what was what, and this is what I did.

I bought the silverknit package, nothing else. You get a silver box, a lead to connect to your computer from the box, and a disc with the computer programme on, and a lead to plug the silver box into the electricity power supply.

You leave the curly cord in your knitting machine carriage. You put the other part of it (that went into your EC1) into the silver Knit box, pushing it in firmly.

In the SilverKnit software, there is a big folder full of all the designs that you get on the mylar sheets with the EC1, and quite a lot of others too. They get loaded into a folder called my Designs, which parks itself in your own computer's file called My Documents.

After you have installed the disc you open up the program called silver knit utility on your computer, and you are ready to knit (you have to spend some time reading and understanding the instructions, because it is a little bit different from using the EC1. you still have two point cams, but you don't use a needle 1 cam)

Next thing, you want to make your own designs, or buy them, instead of using a Mylar sheet. You do that on your computer in various different ways. you can use Paint, or GIMP or Win Crea or Knit Pat, which are all available for free via the internet. You then fill in dots on a screen, save them, and knit from them.

What kind of knitting you do depends on how you set your carriage - so if you want tuck stitch, you set your carriage to tuck, you also use the "negative" setting, just like you do on the EC1 when you put the right light on button 1. Same with slip, or fairisle. the double jacquard, if you do that with your ribber, you use the settings "Fairisle Rib" and Double Bed on the silverknit software screen.

since I got the Silver knit package nearly 2 weeks ago I have not used my EC1 anymore. I have made quite a few patterns myself, in Paint, and also found that you can buy other people's patterns if they sell them in Designa Knit format (.pat) and open them in silverKnit, but you can't edit them, just knit from them.

I hope that answers your questions, but I will be happy to tell you more - i am still learning myself though. I don't have Designa Knit, as i don't want to make my own designs for garments, but i wanted an alternative to filling in mylar sheets, and this silverKnit system is great for that.

Best Wishes

Mannie