I made a knit outfit on an old White rotary with no reverse so I know it's possible with a treadle.

Don't stretch the fabric..period. The key is a ball point needle, lighten the presser foot pressure a bit, use about a 3 length or bit shorter for stitch length and pin as needed...treadles sew over dressmaker pins like troupers.

If the knits are not very stretchy, it works well.

I did a lot of medium-weight knits on my old Featherweight, by using light tension and a ball-point needle.

thanks for the advice. I've stuck y'all in the manual. Now I need to reteach myself how to do bound button holes. It's amazing how creative you can get to avoid sewing them.

beth

I've been sewing knits for years and never use a zigzag stitch - just don't stretch the fabric, use a ballpoint needle and good quality polyester thread. Polyester has a little stretch in it that cotton thread does not.