knitting design

More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Sleeves

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Here is an excellent and extensive article about armhole shaping and sleeve styles.  It doesn’t use the top-down method for set-in sleeves, but if you’ve been wondering about drafting a sleeve, plus drop-shoulder and modified drop shoulder (and raglan and everything else), check out this article from Knitty.com.


How to Knit a Child’s Sweater

Friday, June 11th, 2010

I just got a question from a knitter who said she didn’t have a circular needle (only straight, single-points), and wants to knit a sweater for her young daughter.

There are a couple of things she will do differently:

  • The sweater body is worked flat, with the front and back in two separate pieces that are seamed together in final assembly. An extra stitch must be added to each side seam as selvage stitches. They will become the seam allowance and lie inside the sweater.
  • No shoulder shaping is required–the shoulders can be knit straight across. Neck shaping is still needed, though.
  • Sleeves are drop-shoulder. That means no armhole shaping.
  • After shoulders are seamed, but BEFORE you sew the side seams, pick up stitches for the sleeves along the straight seam in the armhole area and knit the sleeve top down–no short rows.
  • Seam the side seams and sleeve seams, and you’re done except for neckline finishing.

Are you getting the picture here? Knitting a child’s sweater is like knitting two dishcloths, sewing them together and adding sleeves.


Check Out This Buttonhole…

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

I tend not to post any videos but my own, but this video on the tulip buttonhole from Interweave knits is not to be missed. If you’ve tried making a decent buttonhole, you’ll see the value in this immediately. It looks like a little trouble, but the result is so worth it.


Ahem…Slight Correction.

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

OK, here’s the correct Measurement Form. Use this form to record your measurements before you launch on your sweater design project.


Next Up on the Needles

Friday, January 8th, 2010

One of my New Year’s resolutions (OK, my only one) is to buy no new yarn until I’ve finished at least a couple more projects. Or more fabric for that matter–I’m also a quilter, and actual sewing has slowed to the point where I now refer to myself as a mere fabric collector.

cardigan sweater

Avocet B by Berroco

Anyway, holding off on buying yarn doesn’t mean I can’t dream. Came across this wonderful, free Berroco pattern, Avocet B, on their website, which will be perfect for some Berroco Ultra Alpaca I already have in a wonderful heathery green. But can I resist the urge to tweak this pattern? I’ll definitely be adjusting for fit, and probably be knitting it as a seamless, one-piece sweater. There’s plenty of time, as there are at least two projects on the needles ahead of it.


You Saw the Videos, Now Read the E-Book!

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Production on my videos is scheduled to resume this month, but in the meantime you can peek ahead to the exciting conclusion. The entire sweater design process is now available in an e-book at www.KnitSweaterPattern.com. I’ve called it “Easy Knitting Design: The Basic Sweater.” You can view the Table of Contents.

Book cover: "Easy Knitting Design--The Basic Sweater"

The e-book is now available!

If you’ve been trying to take notes while watching my videos, you can stop now–I’ve done it all for you. I’ve included illustrations, thorough step-by-step instructions, and photos of the actual knitting, along with an additional section of illustrated Techniques. I walk you through the design and knitting of a pullover sweater, followed by a section on knitting cardigans. I also include a guide that walks you through the design of your own sweater. You have everything you need to create a wardrobe of original sweater designs.

Once at the site, you can read my (long, but thrilling!) sales letter, or jump right to the PayPal button at the bottom. I’ve brought the book out at an introductory price of $24–I hope you’ll take advantage of it. I also hope you’ll give me your feedback–my goal is to give you tools you can use.


And We Finish the V-Neck–Part 3

Friday, October 16th, 2009

We’ll do the actual knitting on Niki’s V-neck.


Keep Working–Part 2 of the V-Neck

Friday, October 16th, 2009


Let’s Move on to the V-Neck

Friday, October 16th, 2009

We switch to the front and start knitting a V-neck. This is Part 1 of 3. We’ll return to the sweater back after we’ve finished the front.


Keep Knitting!

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Here is part 2 of Knitting the Sweater Body. I show you the actual knitting on Niki’s sweater.


 

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Easy Kniting Design: The Basic Sweater
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