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Knitwear Design Workshop by Shirley Paden

October 2, 2010 by Terrye

More than just a workshop, this is a workbook!  400 pages!

Shirley starts with talking you through how to plan your design. Already have an idea in mind? Do your layouts, plan the different shapes your design can take. What kind of collar do you want? What kind of sleeves? Armhole shapings? Cardigan or pullover? A certain kind of neckband or collar? How do you want your design to lay? Or is it a skirt or dress? With book, you’ll learn all the tricks of the trade for designing with step-by-step instructions for using measurements, calculations, and schematics.

Augh! I give up! No, no, no! With this book, it’s easy. Shirley walks the walk and talks the talk right along with you and breaks it down step by step. Overwhelming you say? Nope, not with this workshop/workbook by your side. It’s easy to figure out exactly how to get that image from your brain, down onto paper with Shirley’s methods.

Then, once it’s on paper, the fun of choosing your yarns begins, and gauges, and how to knit your repeats, shaping… Again, it’s easy with this book.

After your original design is done, you still have to block it. But Shirley hasn’t left in that canoe without a paddle either. She’s got a whole chapter devoted to finishing techniques. From blocking, to shoulder seams, to necklines, armhole seams, side and sleeve seams, button holes and even zippers, this book shows you how. And then, just when you thought you couldn’t possibly fit any more information into a book, there’s an appendix section with abbreviations, a design process checklist, measurement charts, shaping formula variations and more.

If you’re a knitwear designer wanna-be, this is a MUST-HAVE book. Very much worth the money spent. And you can get it directly from Interweave Press, by clicking on this link!

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Next Pattern:

  • Book Review - Elemental Knits: A Perennial Knitwear…
  • Free Course for Aspiring Knitwear Designers
  • Book Review: Knitwear from Finland
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Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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