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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.

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Have you read?

The Bunny Sweater Knitting Pattern that’s Actually for Cats

I don’t often share knitting patterns for pets, mostly because I don’t think of it. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve never knit for my cats except a knit couch and a little cat bed I made on a knitting machine, both of which were pretty much ignored. 

I have shared some pet bed knitting patterns, and both hats and sweaters for dogs. 

But I don’t think I’ve shared a pattern for a cat sweater, until now. 

This one is the Bunny sweater by Sarah Zhou, so named because her cat is named Bunny, of course. 

It’s a made to measure pattern because cats come in all shapes and sizes, and you can also use any yarn you like and whatever gauge you are getting with that yarn. 

The design is knit from the bottom up, that is, from the tail side up toward the head. Pairs of decreases shape the body as you work toward the armholes, which are made by binding off a few stitches. Then the belly and the back are worked flat, then joined and worked in the round for the chest part. 

There are some design options in the pattern, from the look of the photos they include using a contrasting color for the edging, working a scalloped edging, maybe a foldover collar? But of course you can add your own embellishments, stripes, make it in team colors or for a Halloween costume. I’m sure they’re quick to knit so you can make a bunch if you have a cat who is willing to submit to such torture. 

Bunny looks like a very good and mostly tolerant girl; I don’t think either of my cats would be willing to wear a sweater. But if you make one (the pattern is available on Ravelry) and successfully get your cat to wear it I would love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah Zhou]

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