Finish-Free Knits: No-Sew Garments in Classic Styles

161 Pages·2012·54.554 MB·English

by  Kristen TenDyke

c
r
a
f
t
s

•

k
n
it
tin finish~
g
fi free
n
no sew, no sweat
i
s
h
Sew no more with 20 patterns that let you join as you go.
knits
~
Imagine knitting a beautiful sweater without the additional effort of sewing, seaming, f
and grafting. Think it’s impossible? Think again! r
Knitwear designer Kristen TenDyke will teach you how to turn your knitted dreams e
into a reality. While exploring twenty innovative designs, you will discover sew-free
e
solutions to frustrating obstacles such as mattress stitch and grafting.

Kristen applies her no-assembly-required technique to every aspect of knitting. k
Through clever planning and simple techniques, the projects in Finish-Free Knits
n
are shaped and assembled as they are knitted—without sacrificing the pockets,
buttonbands, shaped collars, and more that are often added to designs by sewing. In No-Sew
i
addition, learn how to shape and join sleeve caps into armholes with short-rows while
t
you knit instead of with a sewing needle after the knitting is complete. Garments
s
Once you learn these stress-free finishing techniques, you’re free to apply

variations of each method to projects beyond the book. With Finish-Free Knits, the in Classic
words “some assembly required” can be eliminated from your knitting.
K Styles
r
i
s
$24.95 / 12KN03 t
e
Knitwear and crochet designer and knitting technical editor Kristen TenDyke has n

had her designs appear in numerous books, including Weekend Hats, Knitting Green, T
e
and The Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters, as well as many fiber publica- n
D
tions. She recently launched Caterpillar Knits and is a former staff member of Classic
y
Elite Yarns. Kristen lives in Maine. k
e
Kristen
TenDyke
FFK CVR Mech.indd 1 7/30/12 4:12 PM
finish-free knits
No-Sew Garments in Classic Styles
KRISTEN TENDYKE
FFK 01-95.indd 1 7/25/12 11:37 AM
Editor Ann Budd
Technical Editor Therese Chynoweth
Photographer Joe Hancock
Photo Stylist Amy Pigliacampo
Hair and Makeup Jessica Shinyeda
Art Director Liz Quan
Interior Design Karla Baker
Illustration Gayle Ford
Production Katherine Jackson
© 2012 Kristen TenDyke
Photography © 2012 Joe Hancock
Illustrations © 2012 Interweave Press LLC
All rights reserved.
Interweave Press LLC
201 East Fourth Street
Loveland, CO 80537-5655 USA
Interweave.com
Printed in China by C & C Offset.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

TenDyke, Kristen.
Finish-free knits : no-sew garments in classic styles /
Kristen TenDyke.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-59668-488-1 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-62033-084-5 (eBook)
1. Knitting--Patterns. I. Title.
TT825.T423 2012
746.43’2--dc23
2012009824

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There is so much to be grateful for—so much time,
effort, loving energy, and care has gone into bringing
these pages into reality—it’s impossible to list it all
here.
I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to share
these projects with you—thankful that you’ve picked
up this book and found something worth knitting.
Without you, this book could not be here. So, firstly,
I thank you.
To those at Interweave: Ann Budd, Anne Merrow,
Mary KinCannon, and those I didn’t have the pleasure
of working with personally—this book couldn’t
have been created without your guidance, talents,
creativity, and time. Thank you.
To my knitters: Jessica Wright-Lichter, Kim
Haesemeyer, Cecily MacDonald, and Kim Barnette—
I’m so thankful for all the hard work and long hours
you spent creating these sweaters. Without you,
I would have probably lost my mind trying to find the
time to get it all done.
The endless support, enthusiasm, and love I’ve
received from my boyfriend, James; family; personal
friends; and my knitter friends online, was beyond
what I’d ever imagined. You all kept me moving
and excited about the unfolding of the process and
eager to see the book come into reality. I love you—
thank you!
And lastly but, certainly, never least, I thank my
dear mother, Diane—to whom I dedicate this book.
I bow.
Namasté
FFK 01-95.indd 3 7/25/12 11:37 AM
FFK 01-95.indd 4 7/25/12 11:38 AM
contents
INTRODUCTION 7
PROJECTS 8
Ease • TANK 8
Joy • LACE TUNIC 12
Harmony • DRESS 16
Bliss • TOP 24
Peace • TUNIC 30
Serenity • SHRUG 38
Unity • PULLOVER 44
Divine • VEST 50
Whisper • TUNIC 58
Hope • TOP 66
Honor • PULLOVER 74
Delight • PULLOVER 82
Calm • TEE 90
Balance • PULLOVER 96
Tranquility • TUNIC 102
Light • BOLERO 108
Grace • CARDI 116
Warmth • TOP 124
Trust • PULLOVER 132
Beauty • CARDI 140
GLOSSARY 148
SOURCES FOR YARNS 158
INDEX 159
FFK 01-95.indd 5 7/25/12 11:39 AM
FFK 01-95.indd 6 7/25/12 11:40 AM
introduction
My grandmother had a great love for sewing. As a child,
I admired the beautiful dolls and clothes she created.
Throughout my elementary school years, she tried to
teach me to sew many times, but I never did quite mas-
ter the art of cutting out pieces of fabric and sewing
I’ve known many knitters who limit themselves
them together, neither by hand nor machine. Every-
thing I made turned out wonky—sewn with gaps in the to hats, socks, and scarves because they’re
fabric, with uneven seams, or it simply didn’t fit. While
afraid or unwilling to sew pieces together.
the art of creating with fabric and thread wasn’t for
me, I did fall in love with the creation process—the pro-
cess of transforming something simple into something Contained within these pages are sweater patterns
unique and functional. The possibilities of what could for all levels of knitters. For the beginner, Ease (page 8)
be made by hand were endless. is a purl-free pattern that involves just knit stitches, a
Around the same time of my life, my mother taught few simple decreases, and a few buttonholes. In other
me to crochet, which was a creative medium that I did sweaters, there are easy-to-learn lace patterns that can
enjoy. As a child who had no clue how to read a pattern, be shaped without interrupting the stitch pattern; and
one of the things I loved about crocheting was being sweaters worked side-to-side or from the top down
able to work around and around in circles, trying it on that can be tried on along the way. The Serenity shrug
along the way, adding or subtracting stitches here and (page 38) begins with a cable panel in the center back
there, and ending up with something that fit with no and ends with sleeves picked up along the edges of the
sewing required. panel and worked to the cuffs. For the more advanced
When I learned to knit in my twenties, the first few knitter, a whole bunch of these patterns use interesting
sweaters I knitted from patterns were knitted in piec- techniques for shaping sleeve caps and pockets. Above
es—many of those pieces remain unsewn to this day. all, every design is worked seamlessly—no sewing is re-
And the garments that I did seam were far from perfect. quired. Each is completely constructed and shaped on
As I learned more about the construction of a sweater the knitting needles; when the last stitch is bound off,
and began designing, I began to draw upon the things you’re done!
I loved about crochet—working around and around, If you come across a technique that seems unfamiliar,
adding or subtracting stitches here and there, and end- I encourage you to give it a try. All the information you
ing up with something that didn’t need seaming. need to knit every garment in this book is included
While developing the designs for this book I focused within these pages—either in the tips, stitch guides, or
on sweaters that I would enjoy knitting and wearing. Glossary. Even if a particular pattern doesn’t specifically
They represent a variety of comfortable-casual designs, point you to the Glossary, I encourage you go take a
shaped and sized to fit a wide range of body shapes. look. In it, you’ll find general information about picking
Their names conjure a sense of well-being and content- up stitches, weaving in ends, blocking, and attaching
ment, which reflects how I hope you will feel while knit- buttons. I also recommend browsing through the tips
ting and wearing these garments. Through these de- included within the garment instructions. In them,
signs, I want to encourage more knitters to knit and you’re sure to learn pointers that will be useful for
complete sweaters. future projects.
introduction 7
FFK 01-95.indd 7 7/25/12 11:40 AM
FFK 01-95.indd 8 7/25/12 11:40 AM
ease
tank
This super-easy top is worked entirely with knit stitches
(no purls!), a few decreases, and a few buttonholes. The
front and back plackets are worked back and forth in rows,
then they are joined, and the body is worked in the round
to the underarms. The front and back are then worked
separately in rows to the shoulders. Buttonholes are
added to the front shoulders; buttons are attached to the
back shoulders and voilá—a simply beautiful sweater!
finished size notions
About 34 (37¼, 40¾, 44¼, 47¼, 50¾, Stitch holder or waste yarn; marker
54¼)" (86.5 [94.5, 103.5, 112.5, 120, (m); tapestry needle; four ½" (1.3 cm)
129, 138] cm) bust circumference. buttons.
Tank shown measures 34" (86.5 cm).
gauge
yarn
23 sts and 34 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in
Sportweight (#2 Fine). stockinette st on larger needles,
worked in rounds.
SHOWN HERE: Classic Elite Allegoro
(70% organic cotton, 30% linen; 22 sts and 38 rows = 4" (10 cm) in
152 yd [139 m]/50 g): #5656 larkspur, garter st on larger needles, worked
5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8) balls. in rows.
needles
PLACKETS: size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm).
BODY: size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm): 24"
circular (cir).
Adjust needle size if necessary to
obtain the correct gauge.
ease tank 9
FFK 01-95.indd 9 7/25/12 11:40 AM