Knitting Pattern Essentials: Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear

224 Pages·2013·6.81 MB·english

by  Sally Melville

Copyright © 2013 by Sally Melville
Photographs copyright © 2013 by Potter Craft
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Potter Craft,
an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.pottercraft.com
www.crownpublishing.com
POTTER CRAFT and colophon is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
This ebook edition contains a bonus chapter by the author.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Melville, Sally.
Knitting pattern essentials : adapting and drafting knitting patterns
for great knitwear / Sally Melville.—1st edition.
Includes index.
1. Knitting—Patterns. 2. Knitwear—Pattern design. I. Title.
TT825.M4543 2015
746.43′2—dc23 2012015715
ISBN 978-0-307-96557-8
eISBN: 978-0-307-96558-5
Interior photographs: Rose Callahan
Front cover photographs (clockwise from top): Rose Callahan,
Andrew McCaul/Getty Images, Rose Callahan, Ocean/Corbis
Back cover photographs: Rose Callahan
v3.1

CONTENTS
Introduction
1 Preparing to Draft
Understanding Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal, and Curved Lines
Sweaters That Are Knit Flat
Sweaters That Are Knit Bottom-Up
A Clarification of the Shapes Covered
How to Use the Shapes in This Book
Essential Measurements and Standard Sizes
Standards of Ease
Swatching
2 Basic Shapes
A Short Math Lesson
Drop Shoulder
Modified Drop Shoulder
Set-in Sleeve
Raglan
3 Shoulder Shaping, Back and Front Neck Shaping
Shoulder Shaping
Back Neck Shaping
Neck Shapes and the Rule of 10
Straight (Boat) Neck
Funnel Neck
Square Neck
V-Neck
Round Neck
4 Hem Alternatives
Diagonal
Standard Shirttails
Reverse Shirttails
5 Side Shaping
A-line
Hourglass
Hourglass Shaping with Waistband Only
Classic Hourglass
Half-Hourglass
Side Shaping at the Same Time as Hem Shaping
6 Sleeve Alternatives
Sleeveless
Shorter-Than-Full Length Sleeves
Gathered Sleeves
Bell Sleeves
Puffed Sleeves
Cap Sleeves
Saddle Shoulder
7 Cardigans
Cardigan Styles
With No Front Overlap
With Overlapping Front Bands
With Overlapping Front Pieces
8 Fabrics, Finishes, and Fixes
Common Stitch Patterns
Selvedge Stitches
Bands and Their Stitch Patterns
Starting Bands—Bottom Bands and Cuffs
Finishing Bands—Armhole, Front, and Neck Bands (Including Collars and Hoods)
When Things Don’t Turn Out as Expected
9 Patterns
Three-Bow Pullover
Marsha’s Top
Uptown Jacket
Lace-Paneled Top
Escher-Inspired Vest
Bordered Lace
Carrie’s Wrap
Cee-Cee Wrap
Bonus Chapter
Five-Panel Tunic
Rescued Raglan
Working Woman’s Vest
Heads-Turn Tunic
Appendix
Essential Skills
Common Abbreviations
CYCA Standard Yarn Weights
Needle and Hook Sizes
Ratios for Decreasing
Ratios for Seaming
Ratios for Picking Up and Knitting
Resources
Acknowledgments
Index