knitnotes

• ideas for findinginspiration•30 templates fordocumenting projects•graph paper forcharting complexstitch patterns• information ongarment shapes,knitting, and yarn•a sample sweaterpattern

Everything you needto design your ownknitwear: knit notes

explore � design � create

knitnotesexplore

�design�create

extendback-groundtobleedomtright side

INCLUDES30TEMPLATESfor developingyour designs &organizingyour notes

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CRAFTS • KNITTING$14.95 US $17.95 CANADA

ISBN 978-1-936096-51-0

9 781936 096510

5 1 4 9 5

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KNIT NOTES_cover_FINAL_amaon:Layout 1 6/15/12 11:32 AM Page 1

PREFACE 3

INSPIRATION: Where Design Begins 4

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 6

TEMPLATES 8

CHART GRAPH PAPER 128

DESIGNER ESSENTIALS 142Common Abbreviations 143

Types of Sweaters 144

Taking Measurements 146

Standard Measurements 148

Measurement Notes 153

Yarn Information 154

ESPERANZA SWEATER PATTERN 156

CREDITS 160

contents

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prefaceI’m the owner of Be Sweet, a yarn companylocated in Sausalito, California, where I spend mydays working with accomplished knitweardesigners to develop designs that feature myyarns. Because creative inspiration can strike at a moment’s notice, I’ve found that developing aproject from inspiration to instruction can be anorganizational challenge, even for the mostexperienced designer.

Therein lies the reason for creating Knit Notes:to give knitwear designers at all levels of skill and experience, from aspiring to seasoned, aplace to document and develop the key elementsof their projects. Having a structured template tosketch and refine ideas, record design details, andmap a clear course for knitting a piece is essentialto envisioning, realizing, and completing anoriginal knitwear design. Careful documentation is an essential part of a knitter’s successfulevolution into a full-fledged designer, and animportant component in creating beautiful designssupported by well-written—and ultimatelymarketable—patterns.

But this workbook isn’t just for knitweardesigners. It’s for any knitter who wants to adaptan existing pattern to incorporate his or her own unique touches: change a color, substitute afiber, recalculate measurements to improve fit, or add an edging or other unique detail.

I’m hopeful that Knit Notes will not only promptyou to keep track of the details that go into a well-designed knitted piece—perhaps one thatsomeone else would like to knit—but will alsoencourage you to honor and refine your designprocess, and inspire you to enhance your creativityand transform your ideas into realities.Love,

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YARN TASTING• Design a piece using a fiber or blendyou’ve never tried before, such asbamboo, baby mohair, or silk.• Use an expensive yarn to design anaccessory or small home decorating itemthat requires only one or two skeins.

YOUR PERSONAL TOUCH• Adapt a pattern from your favoriteknitwear designer by substituting thefeatured yarn with a different fiber or weight, or by changing the color orstitch pattern.• Learn how to knit intarsia so you canenhance a simple garment with acolorwork motif of your own design.

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS• As a surprise, design a scarf for yourspouse to take on a trip.• Using the team’s colors as yourstarting point, design a collection ofbeanie hats, headbands, or wristers foryour son’s or daughter’s sports team.

NATURE CALLS• Use colors and textures found innature to design a garment. Virtuallyany detail from the natural world—animals, plants, seascapes, or anylandscape, even an urban one—caninspire a design. One of my mostinspirational places is Clifton Beach inCape Town, South Africa.• Design whimsical booties or a hat-and-mitten set for your friend’snewborn inspired by your favorite furry forest animal.

EXPRESS YOURSELF• Let the lyrics of a song that moves you inspire a new design. How do thewords make you feel—romantic,spiritual, feminine, sexy . . . ? • Make a statement with your designabout the things that you hold dear:your favorite color, pattern, musician, or sports team.

The possibilities are endless! ■

Where Design Begins

Inspiration for knitwear designs can come from anywhere and strike at anytime. Sometimes they’re developed to feature a specific yarn, fiber, color, ortexture, while at others they’re inspired by something a designer has seen or experienced, such as a fashion show, a trip to a flea market, or a visit to apark or a beach. Some projects are created specifically as gifts for loved ones.

Sometimes, though, it may be hard to get those creative juices flowing. Ifyou’re uncertain about how to begin, here are a few helpful prompts forgetting started, along with some examples of garment and accessory designs.

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inspiration

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Sue De Lara’slacy take on abasic rib, knitwith bambooyarn helddouble, gives the simplesilhouette ofher Nika tunic aunique touch.

Sophie Kurnikused yarn madefrom recycled t-shirts in twobright, lively bluesto create her BlueBird Bucket Bag,which she namedin honor of heryarn store.

Even food can inspire! Reminiscent of a challahbread, this stylish cowl was knit in strips that werethen braided together. Designed by Tanis Gray.

A study in versatility andflowing elegance, this beautifulwrap cardigan, designed byFrances Becker of St. FrancisBay, South Africa, can be worn several ways.

Designer Tanis Gray was inspired by the fictional planetof Caprica from the television series Battlestar Galacticato create her stunning Caprica Shawl. The lace patternmimics the planet’s surface as seen from above, with itsgraceful skyscrapers, bodies of water, and open land.

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section of graph paper for chartingcolorwork and complex stitch patterns(see page 128).

Jot down all measurements, both of the finished piece and itsintended recipient.

Record the instructions for the featured stitch pattern.

Take notes on the step-by-stepprocess you used to create your design.

Attach a photo of the completedpiece. (Once you’ve realized your vision,be sure to share a photo of your designand its pattern online.) Congratulations!

In addition to chart graph paper, atthe back of the book you’ll find helpfulinformation for planning a knitweardesign and writing or adapting a pattern,including common abbreviations, basicsweater and armhole shapes, standardmeasurements, worksheets for takingmeasurements, yarn substitutions andrequirements for various projects, andthe complete pattern for the garmentshown opposite (for inspiration or foradapting into something new), plus aruler printed on the inside back cover.■

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As you can see, the ways in which a knitwear design can beginare virtually limitless. As you develop an idea, take the time toconsider the following, all of which can be documented in thetemplates (see opposite for an example):

Think about why you're creating theproject. Who (or what) is yourinspiration? Whom do you see wearingor using it?

Collect any visual reference—animage torn from a magazine, paint chipsfor color ideas, bits of yarn—that youfind inspiring.

Note the tools and materials—yarn, needles, and other notions—you'llneed to create your piece.

Document any embellishments—buttons, zippers, or trims—that youwould like to include.

Once you’ve created a swatch,record the stitch and row gauges foryour chosen yarn.

This graph paper can be used tocreate a schematic drawing. A schematicdrawing is made to scale and shows flatpieces before finishing and withoutselvages. To draw a schematic, use thegrid as if each small square equals1”/2.5cm. You can also use this area tosketch your design idea—its silhouette,some of its details, or both. Note that atthe back of the book is a separate

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how to use this book

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INSPIRED BYSTART DATE

KNIT FOR

Yarn & Fiber Content

Quantity(yardage,weight,number of skeins)

Needles

Buttons & Embellishments

Other Tools

MATERIALS

GAUGE

PROJECT

Swatch

Inspiration

PU

NC

H H

OLE

S T

O A

TTA

CH

YA

RN

SA

MP

LES

sts per inch(es)

rows/rnds per inch(es)

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BODY MEASUREMENTS FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

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Stitch Pattern

PatternNotes

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PHOTO of completed

project

PatternNotes

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knitnotes

• ideas for findinginspiration•30 templates fordocumenting projects•graph paper forcharting complexstitch patterns• information ongarment shapes,knitting, and yarn•a sample sweaterpattern

Everything you needto design your ownknitwear: knit notes

explore � design � create

knitnotesexplore

�design�create

extendback-groundtobleedomtright side

INCLUDES30TEMPLATESfor developingyour designs &organizingyour notes

PEEL OFF

CRAFTS • KNITTING$14.95 US $17.95 CANADA

ISBN 978-1-936096-51-0

9 781936 096510

5 1 4 9 5

PEEL OFF

KNIT NOTES_cover_FINAL_amaon:Layout 1 6/15/12 11:32 AM Page 1