How to Use, Adapt, and Design Knitting Patterns: How to knit exactly what you want, every time—with confidence!

Here's an easy-to-follow self-teaching course that shows knitters how to get exactly the results they want from less-than-perfect commercial patterns. The authors begin with the basics, explaining the meanings of the symbols and abbreviations used in knitting patterns. Next they show readers how to take their own body measurements and how to identify their body landmarks--those especially important points that need to be measured in order to get good results when adapting and modifying patterns. A detailed section on the specifics of adapting patterns shows how to change necklines and sleeves, how to change a pullover sweater into a cardigan, how to transform a chunky wool pattern into a lightweight design by changing yarns, and much more. A separate chapter instructs ambitious knitters on designing their own patterns from scratch. The book concludes with seven ready-to-use knitting patterns that less-confident knitters can copy and adapt. This book, which is suited to the needs of knitters of all skill levels, features hundreds of color photos, line illustrations, and diagrams. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Contents 6 Introduction 7 About this book 9 PART 1: Using knitting patterns 12 All about knitting patterns 13 Sources of patterns 13 Anatomy of a knitting pattern 15 Common abbreviations 17 Common symbols 18 The importance of tension 19 Why make a tension swatch? 19 Making and measuring a tension swatch 21 How needle size and yarn affect tension 23 Your measurements 27 Collecting measurements 27 PART 2: Designing patterns from scratch 30 Making a pattern from an existing garment 31 Measuring an existing garment 31 Converting the measurements 35 Making a paper pattern 37 Calculating shaping 39 Making and fitting a toile 43 How to alter a toile 47 Altering the patterns 49 Rewriting the instructions 53 Constructing the garment 59 Blocking and seaming 59 PART 3: How to adapt the pattern 64 Changing necklines 65 Design options: Necklines 65 Necklines: Adapting the toile 67 Necklines: Adapting the paper pattern 69 Necklines: Adapting the written pattern 71 Design details: Necklines 73 Shaping shoulders 75 Changing sleeves 77 Design options: Sleeves 77 Sleeves: Adapting the toile 79 Sleeves: Adapting the paper pattern 81 Sleeves: Adapting the written pattern 83 Design details: Sleeves 85 Changing body shapes 89 Design options: Body shape 89 Body shape: Adapting the toile 91 Body shape: Adapting the written pattern 93 Design details: Body shapes 95 Using stitches 99 New stitch tension swatches 99 Allover textures 101 Shaping with stitches 105 PART 4: Embellishments 108 Embroidery 109 Appliqué 113 Trims and fastenings 115 Pom-poms, tassels and fringes 117 Adding beads and sequins to knitting 119 PART 5: Basic knitting know-how 122 Choosing a yarn 123 Materials and equipment 125 Essential techniques 129 Useful information and resources 137 Web resources 138 Glossary 139 A 139 B 139 C 139 D 139 E 139 F 139 G 139 H 139 I 139 K 139 L 139 M 139 N 139 P 139 R 140 S 140 T 140 W 140 Y 140 Index 141 A 141 B 141 C 141 D 141 E 141 F 141 G 141 H 141 I 141 K 142 L 142 M 142 N 142 O 142 P 142 R 142 S 143 T 143 V 143 W 143 Y 144 Z 144 Credits 145 Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 7 About this book......Page 9 PART 1: Using knitting patterns......Page 12 Sources of patterns......Page 13 Anatomy of a knitting pattern......Page 15 Common abbreviations......Page 17 Common symbols......Page 18 Why make a tension swatch?......Page 19 Making and measuring a tension swatch......Page 21 How needle size and yarn affect tension......Page 23 Collecting measurements......Page 27 PART 2: Designing patterns from scratch......Page 30 Measuring an existing garment......Page 31 Converting the measurements......Page 35 Making a paper pattern......Page 37 Calculating shaping......Page 39 Making and fitting a toile......Page 43 How to alter a toile......Page 47 Altering the patterns......Page 49 Rewriting the instructions......Page 53 Blocking and seaming......Page 59 PART 3: How to adapt the pattern......Page 64 Design options: Necklines......Page 65 Necklines: Adapting the toile......Page 67 Necklines: Adapting the paper pattern......Page 69 Necklines: Adapting the written pattern......Page 71 Design details: Necklines......Page 73 Shaping shoulders......Page 75 Design options: Sleeves......Page 77 Sleeves: Adapting the toile......Page 79 Sleeves: Adapting the paper pattern......Page 81 Sleeves: Adapting the written pattern......Page 83 Design details: Sleeves......Page 85 Design options: Body shape......Page 89 Body shape: Adapting the toile......Page 91 Body shape: Adapting the written pattern......Page 93 Design details: Body shapes......Page 95 New stitch tension swatches......Page 99 Allover textures......Page 101 Shaping with stitches......Page 105 PART 4: Embellishments......Page 108 Embroidery......Page 109 Appliqué......Page 113 Trims and fastenings......Page 115 Pom-poms, tassels and fringes......Page 117 Adding beads and sequins to knitting......Page 119 PART 5: Basic knitting know-how......Page 122 Choosing a yarn......Page 123 Materials and equipment......Page 125 Essential techniques......Page 129 Useful information and resources......Page 137 Web resources......Page 138 P......Page 139 Y......Page 140 I......Page 141 R......Page 142 W......Page 143 Z......Page 144 Credits......Page 145 Introduces knitting patterns, discussing how to read and use them correctly, modify them to change basic shape or embellishment, and create orginal patterns to suit individual size and style. Learn how to create your own basic knitting patterns, tailored to your measurements by using an existing garment as a blueprint for your own knitted designs.