Do you have any stitch dictionaries in your knitting library? I am somewhat of a stitch dictionary junky. I think I have most of them. I always have grand illusions of designing, and then I get bogged down with too many wonderful choices to play with. That didn’t stop me from being really excited when designer Debbie O’Neill told me that she was working on a new book – a stitch dictionary. I have always loved Debbie’s designs and knew the book would be great. (One of my very favorite Debbie designs is Celebratory Chevrons – free here on my blog. It’s one of the few sock patterns that I’ve chosen to knit more than once.) Last week, her publisher kindly sent me a copy of the new book – The Stitch Collection – and I dove in. Actually, it’s a slipcase with 5 smaller volumes tucked inside – Knit & Purl, Rib, Lace, Cables, and Specialty. 225 patterns in all. There are several things that make this one of my new favorites, and one that I will use frequently.
– I love the smaller sized books. Most stitch dictionaries are filled with every possible combination and they are big and heavy. Not something I would tuck into my project bag or take along on a trip. And a bit overwhelming to leaf through.
– I love that each page gives you a skill level and a drape level. Sometimes you don’t know how it will work from the photo, and I haven’t seen these ratings in other stitch dictionaries.
– Also different (and a real benefit), I like that each stitch is explained, along with particular characteristics: “It pulls in dramatically, but is very elastic. It will lie flat along the cast-on edge, but will tend to curl along the side edges.”
– I also appreciate the suggestions for use: “… can be used as an edge stitch for sweaters, hats, mittens or gloves, or as a panel or an overall pattern in an elaborate sweater.”
– And a few warnings on some, like: “This stitch pattern comes off the needles looking slanted, and a good blocking evens it out nicely. However, you may want to avoid using it across large areas because the larger the area, the harder it is to block out the slant.”
My only wish? I wish these were spiral bound. I think I will pop by Office Max and have mine done. (Do you do that with your favorite knitting books? I think it’s so handy to be able to open books all the way and have them lie flat when in use.) Also, there are no charts. But as someone who seldom knits from charts, that wasn’t a big deal for me. When I want to take written directions and turn them into charts, I’ve been using this program. Very easy to use, with great tutorials.
So all of this (stitch dictionaries, designing software) leads to the contest question of the month – have you ever tried to design something of your own to knit or crochet? Does the thought of it sound interesting, intimidating, or invigorating? Leave your answer in the comments and we’ll use the random generator to draw winners for $30 Gift Certificates to The Loopy Ewe next week!
Sheri whothinkssomeofyouaredesignersandyoudon’tevenknowityet!
I once made myself a sweater without a pattern. It’s okay. I only wear it around the house though because I tried to put in waist shaping and ended up with a “bell bottom” flare around my hips.
I have been thinking about designing my own socks lately. This book would help!
I don’t have a ton of experience with knitting so I think that designing is a little out of my realm for right now. I did try making a hat without a pattern to match a scarf that I have made and that went okay, except that the hat was way too big. I’ll have to try that again when I get some more time.
No desire to design what so ever. Not creative that way at all!
I don’t design in the sense of writing patterns out that anyone else could follow, but I’ve definitely made up my own sock and sweater patterns, with help from my beloved Barbara Walker stitch dictionaries. I’ve been dithering about whether to hunt this set down, and I think you’ve convinced me that I should! (Maybe it’ll help with the sweater I’m currently struggling with?)
I would love to be able to design something but need to get better at kintting first
The designing bug has not bit me yet. There are so many patterns out there that are beautiful, I’ve not been compelled. There are just not enough hours to accomplish all the patterns currently on my list…
I haven’t tried designing yet as I don’t feel I’m a skilled enough knitter. One of the most interesting things about Anne Hanson’s Advanced Lace class that I took at Spring Fling was her discussion about patterns and the way different yarns interact with them. It seems to me now that not only do you need to know how the stitch and the patterns interact, you also have to understand about the characteristics of the yarn that you are planning to use. I think I prefer to knit other people’s designs(but I do think more about the yarn I am planning to use).
I have a horrible habit of redesigning everything I try to knit. I can never seem to stick to a pattern all the way. It lead me to start designing my own patterns.
I now have done several things of my own design and have a few patterns out in the world.
I love taking fun stitch patterns, especially from the Japanese Stitionaries, and sticking them into basic patterns.
Normally, I just knit w/o a pattern — socks, hats, bags, scarves. It’s far from all the real design work that others do so wonderfully =D I did actually design something once — it made it to the cover of a special Cast On issue!
I’ve kind of designed some socks. I just took a basic sock pattern and added in some pattern stitches. My favorite was infinity socks for my brother, a mathematician.
No, I find books that try to teach you to design your own frustrating and I never use them. Too much math involved for me (my daughter is an engineer, didn’t get it from me!). I just want to pick up yarn and needles and knit. Let somebody else figure out the math.
i knit my very first sweater by “designing” it (and man, I am using that term loosely!) with only a very small understanding of how a crew neck sweater is made. I found a stitch dictionary and for some reason was completely enamoured of the basketweave stitch. I thought I could just measure the way I wanted it to look, use my gauge and somehow decrease for the neck. Oh yeah.
So to recap: bulky blocky pattern + no real understanding of sweater design = one large, blanket-like, ugly sweater. And I couldn’t bring myself to rip it out because it was my first sweater.
I now know enough to rely on Ann Budd’s handy book of patterns for basic shapes. At least stuff fits now.
I am so in awe of those who can design knits. I have read Wendy and Cookie’s sock books where they talk about the design process and read the Knitspot blog and am in continual wonder at the items there. Maybe if I get brave…
I have taken a stitch pattern from a hat and made it as fingerless mittens. Does that count? LOL
Also, as for stitch dictionaries I’m going to blame my purchase of this one on you. Since you described it so well I feel the need that I HAVE TO have this one too! 🙂
I keep thinking I’ll work up the courage to attempt to design something…but I haven’t gotten there yet.
Yes, I have. Love the Barbara Walker stitch books.
I’ve never actually designed something, but I’ve been thinking about it more and more… It’s both interesting and intimidating!
I’ve designed a scarf pattern, it was fairly siimple but a enjoyed the challenge.
I have designed two patterns; the second one, a sock, was released just this week. I’m SO EXCITED about it! It’s called “La Vie de Bois” – That’s life in the woods – and I’ll even give you the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/la-vie-de-bois-socks
I am mad mad mad crazy in love with this pattern. It took me almost a year to design and knit it, and had to go through I don’t know how many configurations before I got the chart looking the way I wanted it to. But now? I love it. I’ve been eyeing Barbara Walker’s Stitch Dictionaries for a loooooong time. If I make enough money with sales of the sock pattern, I’ll buy them with that money.
I am content to enjoy the talents of all the great designers and can always find something that pleases me.
I follow directions well. I might combine two different patterns to make something or take elements from different patterns to make an item more to my liking, but I have yet to design anything. Sigh…
I sort of design socks a lot, if taking a stitch pattern from a dictionary and putting it on a sock counts. That looks like a great set of dictionaries. Onto my wish list they go!
I think in a life after children I could see myself designing a pattern. I love the idea of it if I had the time to sit down, uninterrupted and think. However, the thought of designing in my current life chapter scares the heck out of me. I barely have enough time to knit, much less get everything else done. Mainly, there are so many great patterns out there that I don’t feel the need to design my own. I enjoy others’ creativity.
I actually swatched for an Aran pullover I wanted to design (inspired by Janet Szabo) but never actually got down to working out the pattern.
Too intimidating for me. I am not a “fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants” type person. I like well written patterns and follow them for the most part, to the letter. Type A?! I guess!
I seem to rarely knit anything quite the way it was designed — so yes, designing appeals to me. In fact, I keep thinking that I should design my own shawl sometime soon. Have lots of ideas, just need to work them out on paper and then see if they work with the yarn.
I would spend waaaay too much time futzing with all the details…I’d rather be stitching from somebody else’s already perfected pattern!
Designing is a lot of fun — I never thought I would design something for other people to make, but once you get the ball rolling . . . it’s hard to stop! I’ve got five designs under my belt right now (socks and fingerless mitts), and plans for at least three or four more. I finally dedicated a notebook to writing down my future ideas, sketches, etc, instead of collecting random sheets of paper, post-it notes in stitch dictionaries . . . 🙂 I’m hoping to work up to a lace shawl design someday.
I’ve got a few patterns out in the world and on Ravelry. The latest one is a lacy, leafy baby hat: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sapling Now that the hat’s finished, I’ve got a few other ideas just waiting to get out too.
I think when my 5 kids are grown I want to design…..for now I am happy to find the time to knit!
I have modified a few patterns and attempted to spice up a few but that is as far as I’ve gone. Maybe one of these days,but for now, with all the interesting patterns out there I’m content to use one of those.
I have tried to design a vest, and a cardigan, neither to fruition:(
So far, my “designing” has been limited to playing around with stitch patterns on socks. I get the chance to experiment and know pretty quickly whether my idea is turning out okay, or should be abandoned … before I’ve invested hours and days in the knitting. At the same time, alot of the decisions about shape, size, etc. are already determined … by the shape of feet 😉
I admit to grand ambitions of designing, but so far I’ve only managed to make a cozy for my DH’s GPS and added my own stitch pattern to a basic sweater pattern. Someday, I would like to design a lace shawl.
Everyone who alters a pattern has the basics of design already in hand. I’ve had one design published, a couple rejected, and notebooks full of drawings. Most of my creative design energy is used through test knitting for others and making adjustments to patterns to make them perfect for me.
I’m in the process of designing my first cowl/scarf pattern. I can’t wait to see how my concept comes to life and people’s response to it.
I have several stitch dictionaries and have the desire to design! However, I am a fairly new knitter-4 years +/-, so I have not yet attempted it. I even have recently purchased a couple of design your own pattern books; “Color by Kristen”, by Krisitn Nicholas and “Custom Knits” by Wendy Bernard. I recently knit a top down cowl collar tank (Interweave Knit Summer 2010) and adapted the pattern to fit me just right, but I don’t really think that counts as designing anything :-/.
Yes, I have thought and thought and thought about it and that’s as far as it went.
No. The most I do is tweak patterns, or change the heel on a sock. It’s a lot of work and there are a lot of good patterns and designers out there. And that appeals to my lazy side!
I seem to collect stitch dictionaries, but the only item I have “designed” is a washcloth! I do tweak patterns, and have thought about designing a lot, but never gotten there yet. What limited time I have for knitting, I find I want to actually knit and not read about it or design it!
I haven’t tried, but I wouldn’t rule it out. There are so many wonderful patterns out there though, I’m not sure I could do things any better. I will try that program though, because I like charts better, and I have a gaunlet pattern I want to convert. Thanks for the info!
I would love to design if only I had the time, maybe someday when the kids are grown.
Totally intimidated! There are so many wonderful patterns out there, how could I ever come up with something close? I am just getting to where I could see changing the colorwork pattern in a hat or something thanks to Kristin Nicholas books. But I might just chicken out again.
You know, I’ve never bought a stitch dictionary merely because I can never figure out which one to get!
As for designing my own things… I really want to! But I’m still kind of a knitting newbie… For now, I just modify things that I can find close-enough patterns for, such as my wolpertinger (a Bavarian cryptid similar to a jackalope which appears in World of Warcraft as a non-combat pet). The wolpertinger I made is based on Crafty Alien’s rabbit amigurumi pattern, to which I added my own invented antlers and wings 🙂
I have been trying to design a tank for my son, as nothing I can seem to find fits quite what I want. I have the yarn picked out, swatched, and now I’m trying to find ideas and examples on the shaping I want. I hope I get it figured out before he outgrows the size I have enough yarn for, as the color line has been discontinued!
I hope I get it done soon! (I would love more stitch dictionaries, too! =))
Yep, I’m working on a pair of socks right now with a reversed heel, or something like that, so that it makes it easiser to add in reinforcing thread. They look promising, so far. LOL
No, I have never designed in knitting but I have in quilting. Maybe someday! The software you recommend looks very interesting.
I’ve designed a sweater before and a simple sock. I don’t like the process very much so lately I’m sticking to patterns.
A long, long time ago I designed a baby blanket for a friend’s baby. It was made of square panels that were a combination of different textures and different pink heart shapes. It was really cute. I have some ideas in my head. Maybe someday I’ll attempt to bring them to life!