Designing Your Own Patterns

Posted by
Kelly Gilliam
Jul 17, 2006

Designing my own patterns is the ultimate in my knitting life. I love using other patterns, but having something completely unique - my own - is extremely gratifying (hell, I'd raise the sheep, sheer them and spin the wool if it was feasible!).

There are a few helpful hints to heed before you dive right in to designing for yourself as well as some informational articles and free online interactive programs to help you design that first pattern.

Learn to read a knitting pattern. Read some patterns, if you don't understand something, look it up and learn how to knit it.
Before you design learn to adjust a pattern. If you can learn to read a pattern and make it your own, when it comes time to design a pattern it'll be that much easier.
Start your first design as something simple - perhaps a shawl, some socks, a scarf. There's all the time in the world to get to sweaters and cardigans.
Swatch. Swatch. Swatch. Your sweater will turn out to be a lumpy mess if you can't learn how to gauge properly.
Don't be afraid to frog. It will happen; even the greatest designers still need to go at it a few times.
Graph paper and pre-planning can only help. Use graph paper to design your pattern and your stitches.

KnittingFool.com - an online interactive program to help you design simple sweater/cardigan patterns

Knit by Numbers - how to design a sweater proportionally

Design a custom knit raglan sweater by filling in the blanks.