Designing Knitwear

by Deborah Newton

If you dream of creating your own knitwear designs, master designer Deborah Newton shares the secrets she's learned over the years. Newton offers in-depth information on shaping and fitting, color and graphics, dressmaker details, finding design inspiration, creating textured fabrics, and more. In addition, Designing Knitwear includes patterns for 16 garments and dozens of partial schematics for you to develop into your own original designs.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts, Fashion, Reference, Design

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1992

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is comprehensive for those that want to learn to design their own knitwear. It was too much information for where I am on the learning curve, but I can still see the terrific potential. The one thing the author said in the early chapters that spoke to me, is the nervousness she (still) feels when she's deciding on yarn, needles and swatching to determine gauge. Yes! I have the same nervousness. That helped me on my journey.

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found this at Savers for $3.99 and picked it up because I like to design my own sweaters, using information from Barbara Walker and Jacqueline Fee. While there is alot of information here I found the text unreadable. It seems like every sentence begins with 'I'. It's really annoying. What happened, no editors available? I'm going to get what I can out of it and dump it back into the charity bin.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first major knitting book I purchased (in 1992). This is a wonderful resource book for knitters who design their own patterns. I've used it a lot over the past twenty-two years and regard the book as an essential part of my knitting resource collection.

The writing is clear, precise and approachable. The patterns are a bit dated, but the knowledge and advice are timeless. An oldie and a goodie!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

great source of information. the patterns are dated now, but so many cool stitch patterns to repurpose (without the shoulder pads!). i wish there were more details about the sources of some swatches that are not included in patterns, but i guess i'll just have to look up the books in the bibliography and maybe try my hand at unventing a few.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference on designing basic sweater shapes and sleeve types. The example patterns are maybe a little dated (shoulder pads?!? very 1980s). Or maybe just not to my taste. But the basic info on how to shape sweaters is well-presented and useful.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A primer for designing knitted sweaters, including shaping, fitting, color and texture, and dressmaking techniques. Heavily illustrated with photos and diagrams. Contains 16 patterns as well.

[Gaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A knitter's MUST!

[lk]

it seems to be a great sweater design book; should reborrow it as i get more experience to see if i want to purchase it

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not ready for this.

[Anne]

More than I wanted or needed, but probably the best for its target market. If you want to sell your patterns, this is the place to start.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very useful book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

very technical, just what i was looking for.