How To Use, Adapt And Design Knitting Patterns
Sam Elliott and Sidney Bryan
In A Nutshell: Modern fresh layout and well explained method of knitting design let down by unattractive examples.
This book has had some quite sniffy reviews on Amazon, but I rather enjoyed it. To start with, there is a fresh, clean modern appeal in the layout, making it an attractive book to read. With regards to content, it breaks down into three distinct sections. Firstly how to use shop bought patterns, then how to create your own patterns, and thirdly how to change and adapt a pattern.
The most successful part is undoubtedly how to create your own knitting pattern. I found the author’s method fascinating. They use an existing garment as a starting point, and this does not necessarily need to be a knitted item. To demonstrate the method the authors use a T shirt, taking you from measurements, through creating a tension swatch, converting this to stitches and rows, making a paper pattern and using this to create a toile. I found the instructions well described and feel I would be able to successfully use their method.
Their fusion of sewing and knitting particularly appealed to me, though I understand a non-sewer would probably not like this method of design. I am inspired to look through my wardrobe and see whether I have a garment that will translate to a knitted item.
The main failing of this book is that the examples used to demonstrate the techniques are unappealing. The one exception is the cover, a simple A line cardigan with cabling detail. I was disappointed that this was not included as a pattern with the book. I suppose I will just have to follow the author’s instructions and design it myself.
