Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Designing My Perfect Sweater

One of our most popular knitting classes is "Designing My Perfect Sweater". The knitter starts with a beautiful yarn and some ideas and transforms them into a perfect fitting designer sweater. The class runs for 6 weeks and starts with plenty of swatching, measuring and sketching. The ideas develop into schematics and a working pattern and the knitting begins. By the last class, most of the knitting has been accomplished and the last of the finishing details need to be completed at home. It's exciting to see the students come back in a week or two, modeling their final designs.
Susan brought back her finished sweater and it was absolutely magnificent. Her design began with a radiating lace motif that she saw featured on the back of a sweater pattern. She choose an alpaca and merino blend of yarn in her favourite colour. Susan even added "steeks" to the front lace pattern so that it could be cut open (really - with scissors!) and bordered as a cardigan. Bell sleeves and a shawl collar were knit to complete the original design.















It's fun to become the designer and turn your ideas into a wearable one of a kind garment. Along the way, you start to understand the various elements that go into a perfect sweater. Most importantly, you learn more about becoming a better knitter - a goal that we can all appreciate.
Karen

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