Book Review Knitwear Design Workshop

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Discover how to create your own dramatic and unique knitwear with Shirley Paden's new book! Expert knitwear designer Shirley Paden approaches Knitwear Design Workshop as she does her design classes—teaching through example. With her new book, you'll learn all the tricks of the trade for designing with step-by-step instructions for using measurements, calculations, and schematics. Knitwear Design Workshop is your backstage pass to the world of design. Inside you'll discover: How to design double-tapered, single-tapered, and reverse-tapered garments with sleeves or sleeves caps that fit Designing with armholes, necklines, neckband's, and collars and labels A clearer understanding of commercial pattern instructions Ways to improve your attention to detail with a meaningful test swatch Stronger knowledge of proper body or garment measurements How to handle design challenges in a variety of garments such as cardigans, skirts, and dresses And much more! Perfectly packaged in an easy-to-use hardbound, hidden spiral format, Knitwear Design Workshop is chock full of in-depth information, including measuring a gauge, working silhouette and fit, designing with stitch patterns, selecting colour, and yarn characteristics. Also included in this helpful resource are four breathtaking projects—great for both design inspiration and creation! 400 pages.

Praise for the hardcover edition: "Knitters usually begin with simpler items like scarves and move on to more complicated projects like sweaters. But once sweaters are mastered, many experienced knitters want to know how to design their own knitwear--and have it fit. There are a number of books that explain the mechanics and the math of designing sweaters. This one, too, examines commercial patterns, the intricacies and importance of measurement, and the result that comes with various yarns. But this book is particularly comprehensive in that it explains how to adapt different stitches other than the reliable stockinette to make sweaters that are unique to the knitter. This volume--spiral-bound inside sturdy covers--is not for the faint-of-heart knitter, but those longing to take their knitting to the next level will be enthralled. Four attractive projects are included as examples of the many techniques author Paden explains." - Ilene Cooper, "Booklist""First Reaction: Blown Away. If you're interested in sweater design, and want to understand everything, you need to look at this book. It's amazing. I have other design books in my library...but this one stands on its own." - KnittingScholar.com"This is a comprehensive guide to getting an idea out of your head and into a knitting pattern. It's also a fantastic resource to use to alter an existing pattern to your specifications." - Knitty.com"Add this to your essentials shelf, next to Barbara Walker and Nancy Wiseman. And make something fabulous." - "Twist Collective" blog"The book's layout is very clean, clear and attractive, with high quality photos and diagrams, to keep the reader inspired and motivated. Paden writes succinctly and well, packing in a wealth of information." - "Crochet Insider""Captivating designs with flattering silhouettes." - "Quick & Easy Crochet""If you have even the slightest interest in design or want your garments to fit better, "Knitwear Design Workshop" belongs on yo

About the Author

Once an executive in the corporate world, Shirley Paden left it all behind 15 years ago to pursue a career in knitwear design. Today Shirley is the owner and founder of Shirley Paden Custom Knits in New York City. She teaches master knitting classes for the fashion industry and conducts seminars on lace, entrelac, cables, color knitting, and finishing techniques. Her designs have been published in Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Knitter’s magazines and she was the subject of a profile in 2004. She has been a guest on public television’s Knitting Daily TV (2010). Knitwear Design Workshop is her first, much-awaited book. She lives in New York City.

                                                                                                                                                           

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Researching and Refining an Idea
Layout of the Design Idea
Taking Measurements
Understanding Ease
Selecting a Body Shape and Drawing a Schematic
Classic Silhouette Worksheet
Dropped Shoulder Worksheet
Double Taper Worksheet
Single Taper Worksheet
Reverse Taper Worksheet

Chapter Two
Selecting the Fabric
Choosing the Yarn
Fibre Content
Yarn Construction
Yarn Weight Classification
Choosing a Pattern Stitch
Understanding Pattern Stitch Instructions
Charts
Combining Pattern Stitches
The Gauge Swatch
Measuring Gauge
Translating Measurements to Numbers of  Stitches and Rows

Chapter Three
Classic Silhouette Pullover
Classic Silhouette
Body
Sleeves
Classic Body Worksheet
Sleeve Worksheet

Chapter Four
Dropped Shoulder
Modified Dropped Shoulder
Double Tapered Body
Single Tapered Body
Reverse Tapered Body

Chapter Five
Cardigans
Centre Closure
Overlapping Front Bands
Independent Overlapping Bands
Overlapping Fronts
Rounded Front Edges
One Piece Construction

Chapter Six
Straight Skirt
Side Seam Shaping
Stacked Circular Decreases
A Line Skirt
Dresses

Chapter Seven
Alternative Armhole Shaping
Classic Raglan
Circular Yoke
Classic Saddle Shoulder

Chapter Eight
Sleeves and Cuffs
Straight Sleeve
Lantern Sleeve
Gathered Top Sleeve
Short Sleeves
Cuffs
Classic Fold Back Cuff
Bell Cuff
Placket Cuff

Chapter Nine 
Necklines
Classic Boat neck
Square Neckline
Round Neckline
V Neckline

 Chapter Ten
Neckband's, Collars and Lapels
Neckband's
Straight Collar
Split Turtle-neck Collar
Mock turtle-neck Collar
Cowl Collar
Peter Pan Collar
Large Round Yoke Collar
Large Round Collar
Horizontal Shawl Collar
Classic Vertical Shawl Collar
Wide Vertical Shawl Collar
Shawl Collar Worked Horizontally
Horizontal Shawl Collar With Buttons
Lapels
Classic Lapel
Notched Lapel

Chapter Eleven
Finishing Techniques
Blocking
Shoulder Seams
Three Needle Bind Off
Horizontal to Horizontal Seam
Necklines
Pick up and Knit
Pick Up and Purl
Whip-stitch Seam
Armhole Seams
Backstitch Seam
Horizontal to Vertical Seam
Sleeve and Side Seams
Vertical to Vertical Seam
Vertical Back Stitch Seam
Buttonholes
Horizontal One Row Buttonhole
Zippers
Projects
Twist \Flowers Pullover
Cable Coat with Cape Collar
Double Leaves and Twists Duster
Pea Coat
                                                                                                                                            

Knitwear Design Workshop is available from Amazon

Disclosure: I buy knitting books from on-line shops with my own money, I am not being paid for writing this review. All my reviews are honest and on things that I genuinely love and would recommend to my readers.