Basics of Knitwear Design

What starts as a love of knitting can quickly turn into a desire to design your own knitwear. While some knitwear designers begin their careers in fashion design and opt to specialize in designing knitting patterns, others fall into design as a hobby. If you're interested in designing your own knitwear designs and patterns, these basics can help hone your hobby and publish patterns that will appeal to general knitting audiences.

Invest in a quality stitchionary.

This dictionary of knitting stitches is a good investment for those interested in dabbling in designing knitting patterns or even those who like to knit without a pattern. Stitchionaries come in all shapes and sizes, and you'll want to find one that suits your needs best. If cables are your thing, for example, there are stitchionaries that focus primarily on this type of knitting. Alternately, you could invest in a multipurpose stitchionary that covers a wide range of knitting stitches. The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary series is a good place to begin your search for the book that will best suit your needs.

Research and knit already published knitting patterns.

A strong foundation in knitting from patterns that are already published is a great way to learn about what has already been done, dabble in new techniques and styles, and find elements of design that peak your interest. Some knitwear designers have books published that detail the design process. They offer suggestions for budding designers which may open your mind to new opportunities. Taking a look at those who have come before you can certainly help you launch your own particular style of knitwear design.

Don't be afraid to design and re-design.

Have you knit something and it didn't turn out as you'd envisioned? Were there design elements that didn't quite work out? Don't be intimidated-even seasoned designers head back to the drawing board. Just because a design didn't work out the first time doesn't mean it's destined for the bin. Be willing to evaluate and re-design a project when you need to.

Ask for test knitters.

Test knitters are just as important for seasoned knitwear pattern designers as they are for new designers. Write your patterns down with as much details as possible, and then locate individuals who are willing to test knit for you. Test knitters offer invaluable input for designers-they see things your eyes might not, ask questions you may have overlooked, and let you know what they think about your work. Use knitting websites like Ravelry to locate a test knitting pool that's just right for your project.

Not every knitwear designer has spent years in design school-in fact, some start out with a love of knitting and a ball of wool without a pattern. If you're destined to design knitting patterns, these basics may just help you get your feet wet.