Knitting Pattern Essentials: Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear

Well-known knitting designer Sally Melville has a gift for explaining knitting techniques in simple, easy-to-understand language. Her previous books (e.g., , ) are deservedly popular. With KNITTING PATTERN ESSENTIALS, Melville has done it again. She has created a book of pattern templates for knitted garments that is the easiest to follow of any that I've seen.This book is NOT a book for beginning knitters. But knitting isn't exactly rocket science. Any moderately experienced knitter who is motivated to draft custom patterns--patterns that will really fit--should be able to make good use of this book. Aside from basic knitting skills, all that a knitter needs is the ability to read and understand schematic drawings of knitted garments; to take accurate body measurements; and to perform basic math calculations (e.g., to multiply a width-in-inches measurement by a swatched stitches-per-inch number, in order to determine how many stitches will be required at a given place in a garment).What sets KNITTING PATTERN ESSENTIALS apart from other books of pattern templates, is Melville's explanations of WHY you need ease, of HOW MUCH ease you need in a particular garment style, and of WHY you do (or don't) need certain kinds of shaping (e.g., shoulder shaping) in a specific garment style. Melville teaches you to understand the patterns that you draft, which of course makes for better custom patterns. The basic garment shapes discussed in the book are drop shoulder, modified drop shoulder, set-in sleeve, and raglan. However, the book contains much additional discussion of shaping of necklines (funnel, v-neck, etc.), hems (diagonal, shirttails), sides of garments (A-line, hourglass, etc.), sleeves (puffed, saddle shoulder, etc.), cardigans (no overlap, banded, etc.), and finishing bands (armhole, collars and hoods, etc.). Melville also explains how to combine various garment elements successfully.Personally, I like to use computer applications for drafting knitting patterns, because the apps do all the math calculations for me. But any template-generated knitting pattern is only as good as the information typed into it, and the assumptions made by the basic template. With this book, you can fine-tune any template-generated pattern to ensure that you get the desired custom fit.KNITTING PATTERN ESSENTIALS also includes eight Sally Melville knitting patterns that are suitable for advanced-and-adventurous beginners, or for intermediate-level knitters. These are the Three-Bow Pullover, Marsha's Top, Uptown Jacket, Lace-Paneled Top, Escher-Inspired Vest, Bordered Lace Pullover, Carrie's Wrap, and Cee-Cee Wrap. My favorite is the oh-so-elegant Lace-Paneled Top (shown on the book's cover)--which by itself goes a long way toward justifying the book's purchase price. Some other good, fairly recent books on drafting knitting patterns are , , and .

I love to knit for myself and enjoy 'designing' my own, nothing whacky, just things I prefer in a sweater. Of the many how to do it yourself books there are, (S.Paden, D Bliss, et al), this one is chock full of useful, straightforward information. I find good advice every time I open it up. With it, I can choose to fuss with all the picky details for a perfectly fitted sweater executed to a tee or I can wing something with happier results thanks to eveything she shares based on her lengthy experience. There are knit to fit books, too, but this breaks down the best proportions in a simple discussion up front about balance point that I found enlightening. D. Newton's Design Your Own book is also great (she makes the math of shaping anything easy peasy) but for the sheer glut of practical advice per page, I haven't found another that helps like this. Even the appendix is uniquely useful, with more than the usual explanation of various increases/decreases/techniques, but also where each is most appropriate. (There are 8 patterns for sweaters/tops, too, half of which I hope to get to someday.)It's more compact than my other books, so it goes with me while I'm pondering my next project. But I break out Newton's book to finalize my stuff.If you're L/XL to plus sized, also very good is KnitWearLove, for explanations and advice, but I didn't love the patterns in it, and the patterns are much of the book's content. Still, it's great for techniques like short row shaping for achieving a great knit result for yourself. Or some lucky person you're knitting for.

After reading the techniques presented and glancing through the patterns in the back of the book I am ready to review.Pros1)After reading Chapter 1 a knitter will be ready to tackle an actual pattern and make all adjustments to fit one's figure. Unlike a past reviewer I feel this book is designed for everyone including the new knitter. I feel even the meanest knitter can tackle the knowledge, however due to lack of mastery the sweater they knit will most likely have many of the same errors all knitters make when starting out, that is not a reflection of any book or pattern. So I rate this book as beginner being able to learn and old-hands gaining new knowledge.2) Chapters 2-8 cover every single aspect of the construction of a sweater, is thorough and can be reference time and again after mastery of sweater knitting to solve problems or make adjustments. In short the longevity of the book makes it worth the price.3) It offers standard patterns in the back that afford the reader a chance at designing their own sweaters or making minor to major adjustments to the published pattern.4) The diagrams, photos, calculation section for each type take a lot of the mystery out of the designing/reworking processes.Neuts1) The book is a little plain but then again who buys a knitting resource for the look of the actual book.ConsI have not one bad thing to say about this book, it comes from a seasoned knitter and that is obvious!

This book is excellent!! Being in the UK I've never heard of this woman before, but she clearly knows her stuff and is very experienced. She explains everything in a very easy to understand way. Yes there is a lot of maths, but if you want to draft patterns from scratch you have to expect that.. knitting is all about numbers after all! I can never find women's sweater patterns I like, so I find similar ones and change them slightly, but wasn't sure if I was doing it right. The book has helped me with some questions I had, and tricky areas, but also given me the confidence to have a go at drafting one from scratch. Its really straightforward, and contains pretty much any kind of style you'd ever want to draft. Its fairly thick with loads of info and even some free patterns and so very good value for money. I am really looking forward to using it, and can already tell its going to be invaluable.

Ik ben heel benieuwd naar het breien van ingewikkelde patroonontwerpen en was dus op zoek naar een boek waarin eerst de basis goed werd uitgelegd. Prima boek daarvoor.

Sally Melville has written another brilliant book. She has given us a huge gift...a master class in pattern drafting. She takes us by the hand and teaches us each skill we will need to know to make our own garments. Each chapter brings a new class and a new skill. So we learn to calculate our own measurements, create a pattern, shape several necklines, sides, sleeves, and hemlines. There are lovely, clear and very helpful diagrams to help make the process clear. And she doesn't leave us hanging when we encounter problems . . . she offers different solutions and shows us how to finish our garments so they look .... well, like Sally knit them. There are 8 elegant patterns added at the end of the book that one can apply all these skills she has so deftly taught us.I have always enjoyed Sally's books just for the pleasure of reading them...she is always a knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate of her art and this book is no exception. It looks beautiful. It is elegantly presented and is so packed with information for all of us to have fun exploring it for years to come.

Great for designing your own knits. Very pleased

This book deserves everything that has ever been said about it. It has fantastic ideas for pattern making to suit your shape and how to include all of these ideas into your knits.Brilliant, given in easy to understand lessons and once you have mastered the techniques in this book you will probably always use the ideas in it.