Every Day is a Learning Day

I imagine that, probably like most knitting pattern designers, I am self taught. Years of knitting, and then the worry of whether it was allowable to sell items from other peoples' patterns at fairs, led me to design my own. I gradually developed my own style, often using short rows for shaping and stranded colourwork.

I have to confess that many of my patterns do not contain a gauge, as for a small item like a shell or insect, the finished size is not desperately important. But I am trying to work my way into designing some clothes, so now realised that a gauge is essential.

 

A term I have learned recently is grading. Nothing to do with passing exams. My manager at work said she had sent a pattern off for grading. This means it has been written in one size, and then goes off to be scaled for multiple sizes. It made me laugh, as this is what I have been doing with my latest design. I have knitted the smallest size, and with an accurate gauge, and standard body measurements, I have been grading it to other sizes. It is not an easy job, and I have used a lot of pages of paper. So although I think it is graded, because I have not done this before, I am going to knit some of the larger sizes. But here is a sneak peek of part of the smallest version.