- Master effective cast ons, bind offs, and borders
- Customize for perfect fit and personal taste
- Learn joining and finishing techniques
- Choose yarn and swatchingSolve problems, fix mistakes
Take charge of your knitting! Margaret Radcliffe, an enthusiastic knitting instructor with a passion for fostering independent decision-making and informed judgment in her students, conducts an in-depth tour of a sweater-knitting project to show the choices and options open to every knitter at every step. As Radcliffe demystifies the "why" behind every technique, you'll gain the confidence to customize your projects. The choices you make will lead to tailored, elegant items that are beautiful reflections of your personal style.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction Knowledge is Power
Chapter One
First Choices: Pattern, Yarn, and Needles
What Makes a Well-Written Pattern?
Understanding and Evaluating Schematics
Choosing the Right Size
How to Take Body Measurements
Finding a Yarn to Suit Your Pattern/Finding a Pattern to Suit Your Yarn
Choosing Needles
Matching Gauge
There’s More to Swatching Than Matching the Gauge
Chapter Two
Second Thoughts: Planning the Project
Order of Construction
Cast Ons
Centering Pattern Stitches
Planning Ahead for Perfect Finishing
Chapter Three
Third Time Lucky: Modifying Your Pattern
Changing Color or Stitch Pattern
Adding Embellishments
Changing the Borders
Changing Direction: Top Down versus Bottom Up
Converting Flat to Circular
The Whys and Hows of Steeks
Converting Circular Garment Instructions to Flat
Chapter Four
Forethought: Shaping and Fitting
Shaping Your Knitting
Fitting Your Garment
Chapter Five
Work in Progress
Understanding Knitting Instructions
Reality Checks
Disguising the Job
Binding Off and Casting On in the Middle
Bottom Borders on a Top-Down Sweater
Binding Off at the End
What Comes Next?
Chapter Six
Evaluation and Adjustments
Honest Assessments, Practical Solutions
Fixing Mistakes
Variations in Dye Lot, Color, and Yarn Quality
Size and Fit Adjustments
Cutting Your Knitting
Chapter Seven
Putting It All Together
Best Finishing Practices
Blocked Knitted Pieces
Dealing with Ends
Joining the Pieces
Chapter Eight
Borders, Bindings, and Embellishments
Neck, Armhole, and Front Borders
Bindings and Facings to Enclose Edges
The Zipper Controversy
Collars for a Dressier Look
Practical and Decorative Pockets
Knitted Embellishments
Blocking the Finished Garment
Caring for Your Finished Handknits
Storing Handknit Garments
The Elusive Pursuit of Perfection
Appendix
Glossary of Techniques & Terms
Abbreviations
Symbols
Further Reading
Online References
Acknowledgments
Index
