And so it is time to embark on my first even properly written down knitting pattern. I say first written pattern because I have invented some things like a beanie and mitts, off the cuff so to speak. In those cases I made no records and knitted along according to whim at the time. The results were quite lovely and I highly recommend this kind of free-to-flow knitting. But today we’re all business.
As I am a pattern maker for cut and sew garments, making a paper pattern to follow seemed the most natural place to start. I measured a garment I like and drew up a true to size paper pattern to use for both front and back of a vest or slipover. A vest seemed a good place to start as the pieces are few, similar, and simple to conceptualise flat.
Below is a photo of the paper pattern. I imagined that the front and back armscye would be different as with woven garments. I am aware that that is not how hand knitted garments are generally made but I just can’t figure out why. Why oh dear reader? Surely hand knitters still have chests that are larger at the front than the back? Busts around which you might remove gape at an armhole? It is a mystery. But after many times ripping back trying to get a satisfying curve at the back armhole I gave in and copied the front.
Below is a photo of the knitted front. You might notice that I drew in the rib for the armholes but at the neckline the rib will be added on top of the drawn line, which is an outrageous inconsistency that wont be repeated. I found it very useful to have the paper to lay my work on to check the shapes and lengths. The knitting being slightly wider than the pattern was planned. But I have since had a realisation about using the paper pattern as a template. Which is – if my washed and blocked fabric ends up larger or smaller than the dry in-progress item, then the measurements might end up way off. Would that mean calculating the difference between a dry and a blocked swatch and then making a template that is a scaled percentage larger or smaller than the desired measurements?
The front and back pieces are both finished and ready for seams and ribbing now. So I will continue with what I have while I mull over this new idea.
Till we meet again, many glorious sunsets to you.