Welcome to the party my friends! This week is going to be about designing and I’ve got some bloggers lined up to help to introduce my newest product, which is for sale at a special price this week. Go check out http://knittingrockstar.com for the complete details! In short, my new product will help you to design a pattern, but first let me explain how to design and the steps involved.
Last week I shared with you my own process for designing a pattern. I want to get into more detail, and I’m going to start with my top 3 books I use for stitch dictionaries.
1. The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches by Readers Digest. I don’t know how I came to own this book- so it was probably given to me by my mother. I learned how to knit + crochet from this book. I have some fond memories….
2. The Essential Guide To Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe. I LOVE this book. I learned how to do color jogging with this book and I refer to it every time!
3. Walker Treasury Patterns by Barbara G. Walker. With these three (and more- you have to buy all the Walker books) you have tons and tons of stitch patterns to choose from and to make your next knitting pattern unique.
With these three (or more) books you will have no trouble finding inspiration for your next project. Tomorrow we are diving into technical editing; what it is and how it will help your pattern.
Come back here everyday to get the latest post!
Day 2: The Sweatshop of Love
Day 3: KnitNicoleKnit
Day4: Falling Stitches
Day 5: Handmadeology
Let’s move the party to the comments and let me know which books YOU like to use.
Update: Please comment below (once per day) to enter into a giveaway for one copy of Journal of your choice ( Knitting or Crocheting) Winner will be announced on Friday, July 13th
I use a lot of stitch dictionaries: everything from Walker to Japanese stitch dictionaries to German & other European dictionaries.
I also have a variety of reference books: PoK, of course, Kniter’s Handbook, Righetti’s sweater desgin book, and more. Deborah Newton’s Designing Knitwear.
I only have a few books that have come my way: some small stitch dictionaries from when I started knitting, for example. While it’s not a reference book, I like Nicky Epstein’s Knitting on Top of the World for inspiration.
I also love Barbra Walker’s books. She also has a great book on knitting in the round, Knitting From the Top, which is made better by an awesome dated cover photo. I have to say Knitting Without Tears was one of the first books I read on knitting, and it is still one of my favorites.