how hard is it REALLY to improv your patterns?

[mcmrymoon]

or make your own changes.

here is my thinking. i have some great patterns already. i'd like to take parts of one and combine with others etc. or - somethings are obvious that i can do (like extend leg lengths etc) but for things like a waist change or a rise change - can't i just use a tape measure and alter that way?

also - can i make a swatch in the yarn and needles i want to use, count my stitches/inch then figure out from there how many stitches i need to cast on?

do any of you just knit and make up as you go along? like teresa did with the mj hat? she obviously knows what she is doing :LOL but if i'm not looking for perfection - can't i just go wild!

i guess what i am trying to ask is this: how hard is it to make up your own patterns and what type of math is involved?

[Knittin' in the Shade]

Well, Dh teses me constantly that I can't do math in my head, so if I can do it, anyone can!! If you are doing it to custom fit your own child (or yourself, etc) it's very easy. The tricky part really is doing standard sizes and multi ones for patterns, so if you just want one size, you are in the clear. i'd suggest getting your fingers on maggi rhigetti's Sweater Design in Palin Engligh. It's (obviously, LOL) geared to sweater designing, but the sizing and other info is really universal to all pattern writing.

[mcmrymoon]

thanks teresa! btw - tara had a baby girl

[rubidoux]

Right now I'm making a soaker with very bulky yarn but pretty much following a worsted weight pattern. I had already done a worsted one that fits great, so I've just been holding the one I'm working on up to the worsted weight one to see where to put the increases and decreases and stuff. It seems like it should work out fine, though I might be sobbing in a day or so... we'll see.

J.

[alliwenk]

I'd like to suggest 2 very good books for designing your own knits.

The first is VERY user friendly and should be in every knitter's library: The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. It gives patterns for hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, etc. based on YOUR gauge. Ann Budd does all the math for you, and it is easy to make alterations to the patterns. It is by far the most useful knitting book I own!

The second is more mathematical but easy to use once you get the hang of it. It is indespensible for sweater design: Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie Righetti.

Hope this helps!
Allison

[Parthenia]

*Occasionally* I follow a pattern stitch for stitch. More often than not, I take what I like from one pattern, what I like from another, and frankenknit. Or I just cast on and pray.
The math is not hard as long as you check your gauge, and you can find formulas and charts in books, on little $1 info cards.

[tboroson]

Yup, got my little girl all snuggled on my chest Lorena, I find it rather easy to improv most simple shapes. I haven't tried my hands at anything like gloves yet, at least from an improv perspective, because getting proportions between fingers and thumb seems slightly tricky. But, I've done soakers and hats and booties and socks, and had no problems. But, then, I tend to be pretty mathematically minded and can envision the geometry pretty easily, as well as having long time experience with drafting sewing patterns...

[Parthenia]

I've impov'ed mittens. the trick is to keep trying them on. When in doubt, try knitting them really huge with 100% wool, and then fulling them down to size. You'll have wind and snow proof prototypes. Once you get the hang of the pattern you can try knitting it to actual size.

[pageta]

I have four soaker patterns and have come up with my own using parts of each along with my own inventions. Just take something simple that you understand and make changes to it. You can always rip it out if you don't like it. I'd start like that and then go on to things that take more imagination.

[puddingpop]

I'm a huge fan of improvising when it comes to patterns -- there's always something that I want to change and I've only very rarely actually followed a pattern entirely.

Once you've figured out your gauge, it's relatively easy to plan out the rest of the pattern (I keep a notebook handy so I can keep track of what the pattern I'm creating is, so I have a good record).

Happy knitting!

[mcmrymoon]

Originally Posted by tboroson

Yup, got my little girl all snuggled on my chest

awwwwwwwwwwwww! i can't wait to meet her!!!!!!!

[mcmrymoon]

Originally Posted by Parthenia

I take what I like from one pattern, what I like from another, and frankenknit.

frankenknit! i love that! :