Selected posts from the general newsletter and the Designing with Kniterate course announcements
How stable are your sweaters?
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Hello sweater makers, When we talk about knit fabric stability, we’re really talking about how well a fabric holds its shape and resists stretching or sagging — both while you’re working with it and after it’s made into your garment. Today I'll talk about stability and the properties of the different types of jersey. Plain jersey is also referred to as stockinette by many people who knit. This fabric usually stretches more across the width than along the length, and it curls at the edges. Jersey will curl toward the purl side at the selvedges. The top and bottom (the cut edges with yardage) will curl toward the knit side. (If you're using cut yardage and find that all four edges have been cut, the jersey was knitted in the round on a circular machine. The fabric came off the machine in a tube shape and was cut lengthwise to make the tube appear as a flat fabric. You'll find this more often with lighter-weight fabrics than with sweater knits.) Fair Isle fabrics (a.k.a. single jacquards) have less stretch across the width due to floats. Floats are the horizontal yarns carried along the reverse side of the fabric, a necessity in colorwork that is not double knitted. Since Fair Isle fabrics are a type of jersey, they will also curl at the edges. Tuck jerseys and jersey lace fabrics have beautiful textures and can be quite stretchy across the width. But I don't recommend them for a first project, whether you're knitting or sewing. With a little experience, however, they will make stunning sweaters! Always remember a little prep goes a long way for all kinds of sweater knits, whether they are jerseys, ribs, or any other type! One of the reasons we love knits is due to their stretch, so don't let the instability of fancy stitch patterns scare you. I highly recommend testing a swatch first. Washing or steaming before construction and blocking afterward will help tame the fabric and is essential for making a sweater you'll love. Blog articles, including an updated list of sweater fabrics from international providers, are below. Have a good weekend! All the best, Olgalyn Sweater Fashion / Design / TextilesThe Racking Workshop now available on demand! How to Cut and Sew a Sweater (video course) How to Cut and Sew a Sweater (e-book) |
O! Jolly!
Selected posts from the general newsletter and the Designing with Kniterate course announcements
Hello sweater makers, I hope you are well, safe, and working creatively! Last spring, I shared a newsletter about jersey. Today's topic is ribs: useful balanced ribs and eye-catching novelty ribs. And we mustn't forget the double jacquards. Yes, jacquards knitted on a double-bed machine can be rib fabrics too. Double jacquards Each wale (column of stitches) in a rib fabric has knit stitches and no purl stitches, or it has purl stitches and no knit stitches. Though knit stitches appear on each...
Hello, Have you ever viewed a technique and a few weeks later needed to review the steps, but couldn't remember where to find them? I'm happy to present a new index for Designing with Kniterate topics. This will make it easier than ever to find the info you're looking for. When you need it, a link to the index can also be found in the Helpful Links area of the "Please read before beginning" module for each session. Racking — It's not just for zigzags I've received a couple of requests for...
Hello, I hope your knitting is interesting and progressing well! If you've been enrolled for a while and stopped by the course recently, you'll have noticed that the archiving of older course versions is complete. If you had access to the older versions previously, you still have access now under a separate "course". If you'd like your access to the older versions removed from your course page, please let me know by replying to this email. Course Updates I've been exploring Kniterate's varied...