Schematics 101

Most knit and crochet garment patterns contain a super helpful thing in them called a schematic. Every garment pattern we release contains one of these. If an accessory has a unique construction, we’ll add one there, as well. A good schematic should at minimum incorporate these elements:

  • measurements for most, if not all, lengths/widths/circumference, etc of the item
  • be drawn to proportionally to scale (of course, as garments get larger in size, these proportions will change. I personally draw my schematics based on the smallest size)
  • show a single line drawing/piece for a seamless garment, or separate pieces for a seamed garment, or some combination of the two, depending on construction
  • bonus points for arrows or indications of what direction the various pieces are worked

I’ve had a few recent conversations with knitters who either completely ignored the schematic in a pattern, or were unsure about how to interpret the measurements and other details in them. With this uncertainty, things either went awry, or they lacked the confidence to feel like they were on the right track with their projects.

Right here, right now, I very passionately would like to clear some things up about the Mighty Schematic.

Example #1: Brook Cardigan:

It might be a little overwhelming at first with so many numbers and arrows and lines. But each of those things has a reason for being there, and it’s to help!

First, let’s take a look at the arrows on the drawing. At the very bottom edge, there are two arrows pointing upward. These arrows indicate the direction of knitting. It means you will knit the two front pieces separately to start. And see how they’re joined with a solid line at the neck? At this point you will join the two sides, and knit the back downward in one piece.

Likewise – see the sleeve with the arrow on it? This indicates that stitches are picked up along the side of the body, and the sleeve is knit outward from there.

The pattern notes are another place in a pattern where you can pick up helpful information about the construction of the item. It’s a good idea to read through these in addition to consulting the schematic.

Example #2: Grand Staff Cardi

I’m not going to name names (ah-Krista-em), but one of the folks in customer service is knitting this project in Bamboo Pop, and came to me with concerns a couple of months ago. In fairness, there is a lot going on in this schematic. But the issue Krista was having wasn’t particularly with the construction, as it’s clear from the pattern and pattern notes itself how the construction works.

Krista is a petite thing, so she’s making the small size, which has a finished bust of about 35″. Her concern was that as she was working on her back piece, it was measuring 24″ after casting on. This could be a valid concern – after all, 2 x 24″ would make for a whopping 48″ cardigan which would be much too large for Krista.

She measured gauge and was spot-on, so it wasn’t making sense why her stitches measured so wide on the needle. The detail that eluded Krista: this cardigan is A-line, which means it is wider at the hem than it is at the bust line.

That wide line that’s circled up there – that is the measurement of the back at the cast-on edge. We know this because the line travels the full width of the back. The shorter line below it is the back width at the bust, which is 6″ less wide. Krista had not consulted the schematic, hence her panic. Once we took a look and I assured her she was on the right track, everything went swimmingly. And I can’t wait to see her FO!

Example #3: Tranquil Tee

If you take a close look at the stitch patterns on this tee, you can probably figure out that it’s knit sideways. And if not, no worries – the pattern notes tell you so.

Additionally, the schematic shows exactly how your piece of knitting should look as you’re going along. You start by casting on with a sleeve, which is that rectangle at the bottom (and top) of the above schematic, knitting for 3″, and then casting on more stitches for the front and back of the sweater. The solid horizontal line indicates that this garment is knit in two pieces, and we can see that each piece is identical.

The solid vertical line right in the center is where each half is split for the neck. If you’re knitting along with this project, it might not make sense to split your piece right in the middle and knit the two sides separately. But with the help of the schematic, it helps to make sense of instructions that might not otherwise.

Example #4: Exhilarate

This is a garter stitch shawl, worked modularly. The knitting itself is not difficult, but without a diagram or schematic, it could be confusing to know where to pick up stitches for successive sections.

This drawing is really more of a diagram than a full-on schematic with numbers and things, but I wanted to include it anyway because it illustrates the construction of the piece.

In conclusion: Please don’t forget to look at your schematic! It is there to help, and it wants you to successfully knit your garment.

Do you have any other questions about schematics not mentioned above? Have a frustrating experience of your own about a schematic? I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Oasis Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Gray blanket crocheted in Adore yarn with colored granny squares

Today, the Oasis Blanket crocheted in Adore (pattern link here).

The Oasis Blanket gets its name from the bursts of color set into the gray background.

Detail of colored squares in gray crochet background of baby blanket

Each one is an oasis.

Blue, green, and pink granny squares in crochet Oasis Blanket

Worked in Adore (273yds/100g), a soft blend of superwash merino and anti-pilling acrylic, it’s a great piece that’s soft enough for babies but sturdy enough to stand up to the washing machine.

Oasis Blanket draped over chair

Each motif is worked separately, making this a very portable project.  It also makes it easy to adjust the size on this 31″ x 31″ blanket as you wish – add another row of squares or take one away as needed.

Gray crochet blanket draped over chair back

We hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Happy crafting!

Folded gray, pink, green, and blue blanket crocheted in Oasis with lace border

Independence Day Giveaway!

Happy Independence Day, y’all!

We came in to the office today feeling patriotic and decided to share the love! From now until the end of July 5th, get a free Little Patriot top from Ravelry with code HAPPY4TH with no spaces. (Pattern link here)

Enter the code where you see the  “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase.

This is such a cute Bamboo Pop pattern, isn’t it?  Sized 1-12 years, it works for both the little and not-so-little patriot in your life.

You know what makes it even cuter? It’s from an e-book of Bamboo Pop Kid designs… with a matching FREE e-book of doll designs!

Sized to fit 18″ dolls, these are quick tops in Bamboo Pop to use up your odds and ends after knitting the kid projects.

Matching kid and doll?  Too cute!

We’ll be closed for the 4th of July on Wednesday.  Have a safe and happy Independence Day.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern – Independence Tank

What are you wearing for Independence Day?

Yorkshire Terrier dog in red white and blue costume
“Woof!”
Baby goat kid in American patriotic ribbon
“Naaaah!”
cat in American patriotic costume and goggle
“When I get out of this I will kill you.”

How about a brand new free pattern?

woman in red white and blue striped tank top knit in Flax

The Independence Tank in Flax (pattern link here).

Cool and light, 100% linen Flax is a great choice for summer projects.

Red, White, and Blue for Independence Day.

Knit front and back pieces from side to side, then join.

Independence Day tank made in Flax, worn by young woman

Add a few stockinette rows for a rolled edge.  Presto, a lightweight top perfect for a day out, or a night watching fireworks.  This would look awfully cute any other day of the year, too, in whatever colors you like.

Detail of linen tank top knitted in Fibra Natura Flax

We hope you have a fantastic Independence Day.  And if you’re going to spend it outdoors, don’t forget your sunscreen – and a hat!

Alpaca draped in American flag
“Why yes, I do look fabulous.”

Free Pattern Friday – Tidal Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Variegated blue shawl knit in Little Bird and Little Bird Colors yarn

Today, the Tidal Shawl in Little Bird and Little Bird Colors (pattern link).

Shawl knitting in the summertime? Yes, please.

rear view of triangular knitted blue striped shawl

We hate to give up an entire category of projects, just because the temperature’s risen a little.  That’s what makes Little Bird and Little Bird Colors great for this project.  They’re 100% microfiber acrylic, so you won’t overheat with the project in your lap while knitting.

Close up of eyelet stitch pattern in knitted Little Bird shawl

The Tidal Shawl uses one solid color and one self-striping, for a nicely coordinated feel.  A textured stitch is combined with little eyelets for a texture that lets individual stitches of the solids and stripes show through each other – a nice blending of colors.

Woman's hands holding edge of shawl knitted with i-cord bind-off

Work it top-down, and finish with a neat i-cord bind-off.  Presto.  A gorgeous shawl you can wear year-round.

I love the blues that give the Tidal Shawl its name, but you might like something different.  Maybe a Sunshine Shawl?

103 Angel Peach
208 Twirl

Or a Blues and Berries Shawl?

109 Peacock
202 Harmonize

There are boundless possibilities.

Happy crafting!

woman laughing wearing knitted blue shawl

Meet Unity + Giveaway!

Last year we introduced a very special yarn called Unity, along with its patterned counterpart, Unity Beyond.

Unity/Unity Beyond is made up of linen, cotton, bamboo, and wool. Man, I love a good blend, especially when it’s the best of both plant and animal worlds, as is the case with Unity. This yarn is bursting with character. Let me give you a closer look:

Color 204 Boardwalk

The bamboo, wool, and cotton are combed together and twisted, and a fine strand of linen is wrapped around. The strand is just a bit thick and thin, but subtly so. In the Unity Beyond colorways, the dye is printed on just one side of the yarn giving an organic, washed out appearance.

Last week we released Desert Dreams, a collection of 6 pieces in the yarn. (link to ebook)

This collection was photographed just blocks from our office here in Charlotte at an old-timey general store called Davis General Merchandise. The owner, Silas, kindly allowed us to shoot around the grounds to take advantage of the aged, rich texture of the building materials. Our own Rachel Brockman did the photography, so every shot is through the knitter’s eye.

All patterns can be purchased via Ravelry as individual downloads or together as an ebook. (Ravelry link)

And that brings me to our giveaway! Crochet expert Ellen Gormley released a swatching video featuring Unity Beyond. I work with our yarns every day, so it’s always interesting to me to hear another’s take on our products. Ellen does not disappoint! You can see her video here: (link video)

And if you’re interested in brushing up on some crochet techniques, follow Ellen’s youtube channel. She has lots of instructional videos.

But back to free yarn! Here are the details:

  • Two lucky crafters will win the Atacama Scarf pattern and the yarn to make it with (3 skeins of Unity Beyond!)
  • For a chance to win, leave us a comment on this post. Keeping in line with our Unity theme and Ellen’s commentary about why one might like to work with a yarn like this that has such rich character, in your comment, tell me something unique about yourself
  • Leave this comment before Monday, July 3, 12 pm EST
  • Winners will be announced on July 4
  • Eligible for US crafters only (no offense, international peeps!)

And that’s it! Craft on, and keep on doing whatever it is that makes you, you!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Mars Tee

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Smiling woman in jeans and crochet red Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray shirt

Today, the Mars Top crocheted in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray (pattern link).

How’s your summer going?  Are you still looking for that perfect project that will be satisfying to make but not stifle you in the heat?

Side view of woman wearing red crochet top standing outdoors

Voila!  Amy Gunderson’s Mars Tee!  Crocheted in the round from the bottom up, this beauty is sized from XS to 4X, with shaping that starts out a little bigger at the base, for those of us with a bigger… um… base.  The point is, this is comfortable and cool.

Detail of red crochet stitchwork on woman's shoulder

Double-crocheting three together makes cute little eyelets without making the fabric too lacey-loose.

Red top crocheted in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray

From personal experience, I can tell you that the Cotton Supreme family is easy on the hands to use. Go with either the called-for Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray, or try solid Cotton Supreme DK.  How cute would this look striped?

Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray

We hope you have a great weekend, with lots of time for you to take care of yourself.

Happy crafting!

Woman walking away wearing red crochet cotton top

Free Pattern Friday – Malawi Earrings

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Malawi Earrings in Yashi and Yashi Iro (pattern link here).

Hot enough for ya? It is here, so we’re looking with delight at some of the great designs in Yashi and Yashi Iro 100% raffia that are out there.  We saw Gwen Buttke McGannon’s First Light Rug in the Summer 18 issue of Interweave Crochet and thought, “yes.  that’s what we need.”

Something cool and light.  And as always, designer Rachel Brockman does not disappoint.

These fun summer accessories don’t take much work, but they look great.

All the notions  you need are some jewelry findings, and a crochet hook to pull your favorite colors of Yashi into a loop.

If you can make fringe, you can make this jewelry.

A few beads to finish them off, and you’re set.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, and that you stay cool.

Happy crafting!

Father’s Day Tie

If you’re looking for a last-minute but thoughtful Father’s Day gift, you’re in luck. Today we’re sharing the Father’s Day Tie. This necktie takes just 36 grams of Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash! 

Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Tweed

I talk to my dad at least two or three times a week. He’s one of my best friends, and I feel so lucky for that. On top of that, my husband (and hesitant but equally gracious model for these photos) is a pretty fantastic dad to our dogs and cats. Yep – I am totally the kind of person who sees their pets as a ridiculously special part of my family.

Anyway, as we well know, Father’s Day celebrates all the great father figures out there. Yep, father figures – because it’s so important to recognize those that have played that role in our lives, regardless of a biological relationship. Whether that’s a spouse, friend, dad (or dog dad!), it’s important to take a moment to say thank you.

The Father’s Day Tie is knit flat primarily in linen stitch and features a spine of slipped stitches down the center. Paired with Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash, this accessory elevates an otherwise casual look. So what are you waiting for? Grab your needles and yarn and get started! You can find the pattern here (link).

Free Pattern Friday – TNNA Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

man wearing light blue vest knit in Bamboo Pop yarn

Today, the TNNA Vest knit in Bamboo Pop (pattern link here).

This vest was inspired by an idea we had a couple of years ago.  In 2016, we designed the TNNA Cardi and all wore it to the National Needlearts Association’s tradeshow, the event where we get to meet with our LYS owner friends and show them what’s new for the sesaon.

Katie, Yonca, and Amy are ready to show off some yarn!

The cardi looked and fit great, but wasn’t really tailored to the guys attending.  This year, we’re fixing that!

The TNNA Vest is also knitted in Bamboo Pop color 107 Ocean (gotta match!), but it replaces lace with different stitch patterns.    The V panel in the center recalls the diagonal lace of the original cardi.  The largest size (4X) only takes 5 balls – Bamboo Pop goes a long way!

We’re heading to the show next week.  If you’ll be there, swing by booth 1032 and say hi.  We’d love to see you!

Have a great weekend.  Happy crafting!

brown haired man wearing light blue knitted vest smiling