Dipping into pattern design

[the_gwenzilliad]

Recently, I was asked to design some sock patterns for an acquaintance. Now, I've written my own patterns before, taught classes on sizing and designing socks, and feel pretty confident about the whole thing, but the (ought to be) simple process of converting a written pattern (a la Barbara Walker) to a circlular chart is driving me up the wall!

Comments

[woolygrrl]

Well, for the BW (or any stitch) patterns that have you doing manipulations both coming and going you'll have to wrap your head around "think about it as views from the RIGHT SIDE", then chart the "wrong side" rows from left to right so that when they are knitted the pattern works properly.

Patterns that have you working only on the right side are easy - chart the working rows and specify in the general directions whether the plain rows are knit or purl.

Qualifier: many BW patterns are given as N+Z stitches, where Z can be a number to make up for a half-drop repeat, or for selvedges, or for any number of things. But again, you're interested in the stitch manipulations, so make a provisional chart, knit from it, see if your swatch matches the swatch in the book.

[crayolaab]

Knit Visualizer is totally worth the money! I really like it, and the support is good too.

[emmacrew]

Re: knit visualizer: I think it is definitely worth the money (and I don't just say that because Nancy hosts my local spinning group, though she is a pretty cool gal).