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Monday, February 25, 2013

Knit Leader Project

I am just beginning a project with my Knit Leader.  I am going to try to create the Knit Leader course I've been threatening to do for ages.

Here's the big idea with Knit Leaders:  you draw and follow a pattern the same size as the finished knitting.  You can use the same pattern for different yarns, gauges, and machines.  Yes, sewing patterns will work!  You can go to the fabric store and flip through all the stylish patterns (go with "sized for knits") and have a great time.  You can purchase sewing patterns for men, women, children, babies, and even crafts, and they'll work fine.  Since you're tracing, you can purchase multi-size patterns and not have to cut them apart, making it easy to use them for several people.  Trace the stitching line, though, leaving off the seam allowance.

Truthfully, most of the patterns I have followed on my Knit Leader, I simply drafted myself.  For a Knit Leader course, however, I will use a commercial sewing pattern.

So I dug out my several mylar sheets and started cleaning them.  I have purchased several Knit Leaders on the cheap over the years.  They are readily available and a wonderful investment to help you make knits that fit.  As long as you follow all the steps, the Knit Leader is almost foolproof. 

Even if you use a wipe-off marker, the mylar sheets do tend to get a little stained.  Most of my sheets were marked in water-soluble marker, which came off easily but left some staining, faint lines showing where they were marked, which was somewhat alleviated with rubbing alcohol.  These faint lines aren't going to be a problem, because the new lines will be strong and visible. 

One sheet, disgracefully, had some permanent marker stains on it, and I still was able to get most of them off with alcohol on a paper towel.  John and I played with different cleaning chemicals around the house on some of the stains.  Some of the things we tried (so you don't have to) were nail polish remover, window cleaner, laundry stain remover, mechanic's hand cleaner, paint thinner, penetrating oil, Goof Off, and hair spray.  Nothing worked better than the rubbing alcohol.

My favorite mylar sheet, which unlike the used ones I purchased, I had marked myself for my size, got a good cleaning, too.  On a single sheet, using different colors, I had a long sleeve, a short sleeve, a round neck, square neck, and V-neck, all of which I know fit me because I still wear the sweaters!  I made quite a few tops with that "master pattern."  The sheet had gotten messy, though, and I am ready to redo it, so I wiped it off, too.

I also have knitted quite a few tops with Design A Knit.  DAK is wonderful, but quite expensive, and really, the KnitLeader has an edge because it's a full-sized picture of what you're going to knit.  You can lay a favorite sweater on the mylar pattern and check the width and length.  You can compare your first knitted piece to the pattern and see if you're on track for a good fit right away.

24 comments:

  1. Dear Diana,

    What an excellent idea to make a knit leader course! I have never used mine but I really should because for some projects it is just the perfect solution. I have learned so much from your videos in the past and I always link to them when one of my fellow knitters is having a problem that can be solved with one of your videos. Although many of them don’t understand all of your comments as we are no English native speakers it is still very helpful to just watch what you are doing.

    I have one tip for you how to avoid stains on your mylar sheets in future. Instead of drawing directly onto the sheets you can fix a paper pattern behind it with Scotch tape. You will be able to see the pattern through the mylar sheets. Many seamstresses including me also use plastic drop cloth for copying patterns which might be used successfully for this purpose as well.

    Good luck for your video course! I am looking forward to watching the videos. Thanks for all the effort you are making to keep machine knitting alive! I and many other knitters really appreciate it.

    Petra

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  2. Hi Diana - I have Knit Radar on my Knitmaster machine , which I think uses patterns at 50%. I'm just starting to play around with it. I had been thinking of reducing some sewing patterns on a photocopier and tracing them onto the knit radar sheets I own. Do you have any videos available using knit radar?

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    1. see Susy Ranner blog on using Knit Radar, it is very helpful

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  3. Looking forward to this course! Thank you for all you do!

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  4. Diane - this sounds so exciting. I have never heard of Knit Leader - but will wait anxioulsy to see what you come up with. Thanks.

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  5. Diana, I started following your blog about a month or so ago. I have been machine knitting since about 1978. I studied with a lady from Japan for many years, taking weekly lessons and becoming more proficient as time went on. Her main focus as a teacher was to teach pattern drafting, and exquisite finishing techniques. Unfortunately my teacher passed away in 2009 and I lost the impetus to continue knitting. I didn't think there was anyone out there who could knit like her until I saw your blog. You are doing things which she taught and I honestly thought no one else knew. Your example of knitting the set in sleeve upside down was always the way I was taught to knit a sleeve, unless of course the pattern had a one way design. The only differences I am noting are in the draft of your sleeve. I was taught to have a flat area (appr. 10% of the stitches) at the top of the sleeve cap before adding stitches back in...I would have to explain in terms of the pattern draft but that would take too long.

    The question I have for you is - Is the Knit Leader a Brother attachment? Because to the best of my knowledge the Knit Radar for Studio (aka Silver Reed, Singer etc) uses a half pattern. I have played with mine but did not find it particularly accurate, I only own Studio's and it is really all the experience I have. I have started knitting again and am enjoying it, I look to you as my new teacher. So, my question is, can you also provide some instruction for those with Studio machines?

    Many thanks for sharing so much of your knowledge. I am inspired again to knit garments and increase my knitting knowledge. I have gone back over all of my old notes on pattern drafting and lessons I learned and drafted a sweater pattern just the other day. I truly appreciate all of your videos and your sharing of information.

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  6. The Studio machines do use a half-size Knit Radar, and I admit, I prefer the full-size system that Brother and Toyota used.

    No plans to do any Knit Radar lessons as of now. I am very slow, so this alone will take me a while.

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  7. You know, you can probably get some Knit Radar patterns by watching for them on the internet. Since Silver Reed is still importing, they may sell nice sets of patterns.

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    1. Thanks Diana, I agree a lesson on the Knit Leader would be very difficult to put together and I certainly understand. I have all the patterns for the Knit Radar and perhaps after seeing your lessons on the Knit Leader I will get some ideas on how to better use the Knit Radar. Thank you again for all you share.

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  8. Just last week we had an incident with a pemanent marker on a rubbery plastic cell phone case that someon was trying to decorate. We tried all those same solutions, LOL, but NOT rubbing alcohol. I wonder if it's too late now since she decorated it some more....

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  9. Some Knit Radars are for full size patterns but only use half of the drawing. Other's use 1/2 scale patterns using only 1/2 of the drawing. I have a Knit Radar 5 which is 1/2 scale and no you can not photo copy and get it the sewing pattern to exact scale. You can trace the sewing pattern onto heavier paper and take that to a copy store with proper equipment for a 1/2 scale reduction. Usually these places cater to architects and others who use blue prints. I was told that the local company's equipment can't scan the thin tissue paper sewing patterns. The lady recommended to me to trace it onto white paper, which is a good idea to get rid of the seam allowance. The local office stores are unable to do this for me as the sewing patterns are wider than their scanning beds. To the best of my knowledge Silver Reed hasn't made any "modern" patterns for the Knit Radar. The only ones I have found use outdated styles and way to many drop shoulders. LOL

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  10. Tracy, let me know. You might get a big improvement even though the marker is set. The permanent marker I scrubbed off the other day had been on quite a while.

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  11. I love the results with my Knit Leader and love working with it on my Brother machine too.I use children's washable markers pens,they are Crayola, and have had no problems wiping them off. My knitting friend has given me a tip I am yet to try out. To use the Knit Leader to produce a pattern for a machine that doesn't have a trip to move the Knit Leader on row by row - draw the pattern on the mylar and work a tension square on whatever machine you want to use. Put the correct scale on and set the stitch width and length. Use the Knit Leader without it being attached to any machine. Read off your number of stitches to cast on the first row and write your pattern down, clicking the row changer by hand read off each row and write what you see. At the end you have a written pattern to follow. It's much easier and faster than clicking each row up manually as you knit. I have a Zippy 90 for chunky yarn and can now convert any of my standard gauge patterns that fit well so long as they have a schematic. There is a good chance all the experienced knitters that visit here already do this but I was so pleased to be shown this I thought I would pass it on to any other novices who drop by here. I honestly would never have thought of doing a dummy run with the Knit Leader to produce a written pattern.

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  12. Hi Diana,
    I will definately be on the waiting list for this. My teacher is very keen to learn how to use it (80+ year oly lady) she never stops learing. I will keenly await updates. Karen in Australia.

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  13. I am just a new knitter and I am really interested in learning about the knit leader. I would love to learn it. With your great videos and printed instructions you will be great! I want to buy it already! Now I just have to buy one to start to use it.
    Valery Roberts

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  14. Can you please tell me how to lock onto a row on an electronic machine? I have a brother KH930, KH965i and KH270-bulky.

    Diane R.

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  15. That's what the "memo" button is for. It will remember a row for later on and is helpful when you divide for a neck, or have to stop and rip out.

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  16. Hi Diana,
    I am another returning to knitting after several years (due to back injury). I still have all my equipment including the knitleader. However i have forgotten how to draw the patterns. I have put on a little weight since injuring my back so none of the drawn patterns are correct. Also have multiple drawn patterns that were for my kids when younger. Need to clean them all off and start again as I only have 3 sheets! Bit scared to do this as am not sure how i will go drawing new patterns. Is there any information on drawing the patterns from scratch explaining about the ribs etc?
    Only just discovered your blog and it is very interesting!
    Regards from Julie in Australia.

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  17. Can't wait for the Knitleader series. Looking to run a from home business making garments as my spouse is terminally ill and I must stay home. I believe the knitleader is a godsend for production garment makers and I can't wait to make mine sing.

    Thanks for all your hard work on the videos.

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  18. Send me an email reminding me about your purpose for the lessons. I'll get you an early copy.

    The disks are edited, and going into duplication soon.

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  19. Love the idea of a Knit Leader course. You are a wonderful tutor :-)
    The mylar sounds expensive. Home Hardware sells heavy gauge plastic sheeting @ 4 feet wide and by the yard ~ $4/yard. The lighter gauge costs less, but I think that the heavy gauge sounds synonymous with mylar.
    Shine ON* Katie

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  20. Did this course ever get off the ground? Would love to see it, I'm muddling through trying to use mine!

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