Knitwear Design Workshop

Knitwear Design Workshop

We've all been waiting for this book by Shirley Paden, which makes the fitting of handknit garments a practical craft anyone who is serious about it can attain.  Interweave has done a beautiful job with this hard cover, spiral bound volume, with a cover price of $40 and well worth every penny. 

The book's layout is very clean, clear and attractive , with high quality photos and diagrams, to keep the reader inspired and motivated.  Paden writes succinctly and well, packing in a wealth of information, from most basic to advanced, on the craft of sweater making. Among many things, the book provides a step by step math primer for numerous garments, showing all the calculations and exactly how and why they are made.  There are pages on innumerable types of collars, again with math galore, also necklines and sleeves, plus skirts, dresses, coats, and finishing techniques. 

The garments are signature Paden designs, each with great, up to date chic and stunning pattern stitch work.  Some are new designs, and some have been published previously in Vogue Knitting and other magazines, and so provide a great tour of Shirley's work from the last several years.  

For me as a designer, the schematics alone are a gold mine of information.  Good sources for designers to learn the shape and cut of high fashion are as rare as mushrooms in Central Park. Studying these garments is a crash course in fashion school. Further, having math calculations ready at hand is always helpful in the design process, and can keep one on track when the going gets rough.  The fact that this book is written for knitters should not stop any crochet garment designer from buying it.  It's information is applicable to both arts. If garment making is your thing, I urge you to  get this classic now before you have to pay through the nose on ebay!

-- Dora Ohrenstein