This is so easy to do and a great way to use up small amounts of yarn. First knit some samples roughly 60 sts by 60 rows to play about with, you will also need a base to work on so knit a sample
about 12-15 inches square or use the back or front of an old sweater. Draw some shapes on fine card (cereal box is ideal) a diamond, circle, paisley shape or heart, see diagram 1
the choice is yours. Draw the shape no bigger 3” x 4” so you dont start too large.
Diagram 1
For years I have wanted to design a wedding dress for the machine knitter but never actually got round to it. During one of my many chats with Anne Smith (Machine Knitting Monthly) she convinced me to ”go for it” so here we are.
Also I felt in this economic climate, when we are all having to count the pennies, it made perfect sense. Having looked at wedding dresses for sale I was staggered to find a decent dress cost at least £600 and £1000 was not uncommon. The top I have created has cost approximately £32.75, which if you include the cost of materials for the skirt means you can create the whole dress for less than £100. Believe me it is not that difficult to do as I hope to prove, and the satisfaction gained is priceless. The following instructions apply to either top.
MaterialsYeoman Fine Crepe
Colour 13 Lilac
1 Cone knit 3 fold
To fit Bust 34 (36:38:40:42:44) inches
87 (92:97:102:107:112) cm
Actual all round measurement 38 (40:42:44:46:48) inches
97 (102:107:112:117:122) cm
seaspray
Materials
Yeoman Panama 4ply Cotton and Acrylic
Colour 214 Spray
1 Cone for first 2 sizes, 2 Cones for remainder
Sizes
To fit Bust 34 (36:38:40:42:44) inches
87 (92:97:102:107:112) cm
Actual all round measurement 38 (40:42:44:46:48) inches
97 (102:107:112:117:122) cm
Main Tension
30sts and 40 rows to 10cm measured over stocking stitch after sample has been washed and lightly pressed.
Machines
These instructions are written for standard gauge machines with ribber or Electronic machines. Garment illustrated was knit on a Brother 965 electronic.
Notes
All decreases and increases are made fully fashioned using a 3 pronged transfer tool. 6 sts extra have been allowed on front to counteract the pull in effect of the 3 cables.
Selvedge edge
To get a really neat selvedge edge this is the method I use to cast on.
TD0 on both beds knit 1 row and Continue reading
Materials
Forsell’s 4 ply pure wool.
1 Cone for the first 3 sizes and 2 Cones for the rest.
Colour used 156 Silver Grey
Sizes
To fit bust 87 (92:97:102:107) cm.
Actual all around measurement 97 (102:107:112:117) cm.
Main Tension
30 sts and 41 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch TD7 approx.
Machines
These instructions are written for standard gauge punch card machines with ribber or electronic machines. Garment illustrated was knit on a Brother 950i Electronic
It is quite surprising the effect that transferring certain stitches to the ribber bed has on basic tuck stitch patterns. The examples I will be showing you have all been taken from Brother’s Stitch World but are all 12 or 24 stitch patterns. It is vital that end needle selection must be switched off for this technique.
Sample 1
Sample 2
Punchcard 1
For this article I am concentrating on the pearl trimming you buy by the metre which on average costs 40-50 pence per metre, this means you can decorate knitwear very inexpensively and as I am about to show you, very easily. Diagram No.1 shows you the pearls and braids used in all the samples.
Diagram 1
First knit a sample about 60 nds x 60 rows leaving needle 15 right of centre out of work ( knit about 4 rows before putting ndl 15 out of work ), press sample. With wrong side of sample facing place a finger behind the ladder and you will see Continue reading
When I first retired from machine knitting I renewed my interest in dressmaking,and started making shirts and trousers for myself. It was then I discovered the wonderful trimmings one could now obtain in haberdashery and dress fabric shops which I realised could be used to great effect on knitwear. Having been absent from the industry for a number of years, I was also impressed with the number of novelty yarns now available from people like Yeoman and Uppingham yarns which can also be used to trim, rather than knit with. I decided to experiment and came up with various ideas which I am sure you will find useful.
For example look at sample No. 1,
Sample 1
this effect is achieved by leaving the desired number of needles at intervals out of work so a ladder is formed. Then simply thread the yarn into a large eyed tapestry needle (I used a double eyed transfer tool which works really well) pass it under one thread, miss two and repeat the process. A different look can be achieved simply by missing three threads, what could be simpler! In fact the first row I have used a ribbon yarn by Yeoman and the second row a very similar yarn by Uppingham. Of course you can use any narrow ribbon or try a velvet ribbon, knit a sample and experiment.
Sample No.2 is achieved by transferring a stitch Continue reading
All the punch cards used are taken from my patterns produced years ago, but which I felt would make ideal designs for scatter cushions. The first cushion uses my Meadowsweet, pattern 27, the second is Joanna, pattern 23 and the third is Greek Lotus, pattern 26 but worked as mirror image. All the cushions have been knitted in 4-ply yarn and edged with either bought or kitted cords.
PREPARATION
The knitted square should be 1 inch larger than the cushion pad, so for the 22” cushion you need to knit a square approximately 23”. This allows 5/8 inch for seams the finished cover will measure slightly less than 22 in to ensure a nice close fit and plump cushion.
FIRST KNIT
Assuming the yarn used has a tension of approximately 30 stitches and 40 rows to 10 cm/4” you need to cast on 172 stitches and knit 230 rows. You then block it to shape and press according to instructions on the yarn label.For the back of the cushions I prefer to use fabric in a matching shade, however for those who wish to do a knitted back proceed as follows.
Cast on (a weaving cast on is fine) the number of stitches you require Continue reading
