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Detailed pattern illustration demonstrating bust dart shaping techniques for better fit
Knitwear Design
darts garment fit garment shaping shaping

Bust Darts for better Fit

Stop pulling down the front of your sweaters. Add bust darts for better fit.

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A sheet of specialized graph paper showing the rectangular grid pattern used for charting knitting designs, with squares proportioned to match knitting gauge
Knitwear Design
drafting tip

Knitters Graph Paper

Knitters graph paper is essential in charting shapes (necklines, sleeves) and for creating stitch patterns "to scale".

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Technical drawing of a sweater showing different sleeve length options, from cap sleeve to full length, with measurement indicators for customization
Knitwear Design
garment shaping garment style measuring shaping sleeve

Sleeveless Sleeves

You've found the perfect pattern, and sleeveless just isn't comfortable for you.
Easily add custom sleeves to drop shoulder or square armhole sweaters with the Knit it Now Sleeves Tool.

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A knitted sweater being worn with an overly long sleeve extending past the model's hands, highlighting the common fit issue of excessive sleeve length
Knitwear Design
magic formula sleeve sleeve length

Sleeves too long? Here are 3 easy ways to get them right

Why search for a pattern with short sleeves (or 3/4 length)?

With a little math (or a Knit it Now Dynamic Pattern) you can make the sleeves any length you want.

Be your own knitwear designer and knit perfect length sleeves.

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Child demonstrating why proper neck opening size matters in children's knitwear
Knitwear Design
garment shaping neck shaping

Kids Heads are Big!

When knitting pullover sweaters for babies and kids, it's important to make sure the neck opening will fit over the head.

Looking at sizing charts, 3 month heads are 15". Neck openings are 4.5". Yes, knitting stretches, but leaving one shoulder open is the answer.

Make it easier for Mom and baby - leave a shoulder open and add a designer element!

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Close-up of a machine-knitted European shoulder showing the distinctive angled seam placement
Knitwear Design
garment style shoulder seams

European Shoulders: A Sophisticated Designer Detail for Machine Knitters

European shoulders add a sophisticated designer touch. What they are, who they’re for, and how to knit them on your machine.

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Side-by-side drawings of sleeve styles showing armhole variations and construction techniques for machine knitting
Knitwear Design
armhole decreasing designing garment shaping seaming sleeve

Armhole / Sleeve Choices for Knitters

When choosing a sweater style the first consideration is the armhole / sleeve style.

Looking at any knitting pattern or even ready-to-wear sweaters, it's important to be able to recognize the basic shape.

Let's explore some common armhole/sleeve styles and the features of each in terms of knitting skills needed and fit.

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Asymmetric V-neckline illustration showing the use of Knit it Now charting tools
Knitwear Design
custom knitting patterns Knit it Now Tool tapers

Slope vs Taper - Draft Angles for your Knitting

When drafting knitting patterns or just making adjustments, understanding the math behind angled shaping is important. Explore the difference between slopes and tapers. Do you struggle with math? Check out the Knit it Now tools to take the guesswork out of creating custom knitting instructions.

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Illustrated guide showing different sweater neckline styles for machine knitting, including crew neck, v-neck, scoop neck and boat neck variations
Knitwear Design
garment shaping neck shaping

Neckline Planning for Machine Knitters

When choosing a sweater style to knit, one of the many decisions is "what neckline style do I want?" For machine knitters, consider your skills, your machine, techniques and your yarn when making a decision.

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Machine knitted sweater shown on model with overlay sketch highlighting the asymmetrical hemline design
Knitwear Design
garment shaping increasing short row

Asymmetric Hem for Machine Knitters

Adding a shaped hemline is an easy way to create a custom machine knit designer sweater. With just a little planning you can add this feature to any pattern and quickly knit it with your knitting machine.

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Illustrated guide showing various collar styles for machine knitted garments, including stand-up, shawl, and fold-down designs
Knitwear Design
collar garment style lapel

Creating Collars with a Knitting Machine

Adding collars to machine knitting patterns is easier than you think! Collars can be just as important as design elements as stripes and stitch patterns for enhancing your knitwear designs.

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