deal breakers

If you want a great knitted item, good design is essential. If you're knitting said item, good pattern writing is also key. Until recently I thought that these two things were all that was needed to ensure that, once finished, the knitter could look at their beautiful, perfect, useful finished object and beam with pride.

But there is more to a successful knit than a good design aesthetic and clear pattern writing. As all knitters know (or find out quickly after knitting a few pieces) yarn choice is as important to the success of a piece as is basic design. Nothing can wipe that big, proud smile off a knitter's face like discovering that, after a good washing, a cotton garment has grown to T-Rex proportions. Even if an object holds its shape through washing, if that garment pills after only a few wearings the knitter is left feeling as if they've wasted months on something that now looks like they spent just minutes picking it out at a thrift store.

Even if you pick your yarn thoughtfully and choose a well written, beautifully designed pattern, if you don't measure the hell out of yourself you're going to end up with a loser. Nothing bothers me more than seeing finished objects that are knitted perfectly--all the stitches are in their places, all cables/lace panels are flawless--that are just proportioned wrong for the wearer. My ultimate pet peeve is an intended empire waist (for example, stitch-pattern change just below the bust or gathering just below the bust) that actually sits at the fullest part of the wearer's bust. Talk about a good way to make your boobs look saggy and your waist look larger. Careful measuring and a little pattern adjusting can fix this and other similar problems so easily. Unfortunately, to many the idea of ad-libbing part of a pattern is terrifying. Take it from me, changing a pattern does not require superior knitting skills nor does it mean that you can't change it if it's wrong. Insert a lifeline (a piece of waste yarn that you thread through a row that you know is correct. That way when you need to frog and tweak your modifications, you can frog instantly [and safely] back to a perfect row)!

Today I add color choice to my list of "things that you must consider to produce a worth-while knitted item". A girl walked into one of my classes this afternoon wearing little cabled leg warmers over her jeans. They're obviously hand knitted--I can tell someone spent a good couple of hours crafting those babies with love. Why, though, if someone loved these enough to take the time to cable them, did they choose to make them light grey? The poor leg warmers were all spattered with stains and assorted street dirt; in this case bad color choice ruined a perfectly good knitted item. Rule of thumb: if you're going to wear something near your feet, better make it dirt colored. Similarly, if you're going to make a camisole with a plunging back (so a bra is not an option), better not do it in white (unless you're into flashing people). While I'm all for knitting in fabulous colors, the color choice must match the pattern. Sometimes a trendy color is not the right choice for a timeless piece. Classic Aran sweater in fuschia? You'd be lucky to get a couple of wears out of it. Funky colors work best in small or very trendy items, more timeless colors are useful for classic pieces that you expect to own for years. Color choice must support the other elements of a garment that I discussed above; if chosen carefully, a color selection can be the cherry on top of a perfect garment.