The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth

The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth
Buy The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Crafts
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: {{{summary}}}
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 176	Date: October 2023
Publisher: Storey
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1635866247
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I quickly discovered that putting words and numbers on a page wasn't enough. Creating a pattern that was correct, clear, concise, and consistent required a great deal of trial and error, patience, and perseverance. (Introduction byFrancoise Danoy)

A friend recently showed me a knitting pattern for which she'd paid good money. The first line of the instructions began: Cast off 100 stitches... It was clear that no good could come of this - the instructions didn't get any better - and (finally) PayPal obliged with a refund when the seller refused as she couldn't afford the repayment. The pattern looked pretty, but the creator didn't have the basic knowledge and skills to enable her to connect with her knitters. She should have read The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook.

The book isn't about designing knitwear - that's a whole other skill - it's about transferring your ideas into a pattern that other people could follow with pleasure or you could sell. Many of the points made are pretty basic, but they are often overlooked in what might be described as amateur patterns. Writing a pattern is not simple but Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth ply us with industry secrets and clear instructions. They give us a method of ensuring that all our patterns conform to a certain style and that it's possible to build trust with your knitters.

The writing is clear and simple. Complex ideas are discussed with clarity. The book is inspirational: I came away from it knowing that I could write a pattern. I had the tools.

I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

You could shelve this book next to The Knitter's Dictionary: Knitting Know-How from A to Z by Kate Atherley.

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You can read more book reviews or buy The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth at Amazon.com.

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