#altering knitting patterns

Party in a Cuff would make a good title for this post too.

I must admit I was a little wary of Nicky Epstein’s books, which included the earlier Knitting on the Edge and Knitting Over the Edge. Mostly because as a new knitter but an old hand at pondering design, I have been struck at how often a pattern for a knitted sweater will place its most interesting features at the bottom edge. Such as cables, ribbings, little patterns, etc. Partly, this is because putting them further up near the face or the shoulders would involve more complicated directions. But the result is often that the eye is not drawn upward towards the face but down around the hips which is hardly good design. This has discouraged me as I think, “hmmm... like the shape, but I would have to change the neckline and add a collar....” 

But this volume focuses on cuffs and collars and necklines, as much as corners and edges and closures, and a good number of the edges could be those at the front of a cardigan. So you see here, Rosey’s ruffle cuff which comes with a matching collar, perfect for a party sweater to keep you warm in the cool months or evenings. Then in the deep pink a 1/1 rib braid center collar made in one piece and a garter neck to which a sew of scrolled I-cords are sewn. Then you see the charming open-cable buttonhole band in lilac for a cardigan opening, or a top opening on a pullover, and finally, some edges in green including dots and dashes, and a stockinette stitch hearts.

Since I have been altering sewing pattern details for years, this book gives me both ideas and encouragement to make some alterations to the knitting patterns I have been eyeing. And it should do the same for you too.