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New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
6638 views   5 replies   Latest reply: February 15, 2016 at 2:23:34 AM

 
Member since:
Feb 3, 2016
Posts: 142
StitchMeKnot message #1
New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 12, 2016 at 2:36:41 PM
 
I just posted a new tutorial on my blog - Design Your Own Knit Cowl. 

While the Cowl is Knit, the tutorial is really a generic 'recipe" that can be used by crocheters to create their own crochet cowl. 

It would be very helpful to me if people would give feedback and suggestions on how I can make these types of tutorials better, or easier, for stitchers. 

I am unable to do video tutorials as I do not have the equipment, or space, to do that. 

Thank you so much!


Debbie
StitchMeKnot Creations - http://stitchmeknot.com


 
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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610
Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 13, 2016 at 3:55:30 AM  (in response to StitchMeKnot message #1)
 
Debbie,

Thank you for posting about your new tutorial!  Kiss  I read it and it's really quite clear and IMO doesn't need a video.  Kiss  While I love videos, they can also take up a lot of time, and sometimes I think we're too dependent on videos for things that can be easily explained.  (I recently found a great video tutorial for something I needed, and now that I know how it works, I have a nice one-page cheat sheet that does the same thing as that 10 minute or whatever length video!)

I love the way you've explained about swatching.  Something of which many of us are guilty of not wanting to do Embarassed, but it's really so important.  Nobody wants to end up with a doll item, LOL, and nobody wants to make something that would fit the Jolly Green Giant (or perhaps these days it would be Hagrid, LOL)!

Completely hearing you about the rolling of the ends!  I've been in the middle of writing a cowl/infinity scarf pattern for a while...the first time I started, the ends rolled.  The second time they didn't (on purpose).  I ended up liking the rolled ends better!  Sometimes it can look good, despite how we're "supposed" to keep everything flat with ribbing or garter stitch.

I can see how this would relate directly to crocheting a cowl as well.  In order to crochet, one still should swatch first.  So really, this tutorial is quite helpful for knitters and crocheters alike!  Kiss

Thank you again for posting!  Kiss


Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict.  If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.


 
Member since:
Feb 3, 2016
Posts: 142
StitchMeKnot message #3
Re: New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 13, 2016 at 9:49:40 AM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #2)
 
Thank you so much for the feedback, Melanie, I really appreciate that.

This was a 'real-lfe' example of why swatches are so important.  Eventhough on the very rare occasion, it can have a good outcome.  My experience has been that very few times does not swatching have a good outcome.

Swatching is absolutely crucial for designers. The swatch gives you all of the information you need up front about your pattern before you ever start crocheting or knitting the actual piece.  Almost 100% of the time doing your homework by swatching at least a 5" x 5" piece will actually end up saving you far more time, energy and frusttration than if you hadn't swatched. 

Again, thank you for the feedback.  It is very important to me to write tutorials in such a way that people can understand them and use them to suit their own purposes.
 


Debbie
StitchMeKnot Creations - http://stitchmeknot.com


 
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
 
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610
Stitchboard Admin message #4
Re: New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 14, 2016 at 7:41:38 AM  (in response to StitchMeKnot message #3)
 
Debbie,

You're so welcome!  Smile  It's always good to find a tutorial that not only teaches, but leads to the reader being able to design their own.  Kiss

Oh, yes, your sizing has to be perfect if you're not going to swatch, but if you don't swatch, then how can you get good sizing?  It's hit or miss, and the chancees of getting it perfectly right aren't very good.

Such sage advice...and yet some designers don't want to do that much!  I've downloaded a few patterns over the years that gave no gauge swatch.  It's fine for things like stuffed toys, where a gauge isn't critical, but it doesn't work well for garments.

You've definitely written an easy to understand tutorial and I hope people will give this one a try!  Kiss


Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict.  If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.


 
Member since:
Feb 3, 2016
Posts: 142
StitchMeKnot message #5
Re: New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 14, 2016 at 6:19:04 PM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #4)
 
Thank you, Melanie!

I appreciate your feedback very much.  I have a couple more generic 'recipe' tutorials like that one on the back burner.  Hopefully I can get them out in a few weeks.  We'll see.


Debbie
StitchMeKnot Creations - http://stitchmeknot.com


 
Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)
 
Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610
Stitchboard Admin message #6
Re: New Blog Post - Design Your Own Cowl
February 15, 2016 at 2:23:34 AM  (in response to StitchMeKnot message #5)
 
Debbie,

You're welcome!  The cowl tutorial is definitely a good stepping stone for other tutorials.  Kiss  Once people see how easy it is, I can't imagine they won't be able to figure out how to start designing their own...how exciting!  Kiss


Melanie  (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict.  If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

 
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