Designing Knitwear: Amazon.ca: Deborah Newton, Christine Timmons: Books

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From Library Journal

Readers of Vogue Knitting and Threads are familiar with Newton's beautifully crafted knitwear, as are readers of mass circulation periodicals like Family Circle and Woman's Day. Here Newton systematizes her approach to designing handknit garments and, in the process, shares information she searched for in vain when she was a fledgling designer. Using 16 of her original designs as teaching tools, Newton takes the reader from idea to finished garment, emphasizing creative swatching and a lighthearted "what-if?" approach as the creative process begins, followed by solid documentation and detailed garment schematics as the design takes its final form. This is not a how-to-knit book. The author assumes her reader has the knitting skills required to put to good use in-depth information on design sources, yarn characteristics, working with silhouette and fit, and designing with stitch patterns, color, and graphics. Highly recommended.
- Janice Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., Fullerton
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

If you dream of creating your own knitwear designs, master designer Deborah Newton shares the secrets she's learned over the years. Newton offers in-depth information on shaping and fitting, color and graphics, dressmaker details, finding design inspiration, creating textured fabrics, and more. In addition, she includes patterns for 16 garments and dozens of partial schematics for you to develop into your own original designs.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
Master designer Deborah Newton takes the mystery out of the design process and shares the trade secrets she has accumulated in over 18 years of design experience. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The first book I bought to learn how to design, May 18 2002

By

"arana8" (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Knitwear (Paperback)

I worked very hard on a child's lace-trimmed sweater from a pattern only to be very disappointed by the result. The dropped shoulders had no shaping and a clumsy-looking knitted seam, the back rode up, and the button band was too narrow to control the curl of the edge. That was when I thought, "I could do better than this." I decided to start designing my own stuff. "Designing Knitwear" has a lot to offer someone who wants to design their own knitwear. Newton's ideas are inspiring. I don't particularly like the majority of projects she gives directions for, but I learned a lot about the design process from her, and about producing looks that are way beyond the run-of-the-mill. One thing I don't like about the book is that Newton takes the sewing approach, with the flat-knit pieces sewn together, the edges sewn on, etc. I like to keep sewing to a minimum in knitted garments.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good with the bad, Mar 28 2004

By

Lori Freeman "rosaphile" (Milford, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Designing Knitwear (Paperback)

First, the good: there is a lot of information here about different fibers, explanations of silhouettes, ease, and different styles that is very helpful. There are tips on sketching and charting your own designs, as well as structural details of different styles, e.g. set-in sleeves, saddle shoulders. Much of the information is opinionated, but the author usually explains her reasoning.

The bad: I found many of her technical explanations incomplete and/or difficult to follow (and I've been knitting for about 10 years). I also found the many (many, many) self-gratulating personal references a bit tiresome. 'This is how I do this,' 'I like to do that,' 'Let me tell you all about a perfectly brilliant design idea I had one day while waiting for the bus,' etc. Somehow I got the impression the author has an air of superiority, as if to say her way is NATURALLY the best way, if not the only way. Maybe this irritated me more because I disliked most of her designs and thought them all but unwearable. If you're into 'haute couture' or 'wearable art,' you might enjoy them more; I prefer to design garments which are more subtle.... or, as she might say, 'bland and pedestrian.' (If that means saying "No" to big bulky coats knitted of fuzzy chartreuse mohair, complete with giant buttons, then color me bland and pedestrian.)

Bottom line: For the technical and structural elements of design, this book is worth looking into, but I'm still looking for a better knitting design book.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating glimpse into a designer's mind, Mar 2 2002

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Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Sunny and not-so-sunny California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designing Knitwear (Paperback)

First, I would like to clear up a few misunderstandings about this book. The author does not trash dime store knitters. She simply states that she finds them to be part of the folk art land scape. However, her constant admonition throughout the book is to buy the best you can afford. You can't cook a gourmet meal with bargain basement ingredients, can you?

Also, swatching is an absolutely essential part of the designing process. (Some designers even go so far as to suggest dedicating an entire ball of yarn to swatches) A designer who does not swatch will never know the full potential of a yarn. This is simply a fact. If you don't like swatching (and I don't) the author offers alternatives. However, she makes her swatches so pretty that I am almost tempted to change my mind.

The author offers her design system so that [novice] designers can borrow some or all of it until we come up with our own. The system is methodical and seems a great deal of fun. We find inspiration, find a yarn and swatch swatch swatch.

I hope everyone will give this book a fair chance. Knitters are artists and artists are not helped by being thin skinned or afraid to try something new.

AS noted by other reviewers, this book is not for the total beginner. You are expected to be knowledgable of basic knitting techniques as well as fibers etc.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
I am only a beginning knitter but I've checked this book out of the library several times in the past couple of years. Read more

Published on Feb 8 2004 by M. A. Powers

4.0 out of 5 stars How one knit designer does her thing
Here is a fascinating peek into the way one designer, Deb Newton, does her knitwear. Her designs are very recognizable--interesting stitch texture, shapes from couture. Read more

Published on May 21 2003 by Joanna Daneman