A Brief History of Knitware

I have had several comments about the Knitware program & thought that I would give a brief history of the program as I know it. This may help some of the newer machine knitters that are interested in it.

 

Knitware was written by Janet T at least 20 years ago, maybe a little more. It was called Sweater Design at that time, & sold with a set of knitting & sewing software. It generated patterns for sweaters only.  Over the years she regularly updated & enhanced the program adding pattern generators for dolls, pets & teddy bear clothes plus skirts, pants, ponchos, blankets, hats & a variety of other things like dishcloths & dishtowels eventually calling it Knitware & marketing it herself. She had the business for 15 years & had a good following of customers. Janet stated on the Knitware Users group in 2006 that her husband was retiring soon & that she wanted to have more time with him when he did.  She decided that she would sell the business for that reason. (Unfortunately her & her husband divorced shortly are he retired.) She wanted to sell the business to someone that would continue to update & enhance the programs that now came in 3 CD's that she called Sweaters, Skirts & Critter Clothes. She preferred that the business go to one of the Knitware users hoping that these goals would be realized. In late 2006 or early 2007 she sold the company to Ada Lai. The first thing that Ada did was raise the price. Secondly, she decided that she did not want the Knitware Users list 'cluttered up' with posts so that members were discouraged from posting on the list, thereby alienating the members  & effectively destroying her customer base.  Ada promised us an update coming in a few months. The time that the update would become available was constantly moved out later & later. Unfortunately that update never materialized. I think everyone has pretty much understood now that Ada is not the skilled programmer that Janet was., and may have overstated her qualifications.

 

At one time I had the link to Knitware on my blog but have since taken it down. I would not download Knitware or any of the 'fixes' that Ada posts on her website, Great Knit Designs' as I have heard from other knitters that the downloads caused problem on their computers & the program would not function correctly.

 

Sometimes you find an old disc for sale on Ebay, but other than that I would be leery of anything that Ada comes out with whether it is a 'fix' or an update. Frankly I would not buy an update from her at this time even if she did manage to come out with one because I doubt her ability to write a useable program. If you go to the yahoo group 'Machine Knitters' You might find some usable information on how to make the program function. There is no one left on the Knitware Users list as they have all moved on. & Ada has 'banned me' from the list for complaining about the 'no posting' rule. among other things. (At one time, she asked me to write lessons for the program but I declined because I just don't have the time.) The version I am running on my PC is the last update that Janet came out with on 2006. I heard that Ada is now selling the program for $30 each & is the version I am running.  A sad end to an Awesome Program.

While surfing the web I ran across this site. It provides information about Janet & the origins of Knitware. Check it out!! I'm not sure when Ada posted this but am going to read through it just to satisfy my curiosity. I know at one point Ada said that she was going to overtake Design-a-Knit & also Sweater Wizard, both well established programs for the crafter. Ada sounds very optimistic about acquiring Janet's business. She seems to have made this her life's work. Not to be mean, but I think she just bit off more than she could chew.
http://softwaresolutions.fibre2fashion.com/company/great-knit-designs/

 

 

More Knitting with Knitware

When using the Knitware program there are some things that you have to take into consideration. I was finding that my neckbands were coming out tighter than I wanted when I used the 'moderate' fit. As a result of that I decided a long time ago that I would always use the 'comfortable' fit & a wider neckband. I generally add on 6-8 stitches on the neckband & that has worked out well for me. No more problems pulling the sweaters over the heads. Also, sometimes my sleeves were too tight. Using the 'comfortable' setting took care of the issue too.

 

Another feature of the Knitware program is the ability to knit a swatch & weight it, then enter the weight into the program with the row number & stitch number(72 rows x 50 stitches) or whatever & calculate how much yarn you need for that sweater. That helps me to be able to make the biggest sweater possible with the amount of yarn that I have without guessing.  

 

 

 

This is another shelter sweater, in a size 4. I bought this yarn years ago & don't remember what the planned project was. It is really a cute yarn & has made a very cute pullover for a little girl.

 

 

This isn't a very good picture.  I used the KW program to calculate how much yarn I needed for this pullover. The program told me that I almost had enough for it, but was going to come up a little short. I thought that I could make it if I unraveled my swatch.  I did that & it worked for the green, but I ran out of the red just about 4" from the top on the last sleeve. I used a Red Heart Kids yarn as a substitute. It wasn't that great of a match but it was the best I could find. The pullover is a size 2. The difference does show up but I still think that some little kid will love this sweater.

 

Best Wishes to all for a New Year.

 

 

PS:I am dieting & have lost 34 LBS!!

 

 

Knitting with Knitware

Knitware is an awesome program that calculates a pattern for a variety of garments, using your gauge rather than having to match the pattern gauge. It is a pattern generator & can make pretty much any type sweater that you want. I use it a lot. I bought mine from Janet T. She did a great job of designing a simple product that is easy to use & has the ability to save & alter patterns in the program. I like to knit sweaters using her program, but there are a couple of things that are easier done a little differently than what she describes. Sometimes I use the program to knit a top down sweater with drop sleeve. I like to rehang the front & back of the sweater on the machine between markers after joining the front & back & finishing the neckline, & knit my sleeves directly onto the sweater. In Janet's patterns she suggests that you knit the ribbing for the sleeve seperatly after taking the top down sleeve off the machine on waste yarn. I find that it works better & is less bulky when you knit the ribbing directly onto the sleeves by transferring stitches for ribbing & then using the 'loop through loop' bind of that is demonstrated here in Diana Sullivan's Utube video. Once you get the bind off learned you will find that this bind off works for a lot of garments. The thing to remember is to knit the last row at a very loose tension in order to have a loose finished rib.

 

 

This is another raglan for the women's shelter, size 2. I was requested to make some smaller sizes. I have a lot of fun making these & rarely I see someone wearing one out & about.

 

 

This is the bin I am working on right now. I have managed to make a pretty good dent in it. I didn't buy any yarn this year other than yarn for my store. I still have quite a lot of yarn in bins in the garage & am working on them one at a time. Rather than go find a specific yarn for a specific sweater I have just been making sweaters with the yarn available in that bin. I have small bits of yarn left over so am making some little mittens out of it. Then I am going to knit up squares that are left from that & make a toddler blanket from it.

 

This has been a rough year for me. I have lost 3 pets, my cat that I ran over, my small female Australian cattle dog Jasmine to breast cancer & just this month my 7 year old male border collie Buster to cardiomyopathy. I am comforted by the knowledge that I did my best for them, lots of love & a warm bed along with good food.

 

 



Toddler Quilt, 1 Down & 1 To Go

 

 

I finished one of the toddler quilts. I am working on the second one. I hope to have it finished in time to mail for Christmas.  I can see a couple of places that I wish I had rearranged the color blocks in this one & the binding is a little wavy, but all in all I am happy with it.

 

This is the back of it. I have some extra fabric in this print & am going to make a pair of PJ's & a pillow case to go with it.  I used the 'stitch in the ditch' method of quilting it.

I am in awe of the quilters that make all the intricate quilts out of little bitty pieces. My g'mother  made the most beautiful quilts & they lasted for years. Most of the sewing was done by hand. I did all mine by machine including the binding. The quilt is made with a low loft batting as I didn't want it to be too warm. They live in Southern California. Most of the time it is warm there. These quilts are meant for the kids to use them while watching TV or playing video games. (Yes, they are 2 & 3 & they already have video games.)

This is another sweater for the shelter. It a size 2 made from a Red Heart baby  yarn. Nice & warm for the rainy & cooler weather we have here. This was knitted on my SR 860 mid gauge machine. It has a grafted neckband & raglan sleeves. I think the raglan sleeves fit little bodies so much better than the drop shoulder or even the set in shoulder.

Our weather for this Christmas is much colder than usual, something that most of the country is experiencing this year. We have snow on the ground, & that is also unusual. I am hoping that we do not lose power. We had some really bad storms in 2007 & lost power for 10 days. We bought a kerosene heater then so at least we will be able to heat part of the house if it does go.  

 

Hats Hats & More Hats

I have been busy making hats whenever I get the chance. Everyone loves my hats. They tell me that they are the warmest hats ever. I knit them on my Kniffy Knitter Looms. I really do enjoy making them while I watch TV. I don't know why but if I just sit & watch without some project in my hands I always feel like I am wasting time. These hats are simple enough that I can keep up with the show without having to count rows or stitches.

 

 

I have been fairly busy in my store along with everything else going on. I was having trouble seeing & thought I needed glasses, so off to the Optometrist I went. It turned out to be bad news. I have Dry Macular Degeneration. It causes the vision to become more & more blurry, but not actually blind. On top of that I am diabetic so that is an another assault on my vision. My Mother lost her vision at 24. AMD is genetic. I will go back to the DR in a year to check & see how fast it is progressing. I can still see to read or write & of course knit & sew. I just couldn't read street signs etc. I am trying to stay positive & hope for the best.

 

 

 

Friendship House Sweaters

 

 

I started a new box of sweaters for the Friendship House. I have lots of  partial skeins of yarn so these are going to be scrappies. The women's shelter here in town has been very busy lately. I don't know why but violence towards women seems to escalate as the holidays get closer.

 

 

This is a size 18 months pullover. The director at the Friendship House believes that pullovers are a better choice as they keep chests & tummies warm.

 

 

I sent the little dress & hat to my g'daughter & mom sent me a picture. It's a bit big but she loves it. Erika says she is a princess now. There are so many people into quilting that the fabric stores are carrying all kinds of cute cotton prints. I bought this at 'Sew Baby.' I also bought some cute prints from the 'Missouri Quilt Company.' She has tons of cute fabric. I also bought my 'charm' packs from her for the quilts that I am making for Erika & her brother.

 

 

I am thinking about buying a new sewing machine. My machine is 12 years old. The new machines can do so much now. I recently bought the Brother PQ 1500s. It is a straight stitching machine made to sew over thick fabric. I haven't used it yet, but I am planning on quilting my toddler quilts on it, using the 'stitch in the ditch' method.

 

My store sales are still improving & I am going to have a good Fall & winter if it keeps up. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate my customers & blog followers. I enjoy blogging & having my store. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was afraid that my life was ending too soon, but the support I get from all of you, & of course my family has given me a reason to live & be happy. Thx to all of you!!

 

 

 



Well....It's Not Knitting....

I am busy with my store but did get a couple of things finished. I have all my fabric for my toddler quilts. Should have them finished by Christmas. Also, managed to fill up my box for the Friendship House & took it up there. They're always grateful for the children's sweaters I make them.

 

I have been doing a little bit of sewing. I made this for my g'daughter. They live in California so it's usually warm there.

 

This little sundress buttons at the shoulder . It can be used by her  as a sundress, then when she is older they are cute for a top. In cooler weather I always put leggings & a long sleeved tee under it.  I made more than a few of these for my daughter when she was an infant & toddler. I debated on whether or not the put an embroidery design on it but decided I like the look as is. I am going to add this sundress to my store as a set, with the dress, hat & panties soaker & see how it does.

 

 

Here is the hat that I made to go with it. She doesn't need it but it is sooo cute that I went ahead & bought the pattern & made it up. It's a prairie hat. She is 2 now & may not be into hats, but I made my DIL promise to take a picture for my blog. 

 

I am busy making small appliance covers for Christmas presents, which I am quilting. I hope no one drops dead when they get a toaster cover from me that is sewn rather than knitted. I have sorted all my sewing paraphernalia & straightened out my sewing basket, & am ready to do some serious sewing with the toddler quilts.   

 

On another note, I am busy working on another littler tutorial depicting another method of increasing using short row & ravel cord. I have it pretty much worked out but need to take pictures etc.