Start from Scratch
The Goal
Fellow knitter, Mary Jane found a T-shirt style sweater that she loved. The shape would be considered a dolman style with the sleeve being knit in one piece with the body of the sweater.
Because there isn't a shape like this in Standard Garment Styling, we need to create our own. Start in Standard Garment Styling and fine-tune the design in Original Pattern Drafting.
You may not want to re-create this exact style, but walk through the design process step-by-step for tips in creating your next "original".
The Plan
Start in Standard Garment Styling
Finish the Design in Original Pattern Drafting
Different Approaches
Not Enough Needles?
Stuff you Should Know
Challenge Yourself

Start from Scratch
The Plan
Here is the basic shape of Mary Jane's sweater. DesignaKnit doesn't offer a standard shape with this style of sleeve.
We will establish our basic size with Standard Garment Styling and fine-tune the design with Original Pattern Drafting.
Features:
Features:
- 2 pieces - just a front and back
- Curved hems and underarms
- One-piece cap sleeves
- Round Neckline
- Shaped Shoulders

Start from Scratch
Different Approaches
There are many ways to accomplish our goals when working in DAK. Each of us approach designing differently.
When I looked at Mary Jane's original DAK file, I noticed a few things that I would have done differently ... what do you think?
The beauty of using software to to get the results YOU want!
When I looked at Mary Jane's original DAK file, I noticed a few things that I would have done differently ... what do you think?
- Too many points?
- Sleeve Shaping?
- Sleeve Shaping?
- Add Markers to position the stitch pattern
- Duplicate the Pieces
The beauty of using software to to get the results YOU want!
Start from Scratch
Start in Standard Garment Styling
Start with Standard Garment Styling
- Adult Female Sleeveless Pullover Straight Sleeve Straight Front and Back necks
- Zero Ease
- Bust 34"
- Edit sizing
- Body Styling:
- Remove ribbing
- Add 1" shoulder drop
- Neck Styling:
- Remove neckband
- Edit neck width = 10"
- Save
Start from Scratch
Not Enough Needles?
Mary Jane is using a Brother 260 with 114 needles. Her stitch gauge is 5.5 stitches per inch.
For her machine, at that gauge, the widest piece she can knit is 114/5.5 = 20.72".
This isn't going to give her enough width for her sleeves.
Options:
For her machine, at that gauge, the widest piece she can knit is 114/5.5 = 20.72".
This isn't going to give her enough width for her sleeves.
Options:
| sts per 1" | max width (over 114 needles) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 22.8" |
| 5.25 | 21.71" |
| 5.5 | 20.72" |
| 5.75 | 19.82" |
Some stitch patterns knit wider than others. Consider lace or a simple tuck stitch for more width
How wide can YOU knit?
Start from Scratch
Stuff you Should Know
Integrate Stitch Patterns
Curves in DAK 8 and 9
Using the Table Feature
Start from Scratch
Challenge Yourself
Using our dimensions, or use your own, design a "Tee" using the skills covered in this module.
As with all things DesignaKnit, there are multiple ways of doing things. If you get the results you want, there is not "right" or "wrong" way.
Challenge Yourself:
As with all things DesignaKnit, there are multiple ways of doing things. If you get the results you want, there is not "right" or "wrong" way.
Challenge Yourself:
- Skip Standard Garment Styling and create your pieces from scratch in Original pattern Drafting.
- Start with a basic rectangle that is half your bust width and the desired finished length.
- Add points for the armholes, sleeves and neck opening.
- Continue as in the video to complete the design
- Instead of starting with a sleeveless sweater, create a straight short sleeve sweater in Standard Garment Styling.
- Join the short sleeves pieces to the body of the sweater in Original Pattern Drafting with >Piece >Join
-
When drawing the curved hem, try this:
- Create the front hem with 5 points
- Create the back hem with 20 points
- Compare the knitting instructions for both pieces
-
Not Enough Needles?
- Play with adjusting your gauge to see if a slight difference will help
- Adjust the sleeve length to reduce the number of needles needed
Start from Scratch
Finish the Design in Original Pattern Drafting
In Original Pattern Drafting
SLEEVES
FRONT NECK
Get Knitting!
SLEEVES
- Extend the sleeves by moving points
- Establish the armhole opening depth
- Establish the sleeve opening depth
- If desired, curve the underarm
- Set the 0 orientation to the hem
- Use the curve tool to create a 2" curved hem
- Confirm the total garment length
FRONT NECK
- Set the 0 orientation to the top of the piece
- Use the curve tool to create a 2" front neck
- Set the 0 orientation to the top of the piece
- Use the curve tool to create a 1" back neck
Get Knitting!
Start from Scratch
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