Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
The Goal
Don’t get overwhelmed with the power of DAK… take it step by step, learn the logic behind the software and the tools available to you and the possibilities are endless!
It's built on a platform that "thinks" in terms of stitches and rows.
Beyond the Basic Shapes
The Workspace and Tools
Manipulate Pieces
Resize pieces WITHOUT moving points
Measuring
6½ ways to move points
Challenge Yourself
The Workspace and Tools
Manipulate Pieces
Resize pieces WITHOUT moving points
Measuring
6½ ways to move points
Challenge Yourself
Original Pattern Drafting is one of the 5 programs within DesignaKnit.
Think of it as your drafting table surrounded with all the tools you need to create knitted designs. But instead of pencils, rulers and french curves, you'll design on the DAK desktop.
When designing in Original Pattern Drafting, you will be working with Pieces and Points. Pieces represent knitted pieces such as back, front and sleeves of a sweater. Points control the lines that define the pieces. Think of the lines as the cast on and bind off edges and the sides of your knitted pieces.
By manipulating the pieces and points, you establish the dimensions of your knitted pieces and DAK translates these lines in your workspace into knitting patterns.
There are a number of ways you can use the knitting patterns that DAK generates:
- Create outlines to use with a Charting Device (Knit Leader, Knit Radar)
- Create knitting instructions in Garment (Japanese) Notation format
- Knit visually with Interactive Knitting
- Download to an electronic knitting machine
We suggest you work step by step through the material and exercises in this course.
Original Pattern Drafting is very powerful software. With power comes complexity. You can use this module on a number of different levels
Original Pattern Drafting is very powerful software. With power comes complexity. You can use this module on a number of different levels
- Calculate a simple blanket …. How many stitches should I cast on and how many rows should I knit?
- Modify garment designs created in Standard Garment Shaping
- Copy hand knitting patterns from a diagram
- Copy hand knitting patterns from written instructions
- Create unusual shapes for knitting
- Make simple to complex modifications for unique knitwear designs
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Beyond the Basic Shapes
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
The Workspace and Tools
Get oriented with the sections of the workspace
Customize the workspace and get familiar with the overall navigation.
By using design software you've traded pencil, paper, rulers and your French Curve for mouse and keyboard.<br><br> Here are some shortcuts to make your design work go faster.
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Manipulate Pieces
[DAK_TrueFalseQuestions — interactive element, needs manual review]
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Modify pieces WITHOUT moving points
[Flipbook — interactive element, needs manual review]
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Measuring
Point of origin - don't skip this!
5 ways to measure your shapes
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
6½ ways to move points
Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Challenge Yourself
Download and open the file: DAK_test.shp
Use these steps to get acquainted with navigating Original Pattern Drafting:
Don't be afraid of clicking and poking around .. you can't break anything!
Use these steps to get acquainted with navigating Original Pattern Drafting:
1. Activate the front piece and zoom in to view just the front
2. Toggle the zoom to view all pieces
3. Turn on the Hairline Cursor
This large cursor helps align points and use the rulers
4. Delete a point along one edge of the front
The "minus" button is a toggle, be sure to turn it off when you are done
5. Undo that change
Ctrl Z will also undo the last action
6. Turn off the background grid
This is just personal preference
7. Save the file
Activate: left click on the piece - notice the color change
Centralize Piece:
Centralize Piece:
2. Toggle the zoom to view all pieces
3. Turn on the Hairline Cursor
This large cursor helps align points and use the rulers
4. Delete a point along one edge of the front
The "minus" button is a toggle, be sure to turn it off when you are done
5. Undo that change
Ctrl Z will also undo the last action
6. Turn off the background grid
This is just personal preference
7. Save the file
You CAN do this!
Don't be afraid of clicking and poking around .. you can't break anything! Original Pattern Drafting Essentials
Select a lesson from the menu to get started.