TenDyke - Finish-Free Knits: No-Sew Garments in Classic Styles

2012 Kristen TenDyke
Photography 2012 Joe Hancock
Illustrations 2012 Interweave Press LLC
All rights reserved.

Interweave Press LLC 201 East Fourth Street Loveland, CO 80537-5655 USA Interweave.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

TenDyke, Kristen.

Finish-free knits : no-sew garments in classic styles / Kristen TenDyke.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-59668-488-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-62033-084-5 (PDF)

ISBN 978-1-62033-166-8 (ePub)

1. Knitting--Patterns. I. Title.

TT825.T423 2012

746.432--dc23

2012009824

There is so much to be grateful forso much time, effort, loving energy, and care has gone into bringing these pages into realityits impossible to list it all here.

Im so thankful for having the opportunity to share these projects with youthankful that youve picked up this book and found something worth knitting. Without you, this book could not be here. So, firstly, I thank you.

To those at Interweave: Ann Budd, Anne Merrow, Mary KinCannon, and those I didnt have the pleasure of working with personallythis book couldnt have been created without your guidance, talents, creativity, and time. Thank you.

To my knitters: Jessica Wright-Lichter, Kim Haesemeyer, Cecily MacDonald, and Kim BarnetteIm so thankful for all the hard work and long hours you spent creating these sweaters. Without you, I would have probably lost my mind trying to find the time to get it all done.

The endless support, enthusiasm, and love Ive received from my boyfriend, James; family; personal friends; and my knitter friends online, was beyond what Id ever imagined. You all kept me moving and excited about the unfolding of the process and eager to see the book come into reality. I love youthank you!

And lastly but, certainly, never least, I thank my dear mother, Dianeto whom I dedicate this book.

I bow.

Namaste

My grandmother had a great love for sewing. As a child, I admired the beautiful dolls and clothes she created. Throughout my elementary school years, she tried to teach me to sew many times, but I never did quite master the art of cutting out pieces of fabric and sewing them together, neither by hand nor machine. Everything I made turned out wonkysewn with gaps in the fabric, with uneven seams, or it simply didnt fit. While the art of creating with fabric and thread wasnt for me, I did fall in love with the creation processthe process of transforming something simple into something unique and functional. The possibilities of what could be made by hand were endless.

Around the same time of my life, my mother taught me to crochet, which was a creative medium that I did enjoy. As a child who had no clue how to read a pattern, one of the things I loved about crocheting was being able to work around and around in circles, trying it on along the way, adding or subtracting stitches here and there, and ending up with something that fit with no sewing required.

When I learned to knit in my twenties, the first few sweaters I knitted from patterns were knitted in piecesmany of those pieces remain unsewn to this day. And the garments that I did seam were far from perfect. As I learned more about the construction of a sweater and began designing, I began to draw upon the things I loved about crochetworking around and around, adding or subtracting stitches here and there, and ending up with something that didnt need seaming.

While developing the designs for this book I focused on sweaters that I would enjoy knitting and wearing. They represent a variety of comfortable-casual designs, shaped and sized to fit a wide range of body shapes. Their names conjure a sense of well-being and contentment, which reflects how I hope you will feel while knitting and wearing these garments. Through these designs, I want to encourage more knitters to knit and complete sweaters.

Contained within these pages are sweater patterns for all levels of knitters. For the beginner, begins with a cable panel in the center back and ends with sleeves picked up along the edges of the panel and worked to the cuffs. For the more advanced knitter, a whole bunch of these patterns use interesting techniques for shaping sleeve caps and pockets. Above all, every design is worked seamlesslyno sewing is required. Each is completely constructed and shaped on the knitting needles; when the last stitch is bound off, youre done!

If you come across a technique that seems unfamiliar, I encourage you to give it a try. All the information you need to knit every garment in this book is included within these pageseither in the tips, stitch guides, or Glossary. Even if a particular pattern doesnt specifically point you to the Glossary, I encourage you go take a look. In it, youll find general information about picking up stitches, weaving in ends, blocking, and attaching buttons. I also recommend browsing through the tips included within the garment instructions. In them, youre sure to learn pointers that will be useful for future projects.

This super-easy top is worked entirely with knit stitches (no purls!), a few decreases, and a few buttonholes. The front and back plackets are worked back and forth in rows, then they are joined, and the body is worked in the round to the underarms. The front and back are then worked separately in rows to the shoulders. Buttonholes are added to the front shoulders; buttons are attached to the back shoulders and voila simply beautiful sweater!

About 34 (37, 40, 44, 47, 50, 54)" (86.5 [94.5, 103.5, 112.5, 120, 129, 138] cm) bust circumference.

Tank shown measures 34" (86.5 cm).

Sportweight (#2 Fine).

SHOWN HERE: Classic Elite Allegoro (70% organic cotton, 30% linen; 152 yd [139 m]/50 g): #5656 larkspur, 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8) balls.