Grumble , grr grr.. Its a knitting pattern, not rocket science
To steal from Dennis Miller, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but...
I will be the first to admit I transpose my notes when knitting into patterns.
I try very hard to remember that most people cannot make heads or tails of my notes and I work at making my patterns user friendly. I often enlist the aid of friends who knit to test knit or just read it through to make sure it's still not in Wyvern-ese and if it is, I take the time to "translate" it to more knitter friendly language.
I mention this as I am working on a sweater and the designer (who shall remain nameless as will the pattern) bless her heart, well her pattern is a bit confuddled. I get where she is headed.. between the pictures and reading through it several times, I have now reconfigured it to make sense (just saying when you hit gauge dead on and you are 3 inches longer than you should be, something is amiss somewhere. When the pattern itself requires me to sit down and retype it line by line, something is amiss)
Now, I consider myself to be a very advanced knitter. If I am having trouble deciphering a pattern that might as well be written in Sanskrit. where does this leave someone of intermediate skill or novice skill (as I would declare the pattern to be intermediate because of heavy but simple cabling)?
I mention this because this is not the first pattern I personally have run into that is difficult to read and follow, nor will it be the last. I fear. I have also had many times people bring me a pattern they want help with that leaves me scratching my head in wonder. As designers,we need to make sure that we are not rushing to publication, that EVERY word in the pattern is comprehensible to not just knitters of our skill but to all knitters who may be embarking on their first project.
Do not presume that every knitter knows what a short row is, take time to explain it. Don't presume that every knitter knows how to read a chart, give details and by all means, put the damn chart key where it can be easily accessed!
We all know that there is a basic layout to a pattern, Materials needed, knowledge needed and the pattern. While this is generally followed it seems that we fall short in the writing of the pattern or transposing of our notes. Rushing to publication, lack of proofreading.. There is a reason Errata exists.. my point being that there should be less Errata and more time spent making sure your patterns make sense and are correct.
*stepping off the soap box...
I will be the first to admit I transpose my notes when knitting into patterns.
I try very hard to remember that most people cannot make heads or tails of my notes and I work at making my patterns user friendly. I often enlist the aid of friends who knit to test knit or just read it through to make sure it's still not in Wyvern-ese and if it is, I take the time to "translate" it to more knitter friendly language.
I mention this as I am working on a sweater and the designer (who shall remain nameless as will the pattern) bless her heart, well her pattern is a bit confuddled. I get where she is headed.. between the pictures and reading through it several times, I have now reconfigured it to make sense (just saying when you hit gauge dead on and you are 3 inches longer than you should be, something is amiss somewhere. When the pattern itself requires me to sit down and retype it line by line, something is amiss)
Now, I consider myself to be a very advanced knitter. If I am having trouble deciphering a pattern that might as well be written in Sanskrit. where does this leave someone of intermediate skill or novice skill (as I would declare the pattern to be intermediate because of heavy but simple cabling)?
I mention this because this is not the first pattern I personally have run into that is difficult to read and follow, nor will it be the last. I fear. I have also had many times people bring me a pattern they want help with that leaves me scratching my head in wonder. As designers,we need to make sure that we are not rushing to publication, that EVERY word in the pattern is comprehensible to not just knitters of our skill but to all knitters who may be embarking on their first project.
Do not presume that every knitter knows what a short row is, take time to explain it. Don't presume that every knitter knows how to read a chart, give details and by all means, put the damn chart key where it can be easily accessed!
We all know that there is a basic layout to a pattern, Materials needed, knowledge needed and the pattern. While this is generally followed it seems that we fall short in the writing of the pattern or transposing of our notes. Rushing to publication, lack of proofreading.. There is a reason Errata exists.. my point being that there should be less Errata and more time spent making sure your patterns make sense and are correct.
*stepping off the soap box...