Designing A Knitwear Collection: From Inspiration To Finished Garments

Knitwear is becoming increasingly significant in the fashion industry because it meets the contemporary consumer's demand for ease, flexibility, and comfort as well as attractive patterns of color and texture. Designing a Knitwear Collection is an essential tool for students wishing to enter this area of fashion design and a comprehensive reference for professionals already active as knitwear designers. Featuring an inspiring gallery of work by knitwear design icons, such as Sonia Rykiel, Missoni, and Chanel, with profiles of their careers, this text covers the history of the industry from the earliest handknit garments to apparel seamlessly knit by computerized equipment. Students learn the basics of yarn selection and stitch patterns and the capabilities of general and industry-specific CAD programs. By following the creation of a simple pullover sweater from initial concept to instructions to execution on a hand loom, they come to appreciate the design process. A chapter on preparing a design development package teaches students how to communicate their design ideas so that sample garments can be executed accurately. Another chapter offers guidelines for presenting one's work, whether in a portfolio for employment or as a collection in a showroom. Full color photos, diagrams, and drawings and sample design documents complement the text to give visual learners a fuller understanding of the scope of knitwear design.