Writing the Patterns

One of the first steps in the process of developing the line – Cici Bianca for Baby, was determining the different sizes that would be offered.  I didn’t want it to be too complicated and wanted to start with baby sizes first – New Born, 6 Mo, 12 Mo, 18 Mo, and 24 Mo.  If I liked what we were doing and the response was good, toddler sizes could be added later. 

The technique to produce these jackets is unique. This is not cut and sew, nor is it like hand knitting or even regular machine knitting.  It is actually closer to weaving, using an over and under process combining  yarns and ribbons to create the fabric.

Figuring out the sizing and writing the patterns were, and are, a challenge.  The only way I knew how to do this was to take measurements (length, shoulder, chest, neck and sleeve) from other jackets and make those into patterns my workers could follow to weave the bodies and sleeves. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

A  trip to Kohls to purchase some inexpensive little jackets was on the agenda!  Once again I found out there are no standard sizes - one brand’s 6 Mo may be an other’s 12 Mo. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find a style by Carter that had the whole range of sizes  needed for my measurements.

I purchased the  5 little jackets and headed back to the studio to my work table and trusty tape measure.  Now to adapt these inches into stitches of yarn and rows of fabric for each of the  sizes and hope they are graded correctly.  Pattern writing is not my strong suit – I am visual and to transfer all of this into numbers is way over my head but I’m slogging through it…

 

Next:  Will these fit?