How it works
Old patterns were written for one or two sizes, a yarn that's long gone and a knitter who already knew the tricks. Multiplying the numbers up doesn't work. Necklines gape, sleeves stop fitting the armhole, and the shape that made the design special disappears. Here's what we do instead.
Before a pattern reaches the shop
We rebuild the original garment. Working from the original written instructions, we figure out what they actually make: the ease, the length, the neckline and armholes, the stitch pattern, how the pieces go together. We check that every count in the original adds up, and fix the misprints.
We grade it for real bodies. The garment is fitted to body measurements from a 32 in to a 52 in bust (US 4 to 24, UK 8 to 28). Each measurement grows at its own rate, so the design keeps its proportions in every size.
We decide which yarns suit it. Some designs only look right in finer yarn, some only in thick. We only offer the yarns that keep the garment looking like itself.
A knitter signs it off. Each pattern is checked against the original and approved by a knitter before it goes on sale.
When you order
You tell us your gauge. Your stitches and rows over 4 in (10 cm). Be honest: most of us don't swatch, and that's fine. For most patterns you can use the gauge on your yarn's label. If you want the fit to be perfect, knit a swatch in your yarn, wash it, let it dry and measure that instead. A few patterns with cables or colourwork do need a swatch, because they knit up differently from plain stockinette; their pages say so. Here's how to measure your gauge.
We work out your pattern. Every stitch and row count is calculated for your size and your gauge, and checked: pieces that should meet do meet, sleeves fit their armholes, nothing comes out lopsided. If your gauge wouldn't suit the design, you'll know before you pay, and we won't sell you the pattern.
You get the whole thing straight away. A complete PDF you can view on screen, print or save. It tells you how many rows to knit, with the length you should have reached as a check, and the stitch count after each step. Where a lot happens at once, there's a row-by-row planner to tick off. There are measured drawings of each piece and full making-up instructions. £5.95 per pattern.
And you're not on your own. If a step doesn't make sense, email us. A real knitter will reply.