DesignaKnit Basics

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DesignaKnit Basics
Introduction to opening screen and menus
Using Standard Shaping Mode
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A Knitcraft Presentation
http//www.designaknit.com
Knitcraft Inc.
C
2002
500 N Dodgion
Independence MO 64050
For assistance contact knitcraft_at_knitcraft.com
816 461 4912
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Now that you have DesignaKnit Installed! Lets
take a look at Menu options throughout the
program.
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Standard Styling Mode will be used to introduce
you to the concepts needed to work effectively
with DesignaKnit.
DesignaKnit contains many tools to help you in
the design process. I hope to give you a good
base to understand the names and actions of the
tools offered.
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As we proceed through I will cover creating a
garment in Standard Styling as well as Entering
your own Measurements for quick easy custom
fitting.
Lets get started!
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DesignaKnit 7 opening screen
Mode menu
This is the Access point to DesignaKnit program
modes.
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Mode Menu
Drop Down Menu choices
Standard Garment Styling Mode
Original Pattern Drafting Mode
Stitch Designer Mode
Interactive Knitting Mode
Graphic Studio Mode
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The Mode is a specific segment of DesignaKnit.
Each mode has its own specialty but completely
integrates with all the other modes.
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There are 2 ways to enter the mode you wish to
use.
OR
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Standard Garment Styling Mode

• Used to create a basic garment shape from
  existing templates.

• Create personalized measurement charts and apply
  to template shapes.

• Create a basic garment to move into Original
  Drafting Mode.

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Original Pattern Drafting Mode

• Create your own unique garment styles.

• Import patterns from Standard Shaping and modify
  them.

• Input patterns shapes from charts or sewing
  patterns.

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Stitch Designer Mode

• Create Stitch patterns using the handy drawing
  tools.

• Edit existing designs.

• Layout individual stitch patterns on the garment
  shape.

• Integrate stitch design with garment shape.

• Set Cut and Sew outline for easy assembly of
  finished garment.

• Prepare color settings and pattern separation
  settings for download.

• Download patterns to the Knitting Machine.

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Interactive Knitting Mode

• Receive pattern shaping instructions.

• Receive color change instructions.

• Receive marker setting instructions.

• Easy to follow chart for Intarsia Knitting.

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Graphic Studio Mode

• Use clip art to create stitch designs.

• Turn Photos into stitch patterns.

• Convert scanned images into stitch designs.

• Import digital camera images to create stitch
  designs.

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Standard Styling Mode Icon
We will travel through the menu options to give
you a good base for all the DesignaKnit modes as
we create a garment .
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Getting Started With Standard Styling.
Click on the Standard Styling Icon
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The dialogue box automatically appears.
A dialogue box is used to give instructions,
warning messages or choices for you to make.
The Dialogue Box is your way to answer the
questions necessary for the program to do what
you want.
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Click on the options you want to apply in each
section. Click OK.
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Tensions Dialogue Box
Enter measurement in stitches per 4
or
Enter measurement of Width and Height of 40
stitches and 60 rows.
Do Not attempt to fill in both. DesignaKnit will
automatically calculate the settings of the
opposite box set using your entered measurements.
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Click Set as default and the tension settings
will automatically be applied every time
DesignaKnit is opened.
The same rules apply as for main tension. Fill in
one or the other but not both. Rib tensions must
be set.
Click OK
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Select the ease option you want to apply.
Click OK
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Choose from a standard chart of sizes in the
range you selected. Adult Child or Baby. Standard
Size
Or from a set of measurements entered by you.
Custom Size
Click on the button next to the option you wish
to select.
We will choose Standard Size as we have no custom
measurements yet.
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Click on the size you wish to apply. Click OK.
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Measurements Chart
You can change any of the measurements by
clicking on the box and typing in the new
numbers. You may not leave a box blank but you
can put in a 0.
When you click in the measurement box the
picture changes to indicate where the measurement
should be taken.
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Tensions 7.6 10.2 8.4 11.2 Options 23131441013 C
hest 32.3 5.5 Waist 24.4 0.8 Waist or
hip 34.3 3.5 Nape to garment length 23.4 Hip
depth 8.1 0.0 Arm length 22.6 0.0 Arm hole
(scye) 14.9 6.0 Upper arm 10.4 5.5 Wrist 6.1 3.1 S
houlder to shoulder 13.0 0.4 Hip 34.3 3.5 Arm
hole depth 8.1 1.0 Body Rib 2.0 Body
Blousing 0.0 Body Straight 1.2 Overlap 0.0 Shoulde
r width 0.0 Shoulder drop 0.0 Armpit
seam 0.8 Neck Rib 1.3 Width 6.6 Neck depth 3.0 V
neck depth 7.5 V Straight 1.0 Back width 6.6 Back
depth 0.8 Back straight 1.0 Sleeve Rib 2.0 Sleeve
Blousing 0.0 Sleeve Straight 0.9 Neck edge 1.1 At
shoulder 1.9 Before gathers 4.2 After
gathers 4.2 Overall extra 1.0 Raglan
slope 0.1 Hem depth 2.0 Total length 23.6 Circumfe
rence 47.2 Straight 0.0 Curve 3.0 Waistband 2.0
You can copy the measurements from this screen
and paste them into any word processing program
Sample information
Press copy, open notepad or any other word
processor and press Edit Paste.
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Click OK when all your measurements are correct.
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Your garment shape is now complete!
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Click File/Save As
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File name Box Type in the file name. The must
be removed or the file will not be saved.
File type box Adds the 3 letter extension to the
end of the file name you give. This allows a
program to filter files it can open.
File Path Box Indicates where the file is to be
saved. You must know where you save your files to
be able to open them latter.
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The file will be saved in your Dk7 directory
under the shapes folder unless you specify
differently.
To save the pattern file to a different location
Click the down arrow under Drives. Click on the
drive you want to save to.
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Our Basic Garment is now finished and saved.
There are several styling options you can choose
from in Standard Styling Mode that allow you to
modify rib widths and lengths. This allows you to
add your own specifications to the template
garment.
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Lets take a closer look at the styling options.
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Throughout DesignaKnit these two icons remain
constant and do the same function.
Will always undo the last action.
The ? Will always take you to the help in the
specific area you are working with.
Return to Select Garment Type Box.
Return to size charts.
Return to Measurements Box.
Styling Options Icons.
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The Styling Option Icons allow you to change
things about the shape.
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When you click on a box to change the numbers
DesignaKnit will draw a circle and line in red to
show what is affected by this change.
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When changes are made click File/Save because the
file already has been named earlier and we just
want to save the changes.
Drop Down Menus reflect the icon choices. Many
are the same as clicking on the icon however you
can find added features under the drop down menus
that are not represented by Icons. I will cover
the options that do not have icons.
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File
Options
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File
Drop Down Menu Options
Create a New Shape File Pattern.
Open an Existing Shape File only if it was
created in Standard Mode.
Save changes to a Shape File.
Save a new file that has not been named.
Delete a file from the hard drive.
Print a paper copy of the Pattern Shape.
Choose the printer options and printer to use.
Close the Mode you are using and return to
opening screen.
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Create a New Shape File Pattern.
Use this option when you want to start a
completely new garment.
File New instructions are the same choices you
have when you first open Standard Styling Mode.
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Use this option when you want to open an existing
File.
Caution
A Pattern File that has been created in Original
Mode or a File that has been taken to Original
Mode from Standard Styling mode can not be
reopened in Standard Mode.
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• This is a quick way to save a file once the name
  has been given.
• This option should be used when you are making
  modifications to an existing pattern and wish to
  keep the changes.
• If you click on Save when the pattern has not
  been saved it will automatically open the Save As
  box allowing you to name the file.

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• This option allows you to specify the location a
  file is to be saved and gives you the opportunity
  to name it.
• You should use Save As when you want to save a
  file for the first time and when you want a
  duplicate of the same file.
• You can use this option to give the pattern a new
  name and have a duplicate copy for latter
  modification or just security.

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Delete removes the file from your hard drive.
Use this option only when you want to
permanently remove a file.
You will not be able to undo this action.
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Print Setup is the option that allows you to
select your printer. The choices you will find
under this option will vary according to the
printer you have.
The print option allows you to create a hard copy
(Paper Print Out) of your pattern file.
Press the Print Button and a Dialogue opens with
all the pattern pieces listed.
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Type the 2 letter code in this bar for each piece
you want to print.
Printing Formats
Printing Choices
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Formats available when any shape file is open to
be printed.
Formats available only when integrated shape is
open to be printed.
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For each format there is an option screen to
further refine your final print out.
Click the Options button.
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I will cover the options for these formats as one
because they all share the same option choices.
To view and set options for each format click on
the box beside the format.
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All 5 formats use the same options.
Choose Fit to a page or enter a percentage
proportion of the actual size. In the former
case, DesignaKnit will choose the largest size it
can to fit the design onto a single page. If you
choose a percentage scaling which will make the
printout larger than the page, DesignaKnit will
divide the image over as many pages as necessary
to complete the printout.
In order to save paper you may want to omit
duplicate rows, in which case you should also
check the row numbering option so that you may
see how many identical rows should be knit.
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Here you can opt to have the pattern printed out
with proportional stitches (True) or to render
all the stitches Square. ALL STITCHES SQUARE
depending on the Scaling chosen, the width of the
stitch will be proportional to the design and the
height will be adjusted to match. If you are
printing out a symbol chart (formats IT and SS)
the symbols usually display better in a square
cell.
Choose the thickness of the grid lines. 0 will
remove the grid altogether while 3 will produce
the thickest line. If the scaling of the
printout is proportionally small, a thick line
might hide the pattern.
This option prints the grid division in the same
incrimination you have set in Stitch Designer.
Configure the setting using Options/Grid Division
Size in the main Stitch Designer Screen.
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Color places X's on a background of the color
pattern in the garment shape. X's are drawn black
against light colors and white against dark
colors. Gray places the X's on a plain gray
background in the garment shape. White X's are
black against a white background.

• DesignaKnit will number the stitches on the
  printout from
• left to right (123456),
• right to left (54321)
• the center outwards, placing the middle stitch
  either to the right or left (32112 or 21123).

Use this option with Gray or White Stitch Color
options to show pattern areas. Color demarcation
provides a line which separates areas of color.
You may specify the thickness of the line here. 0
removes the line altogether while 3 will produce
the thickest line.
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This format will generate text instructions for
the rib and neckband of Standard garments, along
with the information contained in the View Info
panel and tensions.
Check those items you want to include.
Please note this format is not appropriate for
shapes generated or modified in Original Pattern
Drafting.
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This format is for garment pieces only. The Knit
Leader uses full-size templates and the printout
will take several sheets of paper which you piece
together. If you are knitting a vertically
symmetrical piece, in order to economize on
paper, you may want to print the right half only.

The Knit Radar uses half-size templates and the
printout may take several sheets of paper which
will have to be pieced together. If you are
knitting a vertically symmetrical piece, in order
to economize on paper, you may opt to print the
right half only.
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This format is for garment pieces only. The
printout will be an outline only of the garment
pieces. You may opt to scale the outline or to
accept the scaling DesignaKnit imposes in order
to fit each piece on a single sheet of paper.
This option is almost the same as KL and KR
except you have the ability to scale to a very
small drawing. This smaller print out is handy to
keep with a written pattern.
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By default the GN format makes the notation hug
the shape outline so that the text will appear at
the point to which it refers.
In certain circumstances, depending on the
complexity of the shape, two or more text
instructions may overprint each other. If this
happens, you can override the default to make
DesignaKnit print the text in columns the
instructions will appear vertically as near to
the place to which they refer, but the text will
be arranged to the left on the left hand side of
the page and to the right on the right hand side
of the page.
GN is the most commonly used print out option as
it gives you the knitting instructions in Garment
Notation.
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GN print out result.
GN
GN
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Garment Notation is an easy way to give all the
information needed in a very small space.
Row
(65) Number of stitches left.
1s 1 stitch 10 indicates the amount of rows
between actions and x1 indicates the amount of
times to repeat.
216 Indicates the row number you are to do the
action on.

• Indicates to decrease or remove stitches.
• If this were you would add or increase stitches.

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The instruction would be On row 138 decrease 1
stitch every 3 rows 26 times. When all decreases
are done you will be at row 216 ready to follow
the new set of instructions.
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First, knit a sample swatch. It is important that
this swatch is knitted with the same stitch
pattern as the garment the larger your sample
the closer DesignaKnit will be in its
calculations.
Weigh or measure the sample and enter the amount
of yarn used. Then enter the yarn units Oz.
Inches or what ever unit you are using to
calculate the swatch.
Given the enormous variation in knitting
techniques, yarns, measuring equipment and so on,
it would not be wise to accept the information
calculated here as anything other than a rough
guide. Soft Byte and its agents are not
responsible for any decisions made based on these
calculations.
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This format will produce the appropriate template
for a punch card, reader card or mylar sheet for
the configured knitting machine.
The pattern will be adjusted according to the
positioning of the garment pieces on the stitch
pattern. DesignaKnit assumes the garment piece
will be hung centrally on the machine's needle
bed.
This format produces a single repeat of the
stitch pattern shown in the symbols assigned to
the yarn colors. When selecting this format from
the Print Pattern Pieces dialog a single repeat
of the pattern associated with that garment piece
will be produced..
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Choosing either CC from the Print Stitch Patterns
dialog or IC from the Print Shapes dialog will
produce a report of all the color changes in a
swatch or piece. The former will show only the
color changes in a single repeat of the pattern
while the latter will show all the color changes
in an entire garment piece and is only available
for an integrated piece.
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Edit
Undo last action.
Copy Selection to clip board.
Copy Sleeve to clip board
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View indicates how and what is displayed on the
screen.
View
Click on the options to allow you to see the
information you need.
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Monochrome Display off. Normal View.
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Options
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Choose the unit of measurement you are most
comfortable working with.
This setting choice will be consistent in all
modes of the program.
Note If you need precision Cm should be your
choice.
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Things to remember about Units of Measure
In most dialog boxes centimeters and inches are
displayed to one decimal place. Measurements
entered with two decimal places will be rounded
up or down to the nearest single place, 33.25
will become 33.3 and 33.24 will become 33.2,
whether centimeters or inches.
Files saved in inches, if opened when the program
is set to centimeters, will automatically be
changed to metric measurements, and vice versa.
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Use centimeters if the pattern you are taking the
measurements from is in centimeters.
Use inches if the pattern you are taking the
measurements from is in inches.
When the pattern is finished you can easily
convert to the opposite unit of measure by simply
changing the option under Options/Units of
Measure.
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Clicking on Options/Tension in all DesignaKnit
Modes will bring up this same dialogue box.
Notice box 1is asking for the stitches per 4
Box 2 is asking for the stitches per 1 This is
set under Options/Units of measurement.
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Important Tension Facts
Only one tension setting is used throughout
DesignaKnit. If you set 7 stitches 10 rows per
inch in Stitch Designer. The same tension is
applied in Original Shaping and Standard Shaping.
The garment will be recalculated instantly if you
change the tension setting. This makes if very
easy to use 1 well fitting garment and knit it on
any gauge machine with the yarns of your choice.
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Allows you to change the ease settings of the
open garment file.
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Body Sizes
Takes you to the Standard Sizes table
Takes you to the Custom Sizes table
Takes you to the Measurements chart
Copy contents of the charts to paste into a word
processor.
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This option allows you to store your custom
measurements on file for easy access.
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When you open this screen you will find 3 sets of
measurements. They are just random numbers used
for example. Please do not attempt to use them to
create a garment.
Display area for saved measurement flies.
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Navigation Bar
Sorts the list in group order.
First File
New File
Next File
Delete File
Last File
Adds the size information from the opened pattern
file.
Previous File
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Category Boxes
If you enter Baby in this box and you choose
adult range under New Garment you will not see
this set of measurements under From Custom Size.
These boxes are used to contain information to
help DesignaKnit Sort your files.
Use drop down arrows to make these selections.
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When you click on a box to add the measurement
DesignaKnit shows you the exact place on the body
to take the measurement.
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Name should be the person this measurement set
belongs to. This is for your ease in
identification.
This section is for specific preferences you wish
to apply each time this set if measurements is
applied to your template. It is optional. You do
not have to fill it in. You can apply specific
styling options after the custom measurements
have been applied.
Fill in the measurements and Click OK
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Quick Review
Icons Those little pictures we click on to
activate an option.
The icon I click on when I dont understand.
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What I click on when I goofed.
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Dialogue Box The little window screens that
open they allow us to tell the program what our
choices are.
Icon
Garment Type Dialogue Box.
The place where you enter your choices.
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What the Icons mean.
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Lets create a garment without all the confusion.
Left Click Standard Styling Mode Icon.
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Left Click New Garment
Click on the choices you want to apply to your
garment.
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Enter the tensions from your swatch.
Click the ease option you wish to use. Click OK
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Click on the Standard size chart or your Custom
size chart.
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Change any of the measurements or the ease
factors. Click OK
Your garment is ready to knit. Click File Save
As and give it a name.
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The Garment can be knit form a print out of the
pattern. Or knit from Interactive Knitting Mode.
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Press ESC Key to Exit