The knitting pattern writing handbook How to write great patterns that knitters will love to make

It's not all that easy to develop a knitting (or crochet) pattern, but McGrath and Walworth, hosts of the Tech Tip Talk podcast, lay out an amazingly solid and detailed blueprint for doing so. Speaking to the novice as well as to the ultimate expert, they promote the "four Cs"--correct, clear, concise, consistent--as the clues to what a good knitting pattern looks like. No one will stumble unless they studiously avoid the authors' careful directions; the wealth of advice and information is outstanding, with little (if anything) omitted. Black-and-white illustrations are clear. Sidebars range from gauge to style sheets. Q & As and checklists are featured at the end of each of the seven chapters. Among the tips to be heeded: review punctuation and abbreviations, be precise about finished measures (no ranges!), check stitch counts, recognize that standards rarely match real-life bodies. Years of industry experience make this a go-to, even for the just-curious crafter. Appended: glossary, further reading, resources, sample style sheet, pre-edit pattern checklist, Tech Tip Talk sizing standards.

Tech experts and Tech Tip Talk cohosts Walworth and McGrath have taken the advice from their popular video series to effectively create the ultimate reference volume for knitwear designers. Covering everything from pattern components to sizing and formatting charts, the book is a compilation of all of the information new or experienced pattern designers might need. Each section contains helpful "Tech Tips," checklists, and short Q&As. There's also a good discussion of the differences between tech editing and test knitting. The authors strongly advocate for accessibility and size inclusivity, important factors for designers to keep in mind. With helpful style sheets and extensive resources for knitwear designers of all levels, the authors seem to have addressed everything that pattern designers question and consider. VERDICT Good for public libraries with robust craft collections. Many readers might view this as a compact reference book.--Whitney Kramer