What is the Sizing With Spreadsheets framework?
Sizing With Spreadsheets is a design framework and method that translates body measurements into garment measurements, as independently from one another as possible and with as few assumptions as possible. Although it may require you to think about garment design differently, there are no limits to the types or styles of patterns it can be applied to.
Used in place of traditional pattern grading, this results in adaptive knitting patterns that automatically adapt to your unique set of measurements. No size limits, no body proportion assumptions, just truly size-inclusive garments for everyone.
Spreadsheets are used for accessibility and ease of use by both designers and knitters.
Customizing a garment is something lots knitters do, it’s the beauty of a self-made wardrobe! However, this can be challenging to do as a new knitter or with a pattern that isn’t yours. And it becomes even more challenging the farther your body size and shape is from a standard reference size.
My hope is that patterns using this framework are more approachable for new garment knitters and less time/resource intensive for experienced knitters.
Are you a designer interested in learning this framework?
Designers using Sizing With Spreadsheets.
The Ambling Along sweater!
I am so excited to be using the Sizing with Spreadsheets method to introduce my first garment pattern. Being able to offer well-fitting and size-inclusive garments to my customers is important to me and my brand.You can find more knitting patterns, as well as knitting needles and notions, at dyeabolicalyarns.com or @dyeabolicalyarns on Instagram or you can find me talking about gardening, books, knitting, sewing, and other topics at @knitdyeread on Instagram.-Rachel, Dyeabolical
At Farm Fresh Knits, I combine my love of the simpler life with my love of creating by designing straightforward knitting and machine knitting patterns. I am excited to offer size-inclusive garments as part of my knitting pattern collection with the help of the Sizing with Spreadsheets framework.
I can be found everywhere @farmfreshknits
-Nicole, Farm Fresh Knits
The Long Walk Cardigan
note: as of Feb 2022, pattern no longer available for purchase
Colors of Autumn Wrist Warmer pattern on Ravelry, LoveCrafts, or the Hobbydingen blog!
Creating new crochet and knitting patterns is something I enjoy a lot. I especially love making modern accessories and home décor. With my designs I hope to inspire other makers to crochet, craft and create!
I’m excited to offer my first size-inclusive pattern designed with the Sizing with Spreadsheets framework, the Colors of Autumn Wrist Warmers. Check out the tunisian crochet pattern on Ravelry or Lovecrafts!
-Marjan, Hobbydingen
@hobbydingen
I'm excited to begin offering spreadsheet-based patterns in my line-up, not only sweaters but socks and other accessories as well! I love to play with color, especially if I can also busts scraps, and I like a mix of challenging and relaxing stitch patterns to keep things interesting.
You can find and follow me @laur_oftheblings on Instagram!
-Lauren, Laur of the Blings Designs
Check out the new Little Bits Beanie on Etsy, Payhip, Ravelry, or Lovecrafts!
Swanky Emu Makes
It all began with The Winter Tee!
Where did Sizing With Spreadsheets come from?
The idea for a “self-grading” spreadsheet came about during my first published garment design – The Winter Tee.
My general design process is to knit a garment for myself, re-knitting or modifying it until I have something I absolutely love. Then I write that up into a pattern for other folks. When The Winter Tee prototype was finally off the needles, and I was getting ready for test knitters, I couldn’t decide where to stop and start the grading. Any existing size charts excluded someone and made assumptions about body proportions that just aren’t true for everyone. They also tend to be divided into binary gender charts, and make proportion and body part assumptions that also aren’t true for everyone, neither of which seemed right. If I followed them, I would have wound up grading it into a pattern that didn’t fit me.
So instead of excluding anyone, I included everyone.
I created a spreadsheet to accompany The Winter Tee that tells each knitter exactly how many stitches, rows, and repeats for their particular body. And since that first pattern, this has become the only way I design.
When I’m knitting a prototype for myself, I’m already making notes about the math and number properties I used to turn my body measurements into a garment, so I’m one step ahead when it comes time to create a pattern spreadsheet. This means I make some design decisions with the spreadsheet in mind and the spreadsheets themselves have led to expanded design decisions too!