1. Introduction to opening screen and menus
DesignaKnit Basics
Introduction to opening screen and menus
Using Standard Shaping Mode

2. A Knitcraft Presentation
Knitcraft Inc. C
2002
500 N Dodgion
Independence MO 64050
For assistance contact:

3. Now that you have DesignaKnit Installed!
Lets take a look at Menu options throughout the program.

4. 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.

5. 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!

6. DesignaKnit 7 opening screen
Mode menu
This is the Access point to DesignaKnit program modes.

7. Mode Menu Drop Down Menu choices Standard Garment Styling Mode
Original Pattern Drafting Mode
Stitch Designer Mode
Interactive Knitting Mode
Graphic Studio Mode

8. The Mode is a specific segment of DesignaKnit.
Each mode has it’s own specialty but completely integrates with all the other modes.

9. OR There are 2 ways to enter the mode you wish to use.
1: Left Click on Mode, then Left click on the Mode you wish to use. OR
2: Left Click on the Icon bar symbolizing the Mode choice.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Interactive Knitting Mode
Receive pattern shaping instructions.
Receive color change instructions.
Receive marker setting instructions.
Easy to follow chart for Intarsia Knitting.

14. 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.

15. 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 .

16. Getting Started With Standard Styling.
Click on the Standard Styling Icon

17. 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.

18. Once a selection is made this button activates the choice
Once a selection is made this button activates the choice. On some selections this button is not necessary on others you push the selection then push Ok.
If you find yourself viewing the wrong screen because of an incorrect choice cancel will return you to the previous screen.
This button will close the dialogue box. It has the same affect as Cancel.
This button accesses the online help menu in DesignaKnit.
File Path
File path is a very important concept to understand. When you save a file you must know where you saved it. That is called the file path.

19. Create a new garment. List of recently used files.
Use this option when creating a new shape file.
Open an existing garment
Use this option when you want to use an existing garment to do layout work, to modify tension settings or styling options.
Use this option to enter your personal measurements. These measurements will remain on file until you delete them and you can use them to apply to any template garment shape.
List of recently used files.
If the file you want to reopen is on this list a single left click will quickly reopen it.

20. Click New Garment Click OK.
Click on the options you want to apply in each section.
Click OK.
Grayed out options indicates they are not applicable to the garment type you have chosen. If skirt were selected this box would be in black print and the options usable.

21. or Tensions Dialogue Box Enter measurement in stitches per 4”
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.

22. These segments are optional.
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.
These option lines are for personal use only. DesignaKnit does not use them in any way. When you enter information in this area it will print out on your printed pattern.
These segments are optional.
Click OK

23. Select the ease option you want to apply.
Click OK

24. Or from a set of measurements entered by you. Custom Size
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.

25. Click on the size you wish to apply.
Click OK.

26. 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.

27. Tensions
Options
Chest
Waist
Waist or hip
Nape to garment length 23.4
Hip depth
Arm length
Arm hole (scye)
Upper arm
Wrist
Shoulder to shoulder
Hip
Arm hole depth
Body Rib 2.0
Body Blousing 0.0
Body Straight 1.2
Overlap 0.0
Shoulder 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
Circumference 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.

28. Click OK when all your measurements are correct.

29. Your garment shape is now complete!

30. Click File/Save As

31. File name Box File type box File Path 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.

32. Click the down arrow under Drives.
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.

33. 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.

34. Lets take a closer look at the styling options.

35. 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.

36. The Styling Option Icons allow you to change things about the shape.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. File
Options

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. Caution: Use this option when you want to open an existing File.
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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. Printing Formats Printing Choices
Type the 2 letter code in this bar for each piece you want to print.
Printing Formats
Printing Choices

49. Formats available when any shape file is open to be printed.
Formats available only when integrated shape is open to be printed.

50. Click the Options button.
For each format there is an option screen to further refine your final print out.
Click the Options button.

51. 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.

52. 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.

53. 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.

54. 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.

55. 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.

56. This format is for garment pieces only
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.

57. This format is for garment pieces only
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.

58. 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.

59. GN print out result. GN GN

60. Row (65) Number of stitches left.
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.

61. 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.

62. First, knit a sample swatch
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.

63. 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..

64. 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.

65. Edit Undo last action. Copy Selection to clip board.
Copy Sleeve to clip board

66. View View indicates how and what is displayed on the screen.
Click on the options to allow you to see the information you need.

67. Monochrome Display off. Normal View.

68. Options

69. 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.

70. 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, will become 33.3 and 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.

71. 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.

72. 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.

73. 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.

74. Allows you to change the ease settings of the open garment file.

75. 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.

76. This option allows you to store your custom measurements on file for easy access.

77. Display area for saved measurement flies.
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.

78. Navigation Bar Last File
Sorts the list in group order.
First File
Next File
New File
Delete File
Last File
Adds the size information from the opened pattern file.
Previous File

79. Category Boxes Use drop down arrows to make these selections.
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.

80. When you click on a box to add the measurement DesignaKnit shows you the exact place on the body to take the measurement.

81. Fill in the measurements and Click OK
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

82. Quick Review
Icons = Those little pictures we click on to activate an option.
The icon I click on when I don’t understand.

83. What I click on when I goofed.

84. Garment Type Dialogue Box.
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.

85. What the Icons mean.

86. Let’s create a garment without all the confusion.
Left Click Standard Styling Mode Icon.

87. Click on the choices you want to apply to your garment.
Left Click New Garment
Click on the choices you want to apply to your garment.

88. Enter the tensions from your swatch.
Click the ease option you wish to use. Click OK

89. Click on the Standard size chart or your Custom size chart.

90. Your garment is ready to knit. Click File Save As and give it a name.
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.

91. The Garment can be knit form a print out of the pattern.
Or knit from Interactive Knitting Mode.

92. Press ESC Key to Exit