Lady's Cardigan, body bust sizes 32 1/2 to 39"
Child's Cardigan, chest sizes 20.5, 22, and 23 5/8"
And a quarter scale pattern for a Man's Raglan Pullover, chest sizes 36 1/4 to 44".
All of these patterns are printed on paper. This is confusing to many people, because the paper patterns cannot go into the Knit Contour. Instead, they must be copied onto the mylar sheets which also are included with a new KR 10/KR11 unit. There are mylar sheets for both quarter and half scale patterns included. The illustration below is just a small section of the bottom of the half scale sheet. As you can see, the sheet is printed with a green grid to make it easier to trace or copy the desired pattern. The section at the bottom of the sheet has three parallel lines to aid in inserting the sheet correctly into the Knit Contour Unit. (Be sure to always insert the edge with the arrow into the Knit Contour.)
The quarter scale mylar is very similar. It has a darker center line, with "0" under it, and the numbers go from 10 to 30 outwards to the left and right edges. It is interesting that the size of the actual squares on the grid are exactly the same. The heavy division lines are twice as far apart on the half scale mylars, but the squares are the same.
The easiest way I have found to copy the pattern onto the mylar is to trace it. Place the pattern sheet flat on a table, then place the mylar over it, lining up the center back/front of the mylar exactly on top of the center back/front of the pattern. Draw the pattern for the selected size on the mylar using a washable felt tip pen. When I got my first KR 10 I used a Pentel eversharp pencil, thinking the line was thinner, so it would be a little more accurate when reading against the stitch scale, and that lead would be easier to erase. Wrong!!!!! It wouldn't come off at all, and when I used more pressure to erase, I also erased the green grid lines, so those patterns are permanently on the sheets. I found that Flair markers came off easily with a damp paper towel. However, when I tried to wipe off ones that were a couple of years old not everything disappeared; a purple shadow remained where the black line used to be. To be safe, if you want a really clean sheet it would be best to wipe them off when you are certain you are finished with the pattern.
Another way you can get the pattern onto a mylar sheet without tracing is to tape a paper pattern onto the mylar. I'm sure this method is not recommended by the manufacturer, so will not be held liable if you run into difficulties when using it. I only use this technique on patterns I have drawn on paper myself, not the commercial ones that come with the Knit Contour, because the tape doesn't come off the paper and I don't want to ruin the commercial patterns. Light to medium weight paper works best (16-20 pound copier or general purpose office paper). It will be necessary to trim the paper pattern so that it fits between the vertical rows of holes on the outside edges. Place the paper pattern over the mylar, again matching the center lines of the paper pattern with the marked center line on the mylar sheet. Use cellophane tape. Tape the entire top and bottom edges of the paper to the mylar, then the side edges. I usually use short lengths of tape because they are easier for me to control. The main thing is to be sure the paper is securely attached to the mylar, with no wrinkles or bumps. It has to feed through the Knit Contour smoothly. Also be sure that the tape does not cover any of the holes on the side edges. If you have attached the paper correctly the sheet will feed through normally.
You may purchase any of the Knit Contour patterns available from your Studio dealer, since you must copy the outline onto the mylar screen, anyway. If you purchase patterns designed for the KR-7, place the left side of the mylar screen over the centerline of the paper pattern, and copy off just the right half of the garment onto the screen. Some of the patterns available as extra sets are not symmetrical (the right side is different from the left.) These are better left until you gain experience working with the Knit Contour. When you feel confident enough to try them, both sides must be marked on the paper. The centerline of the KR-7 paper will still be the left side of the mylar screen, but both sides of the pattern must be drawn to the right of the mylar center 0 line at the left side. It is a very good idea to draw a small sketch of the garment piece on a separate sheet of paper and refer to it often while knitting. You may find it helpful to make notes on this paper as you knit, including the row count number for the start of each shaping area, sts to cast on, bind off, increase, and decrease.
Irene Woods
P.O. Box 637
Wickenburg, AZ 85358
(928) 684-2969
© 1997-2002 by Irene Woods
Email: irenewoods@clearwater.net