Helpful Software for the Sweater Knitter
Knitware Sweater Design v 1.30
available on Fibernet BBS files area as KWS130.zip

When I first dialed up Fibernet, just after Christmas in 1992 I was just 
beginning my explorations of Cyberspace.  Fibernet was the first Bulletin 
Board I ever logged onto and its files area was the first I ever looked into.  
KWS110.zip was the one of the first files I downloaded and I've never looked 
back. 

As a complete novice I unzipped the program, copied it into a directory be 
itself and gingerly typed 'KWS' at the DOS prompt (as the install program told 
me to do).  It ran just fine and the on-line help explained EVERYTHING.  No 
tears, no hairpulling; all-in-all a wonderful experience for the intimidated 
computer user. 

What Knitware Sweater Design is supposed to do is give you custom instructions 
for knitting sweaters, by hand or machine.  This it accomplishes, and for a 
very reasonable price. 

Now the KWS I first tested and then registered over a year ago would print out 
text instructions for men's, women's and children's sweaters in sizes from 2 
to 48 with a variety of amounts of ease from skintight to oversized/coat. 

The designer (that's you) can choose from full length sleeves or 3/4 length; 
several different sweater lengths; a variety of necklines including (in the 
registered version) V, scoop, round (jewel), square  and two different boat 
necks.  Raglan, drop or set-in shoulders are options and the program doesn't 
allow you to make incompatible choices like a boat neck with raglan sleeves. 

Pullovers and cardigans can be designed and there are several different collar 
choices, including cowl, turtleneck and rolled edge. 

The program as downloaded and unzipped is ready to go, it requires no special 
configuration for any IBM compatible computer. 

When I first registered my KWS program, I was informed of the availability of 
Knitware Tops and Vests (KWT).  I have been using this program for a year now 
and am quite pleased with it.  Vests and short-sleeved sweaters (pullover and 
cardigan) can be designed with this program, which is very similar the KWS but 
(in version 1.3) allows the choice of two different necklines for front and 
back.  So if you want a V-neck summer top with a scoop back and a rolled edge 
collar, it is at your fingertips, in your gauge and size. 

Now, so far, I haven't touched upon the best and newest features of version 
1.3. 

In version 1.3 of KWS and KWT you can customize your measurements and create 
data files of custom measurements for yourself, family members and whoever you 
may be knitting for.  You can accommodate people larger than the standard 52 
inch chest, or with a potbelly or wasp waist.  You can recalculate your 
handspun Fair Isle pattern for each member of the family and print out the 
instructions and schematics for each pattern piece. 

Pushing f3 will display the schematic shape of each pattern piece of your 
current design (and there are menus that allow you to view schematics of 
previous designs for comparison purposes).  If you want to print the 
schematics you must remember to run the DOS GRAPHICS command before you start 
the program.  Then you can print all or any one of the schematic pictures with 
your PRINT SCREEN function. 

You can print your text instructions to the screen, to a file that you can 
edit ( I like that one because it saves paper) or directly to your printer.  I 
even like that you can set the colors of the program to green, magenta or 
monochrome.  I just like it. 

Now I will admit that I haven't used Sweater 101 or any of these other sweater 
design programs but I have noticed that they run about $100. I believe I've 
spent about $70 for both KWS and KWT version 1.2 and then about $15 to up 
grade to v.1.3.  And I believe that gives me much more design choices than any 
one other program. 

What doesn't it do?  It won't do babies (below size 2), Yoke sweaters or 
circular (seamless) knitting.  It doesn't integrate your choice of color or 
texture pattern into the sweater, you have to make a swatch  and use that 
gauge in your calculations and perhaps follow another set of directions for 
your Yo's and C2Bs.  And it doesn't have a grid or scale on the schematic, 
which I would find helpful in positioning cables or stripes. 

I does calculate how much yarn you will need (you need a large swatch for 
this), allow you to revise your previous designs and resave them or save them 
under another name.  You can delete old designs and edit or delete custom size 
files. 

You can specify measurements in metric or English units and knitting needle 
sizes ditto.  You can get your instructions for hand or machine knitting ( 
about a dozen different makes of machine) including Bond frame.  The program 
assumes that you do NOT have a ribber and doesn't support electronic or 
punchcard options.  I does tell you the maximum number of needles needed for 
the sweater or ribbing, even if that number is in excess of the total number 
on the machine.  I can see that a lot of my sweaters will have a seam up the 
back.  C'est la vie. 

KWS and KWT were written by Janet Tombu dba Morningstar Consulting.  She also 
monitors the Internet Knit List and has been admirably ethical in NOT 
recommending her product despite many requests for information on software 
available.  She also markets graph paper for knitting design and her business 
phone number is (604) 652-4097. 

Check it out. 

