Depends, I make socks up as I go stealing bits and pieces from different patterns that I have accumulated...a lace panel from one, a twisted stitch from another...
One of the things I love about crochet/knitting is that you can go either way with this. I work with people on using the crafts to their best mental health benefit ... sometimes you really need the structure and ease and focus but also mindlessly of perfectly following a pattern and sometimes you need the exact opposite!
I have been knitting way too many years to follow a pattern exactly, but after retiring five years ago, I have learned how to make a sweater sleeve to fit better or the body longer by going off pattern.
I recently retired from a stressful and intellectually demanding job, so I just want to follow the instructions. I make adjustments for length, add bust darts, choose different cast-ons/bind-offs but I want to keep the problem solving part of my brain turned off. Something I will always add is an adjustment for the back of the yoke.
If I am making a pattern for the first time I usually follow it to the letter. Maybe I’ll make some minor fit adjustments for garments, but that’s about it.
If I make a pattern more than once, I’ll start to play around with it.
I've been following patterns to the letter and then wondering why they don't fit me quite right. On the other hand, I'm fundamentally incapable of following a recipe and always send up freestyling. Hoping to find a middle ground with my knitting
I'm usually looking for something interesting in a pattern, either the stitch or a new to me technique so I will tend to follow the pattern and trust the designer knows what they are doing. Occasionally I'll do a different finish to the hem or collar than is called for. For socks I will adjust the pattern for my small feet if they don't go small enough.
i'm an absolute freestyler!! i learned to make things by reverse engineering, so coloring outside the lines is pretty normal for me. i follow the patterns on some stuff, but mostly i make it up as i go!!!! both knitting and crochet.....it's like deciphering/writing computer code!!!
I mostly follow the pattern, with modifications for fit/length or adding pockets or stripes. Little things like that. If I buy or download a pattern it's because I want that item as much as possible. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to me to buy or download the pattern at all
I balance that with designing my own items, which are madly off in all directions until I get hold of my ideas lol
I'm mostly a follower, but I'm learning to combine elements to make things that work for me. Specifically I now know the number of stitches and rows needed to knit a vanilla sock that fits me. No more guess work, no trying different cuffs, heels and toes unless I want to. It's so nice to just be able to start and finish without checking anything much (apart from stitch count occasionally). I need to try a more complicated sock pattern sometime, but at the moment I'm enjoying the brain-off element of what I'm doing.
I tend to adapt the sweater shape if it’s for me - longer body and sleeves, and a scoop or v neckline. I really don’t like things tight around my neck! So how could I do a top down scoop neckline, all you experts? I don’t think it’s possible, so no fair isle or textured yokes for me…
Depends, I make socks up as I go stealing bits and pieces from different patterns that I have accumulated...a lace panel from one, a twisted stitch from another...
I love that approach - kind of like a pattern magpie
I’m new to knitting so I follow the pattern to the T.
The only modification I have made is by adding or subtracting rows in sleeves or body to get the lengths I like.
I rarely use the suggested yarn and with sweaters I have to make sure right length. As I have become more confident am detouring more 😊
That's such a good point - I think gaining confidence is such a key issue.
One of the things I love about crochet/knitting is that you can go either way with this. I work with people on using the crafts to their best mental health benefit ... sometimes you really need the structure and ease and focus but also mindlessly of perfectly following a pattern and sometimes you need the exact opposite!
I have been knitting way too many years to follow a pattern exactly, but after retiring five years ago, I have learned how to make a sweater sleeve to fit better or the body longer by going off pattern.
I recently retired from a stressful and intellectually demanding job, so I just want to follow the instructions. I make adjustments for length, add bust darts, choose different cast-ons/bind-offs but I want to keep the problem solving part of my brain turned off. Something I will always add is an adjustment for the back of the yoke.
Maybe the first time I follow the pattern, but then I do what works for me, for the yarns and fibers, and for the intended recipients!
If I am making a pattern for the first time I usually follow it to the letter. Maybe I’ll make some minor fit adjustments for garments, but that’s about it.
If I make a pattern more than once, I’ll start to play around with it.
I've been following patterns to the letter and then wondering why they don't fit me quite right. On the other hand, I'm fundamentally incapable of following a recipe and always send up freestyling. Hoping to find a middle ground with my knitting
It's a difficult balance for sure. I find that all but the most simple patterns seem to need little tweaks here and there.
I'm usually looking for something interesting in a pattern, either the stitch or a new to me technique so I will tend to follow the pattern and trust the designer knows what they are doing. Occasionally I'll do a different finish to the hem or collar than is called for. For socks I will adjust the pattern for my small feet if they don't go small enough.
i'm an absolute freestyler!! i learned to make things by reverse engineering, so coloring outside the lines is pretty normal for me. i follow the patterns on some stuff, but mostly i make it up as i go!!!! both knitting and crochet.....it's like deciphering/writing computer code!!!
I follow the pattern. I also follow recipes, although I'll leave something out if it's on the “YUK” list.
I mostly follow the pattern, with modifications for fit/length or adding pockets or stripes. Little things like that. If I buy or download a pattern it's because I want that item as much as possible. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to me to buy or download the pattern at all
I balance that with designing my own items, which are madly off in all directions until I get hold of my ideas lol
when I am trying something completely new to me, I tend to follow it to the letter.
I'm mostly a follower, but I'm learning to combine elements to make things that work for me. Specifically I now know the number of stitches and rows needed to knit a vanilla sock that fits me. No more guess work, no trying different cuffs, heels and toes unless I want to. It's so nice to just be able to start and finish without checking anything much (apart from stitch count occasionally). I need to try a more complicated sock pattern sometime, but at the moment I'm enjoying the brain-off element of what I'm doing.
I tend to adapt the sweater shape if it’s for me - longer body and sleeves, and a scoop or v neckline. I really don’t like things tight around my neck! So how could I do a top down scoop neckline, all you experts? I don’t think it’s possible, so no fair isle or textured yokes for me…