Sweater Wheel
Make selections in the three lists below. Then press the GO button to view a basic pattern
for a sweater using your selection. This sweater pattern is the conventional construction in
which the sweater is made in several separate pieces that are sewn together after
blocking.
About 40 years ago, I purchased a pair of sweater wheels from the
Herrschner's
catalog. There was a set-in sleeve version and a raglan sleeve version.
Each wheel had children's sizes on one side and adult sizes on the other
side.
After many years, my sweater wheels look
as if they have been through the wars. And in a way they have been.
I always kept them covered with a clear plastic bag to protect them.
The sweater wheels indicate that a Bea Freeman
put a copyright on these devices in 1969.
Each sweater wheel consists of three cardboard
circles: There is a larger middle circle that contains rows of numbers
radiating out from the center. The larger circle is sandwiched between the
two smaller circles. The two smaller circles contain slotted holes that
allow the numbers on the larger circle to show through in juxtaposition with
sweater instructions on the surface of the smaller circles. The three
circles are held together in the center by a brad that allows the smaller
circles to be rotated over the surface of the larger circle. The outer
perimeter of the larger wheel has sweater sizes printed on it.
The effect is sort of like "dial a
sweater". By rotating the one of the smaller wheels, you select
a sweater size. Then you follow the sweater instruction, where the
appropriate variables peek through from the larger wheel to give you the
right number of stitches, inches, decreases or increases to make the sweater.
And speaking of dial a sweater: more recently I found another sweater wheel.
This one is called Dial-A-Knit and was published by Ultrafit in 1985.
It is a more limited presentation than the earlier Bea Freeman version.
Sweater wheels are sometimes offered for sale on E-bay.com auctions.
Search e-bay.com for sweater wheel auctions.
Book Review:
The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges
by Ann Budd; Interweave Press; 2002. ISBN 1931499047
This book is sort of
like a sweater wheel only better. It provides instructions for several types of
basic garments: hats, mittens, scarfs, vests and (oh, yes) sweaters. It has
directions for a range of sizes from child to adult. If you can't find a sweater
wheel, then own this book. And even if you have a sweater wheel, get this book.