BASICS Sweater Design

(Knitware Critter Clothes Design Software -- OLD NAME)

NEW VERSION 2.50 now being sent:

Why Call the program Basics?

Over the years, I have had many requests for Pants, and had always thought of adding them to Skirts & Shawls eventually. However, as the date for the new release grew closer, I realized that I did not have time to add a new unit for Pants to Skirts & Shawls. However, I did already have a pants unit in Critter Clothes and I decided that enhancing those pants styles and adding people sizes was feasible. The development went well, and, after improving the crotch shaping for people sizes, I was very pleased with the results.

However, I now had a ‘Critter Clothes’ program that was for people too. It has very basic sweater, skirt and dress styles, good options on pants, plus dog sweaters. It can be used for people, dolls, bears and pets. And so it’s new name became Basics, since it has a little bit of everything and is a good starting point for Knitware users. If you want only a great variety of sweater styles and options, use the Sweaters program. Likewise, use the Skirts & Shawls program for more Skirt options, or for shawl, afghan and poncho styles.

Enhancements to Basics (was Critter Clothes) include:

• Add standard people sizes


• Add pant style options


• Improve pants crotch shaping for people


• Add back-opening dog sweater style

The Dog Sweater styles can be used to design sweaters for many pets; including dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets etc., as well as 'naturally shaped' stuffed animals which stand with all four feet on the floor.

Great reasons to knit critter clothes:

• Use up leftover bits of yarn


• Make wonderful gifts


• Great for bazaars, craft fairs


• Quick and easy knitting projects


• Good children's activities

KNITWARE Critter Clothes includes:

• Measurement data for a number of standard sized (commercial) dolls and bears.


• Measurement data for many common pure-breed dogs.


• The ability to add custom measurements for different dogs, cats, other pets, dolls and stuffed animals of your own.

Excellent for Designing Premature Baby Clothes:

• Allows sizes smaller than usual for newborn baby.


• Fully customizable.


• Fast, accurate, easy. (Hand or Machine)

Dog Sweater Styles:

There are three basic dog sweater styles: simple, pullover and tuxedo. All are knit from neck to bottom in one piece, with ribbing around the neck, a center front seam and ribbing all around the back opening.

The TUXEDO and PULLOVER styles include ‘sleeves’ at the armholes for the pet’s front legs. Although more difficult to knit, the armholes serve not only to keep the pet’s legs warm, but also to keep the sweater from sliding around.

The SIMPLE style does not have any sleeves or armhole shaping, and is much quicker to knit.

The PULLOVER style is knit square around the back end of the body; i.e. the front and back length are the same.

The TUXEDO and SIMPLE styles are knit with shaping at the back, gradually decreasing from the full chest width to the back width at the tail. These styles allow full length at the back to the tail, without the sweater bunching up under the tummy.