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DAK 8 HELP!

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julie.n

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I recently bought DAK 8 and am trying to get the hang of it, but it ain't easy!!
Thought I would start off with something plain, my nephew wants a sleeveless vest to wear under a suit jacket during winter. So went to original pattern drafting and put in the details for the garment that I wanted, in this case, the sleeveless pullover. Put in the measurement and it gave me the front and back pieces to work with. This was fine, I knitted the 2 pieces with the interactive knitting feature. Wonderful!!

But hold on a sec.... where are the instructions for the armhole bands and neckband?.... why isn't it giving me all the pieces to complete the garment?......what am I doing wrong?.... can't even find how to design the pieces myself!

HELP! HELP!
 
#2 ·
Try going into the help section. I did not find anything specific titles about the neck and arm bands. I have only done one piece of clothing in mine, I use it mostly for graphing patterns for my blankets. The vest I made for myself did not have neck or arm bands that were separate. If you cannot find anything to help you email this person, mikebecker@dknits.com, he is very helpful and patient! Maybe he can direct you to the proper tutorial or give you some direction. Good Luck.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Beetytwird said:
Try going into the help section. I did not find anything specific titles about the neck and arm bands. I have only done one piece of clothing in mine, I use it mostly for graphing patterns for my blankets. The vest I made for myself did not have neck or arm bands that were separate. If you cannot find anything to help you email this person, mikebecker@dknits.com, he is very helpful and patient! Maybe he can direct you to the proper tutorial or give you some direction. Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks, may have to email mike because so far haven't been able to find much in the help files
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Well I have worked out how to get a new block piece and then to shape it to my measurements for what I want. The test will be in the knitting and sewing up.
That will wait until tomorrow! Now maybe I can get some sleep!
Goodnight all.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Nope still not there. I have the pieces drawn but the instructions are not on how to attach the neckband but rather how to knit it as a piece only, if that makes sense.
Has anyone used designaknit to knit a v-neck sweater?
 
#6 ·
julie.n said:
Nope still not there. I have the pieces drawn but the instructions are not on how to attach the neckband but rather how to knit it as a piece only, if that makes sense.
Has anyone used designaknit to knit a v-neck sweater?
Click to expand...
I tried designing a vest similar to what you described. I started in standard pattern drafting. I couldn't find an option to give directions on knitting the bands.

I transferred the design to the original section. Clicked on "piece" "block" named it "neckband" then resized the piece. DAK gives directions on how to knit the piece, but no directions on how to attach.

Maybe if enough knitters ask, Softbyte will include that feature.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Maryknits513 said:
I tried designing a vest similar to what you described. I started in standard pattern drafting. I couldn't find an option to give directions on knitting the bands.

I transferred the design to the original section. Clicked on "piece" "block" named it "neckband" then resized the piece. DAK gives directions on how to knit the piece, but no directions on how to attach.

Maybe if enough knitters ask, Softbyte will include that feature.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I found as well. Funny thing is that if I put the measurement in KNITWARE, it will give me all the instructions from start to finish. I invested this enormous amount of money thinking it will give me more flexibility than 'knitware' and in many ways it does but in such basic things it lets you down. I wanted the interactive knitting feature to make it easier for things like shaping but I really am disappointed.
 
#9 ·
In dak 7 you can go to print then you can choose TI of the front and back. Here you can find how many stiches you need for the neckband and arms. I think it is the same in dak 8.
gr. Birgitte
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
thommie said:
In dak 7 you can go to print then you can choose TI of the front and back. Here you can find how many stiches you need for the neckband and arms. I think it is the same in dak 8.
gr. Birgitte
Click to expand...
thanks Birgitte, I had checked it out already but it just dawned on me that I had drawn the pieces vertical instead of horizontal. That is why I was not getting correct stitches. I have corrected that now.
Still trying to work out if it is better to knit the band first then join, or whether to pick up stitches around the half neck, knit one row, then transfer to rib.
Does anyone have a neat way of doing a V neckband?
 
#11 ·
I purchased the DAK program 6 weeks ago and find the 'help' section very difficult to navigate. I would love to have a DAK bible in print and a DAK section in KP.
 
#12 ·
To calculate the number of stitches to be picked up for a V neckband is as follows:-

Number of rows knitted from start of V neck shaping to shoulder

Tension Gauge:- number of stitches: number of rows

Ratio :- number of stitches divided by number of rows

Estimated stitches = Number of rows multiplied by the ratio will give you the number of stitches for one side of the V neckband. Add one extra stitch for seaming.

There is a DAK group on Ravelry for some more help with the programme

www.knititnow.com have some good videos on how to knit neckband and armhole bands.
 
#13 ·
rhpoway said:
I purchased the DAK program 6 weeks ago and find the 'help' section very difficult to navigate. I would love to have a DAK bible in print and a DAK section in KP.
Click to expand...
You can print the manual. Open DAK. Click on "Help". Click on "Manual". The manual is a PDF file, which will open in your PDF reader. Follow the instructions in your PDF reader to print the manual. It is 463 pages.

Charlene Shafer has four new books on DAK. "My First DAK Book", "Standard Garment Styling", and "Original Pattern Drafting Workshop" and "DK8 - Stitch Designer Workshop" you can buy them here http://www.knitknackshop.com/books/main.htm

There are DAK groups on Ravelry, Facebook and Yahoo groups. Many DAK users on those groups don't belong to KP.
 
#14 ·
If you design your sleeveless vest in the standard garment styling of DAK 8:- For the neckband:- click on the print icon, a window pops up, click on front or back, click on text summary:- a window pops up (print window) click on preview. a page is opened. This tells you the number of stitches and rows to pick for the neckband and also the welt.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
anino said:
If you design your sleeveless vest in the standard garment styling of DAK 8:- For the neckband:- click on the print icon, a window pops up, click on front or back, click on text summary:- a window pops up (print window) click on preview. a page is opened. This tells you the number of stitches and rows to pick for the neckband and also the welt.
Click to expand...
Thanks, That was the problem, I did it in the original drafting section. Once I drew out the pieces for the neckband and armhole (and turned them around the right way) it then tells you how many stitches to pick up when you go into the print.
I was using the interactive knitting side of it, and not knowing what I was doing, it wasn't telling me anything!
 
#17 ·
Unfortunately, the band instructions don't appear in the interactive part of DAK. You have to print them. When you print the Garment summary. Here is the following:
1. Click on print
2. Click on the pieces you want to print. (On the left.)
3. Click on Test summary
4. Click on next
5. You can now click on preview or print.
Your instructions now appear at this point. It gives you your band stitches and rows and all summary information.
 
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#19 ·
I've been on youtube and have seen a lot of DAK tutorials there. Unfortunately, sometimes they still don't help.
 
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#20 ·
Hi All, I use DAK 8 and am still learning but with armhole bands and neck bands, i couldn't find the 'how' to either but what i do is knit the neckband separate and attach it or follow Diana Sullivan's videos on how to do v necks and attaching them. With the arm band i put the vest or jumper on the machine and start knitting the band then sew up the side seams. Or if I am having a great day I sit watching movies and knit the bands on by hand. always a relaxing moment.
cheers
 
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