BO Calculator User Guide
Welcome to the BO Calculator User Guide
Hello and welcome to the BO Calculator User Guide for the Pattern Tailor! This will answer questions that may arise as you work through the Pattern Tailor Customization Window for the Bind Off in Pattern.
This BO Calculator User Guide will take you through the process, which is way easier than it looks, but hey — it is new to you!
Need videos?
- Here are videos on How the Pattern Tailor Works.
- This page has videos showing how to bind off in pattern.
- The video below shows how to do your test.
General Guidelines
- Before the Pattern Tailor customizes your pattern, it will ask for information. This guide breaks down how to answer the questions you are asked in the Pattern Tailor Customization Window.
- Armed with the information needed, you will enter them in the Pattern Tailor Customization Window. As soon as your info is submitted and you click the download button(s), your download is immediately sent to your downloads file!
- Before you click submit on the Pattern Tailor Customization Window, please be sure to check your answers to each question thoroughly. Only two submissions will be allowed per purchase.
- Be sure to find out where your downloads go so they are easier to find. Whatever you named the file before hitting the download button(s) is what the file is called.
- Need to figure out your bind off yarn needs for another project? You need to purchase again for each project, but at no cost.
- Any questions/concerns/accidentally entered values into your customization window incorrectly? Email jill@jillwolcottknits.com for assistance. I work between 9:30 am and 6:30 pm weekdays; outside of those times I am usually checking on things, but I may not be able to solve your problem until work hours.
1: General Information
- The Pattern Tailor will start by asking Who and/or What Project is this for? and the Date you want on your Output Sheet. This is for your reference so use what is meaningful for you. In this case it may make more sense to put the project name in, rather than your own!
- The next few questions are about the units to be used throughout and how you’d like those to appear in your Pattern Tailor generated BO in Pattern Output Sheet.
- You will be choosing from:
- Q3. Yarn Length: Yards or meters
- Q4. Yarn Weight: Grams or ounces
- Q5. Measurements: inches or centimeters
- Q6. Needle Sizes: US or metric
- For all remaining questions in the customization window, answer ONLY with the units you have selected in Q3 through Q6.
- For example, if you enter that you would like to answer questions in inches in Q5, then answer all remaining questions in the Pattern Tailor Customization Window that call for inches or cm in inches.
2: Yarn
Begin by identifying the yarn you will use to bind off. Your yarn can be any weight yarn, from lace weight to super bulky!
- Identify your yarn. Q7
- Optional: You may add information about your yarn’s skein weight. Q8
- Optional: You may add information about your yarn’s skein length. Q8
- When answering yarn weight and length questions remember to use the same units you selected in Q3 and Q4.
3: Needle
This is the needle you will be using to bind off your project.
- This is the needle for binding off your project. Q10
- Please use only the needle sizes that are compatible with the Pattern Tailor, which are presented here and in the Help on the Pattern Tailor Customization Window.
- When answering needle size remember to use the same units you selected in Q6.
4: Do a Sample Bind Off
You will need a tape measure and two pin markers. Add a lifeline to the stitches you will be working your BO over if you like. On your project or on a swatch, mark the yarn as follows:
- How Many Stitches to Bind Off: If you are working a project with less than 100 stitches, bind off 10 stitches. If your project is over 100 stitches, bind off 20 stitches. Q12
- Mark Your Yarn and run a lifeline if you like:
- Using a pin marker, mark the working yarn, as close to the last stitch worked as possible before working your first stitch for the bind off.
- Bind off all the stitches for your test. You will end with 1 stitch on your right needle.
- Place the second pin marker at the base of the stitch on your right needle on the working yarn.
- Undo Your Bind Off: Take the 1 stitch off your right needle and gently undo your test BO stitches. Replace your stitches on a needle as you go.
5: Yarn Length Measurements
- Measure the length of the yarn between the two pin markers. This is the measured length of your test. Q11
6: Total Stitches to Bind Off For Your Project
- You will need the number of stitches to bind off for your project. Q13
7: Plug this information into the Napoli Increase Calculator
Your information will be used by the Pattern Tailor to magically give you the answers to everything listed on page 1 of the BO in Pattern Results sheet.
