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Time to Knit User Guide (T2K)

Use the Time to Knit User Guide to answer your questions. It can be hard enough to find Time to Knit with all the pulls on our time. Make the most of your Time to Knit. Find more time to knit by using this as a planning tool.

Time to Knit User Guide (T2K)

Hello and welcome to the Time to Knit User Guide for the Pattern Tailor! This will answer questions that may arise as you work through the Pattern Tailor Customization Window for the Time to Knit.  

This Time to Knit User Guide will take you through the process, which is way easier than it looks, but hey — it is new to you!

General Guidelines

  • Before the Pattern Tailor customizes your Output Sheet, it will ask for information. This guide breaks down how to answer the questions you are asked in the Pattern Tailor Customization Window.
  • Here are videos on the Pattern Tailor process.
  • Armed with the information needed, you will enter them in the Pattern Tailor Customization Window.  As soon as your data is submitted you can click the download button(s), your download is immediately sent to your downloads file!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.  If you get an Oops! message, the problem is at my end so email me asap!
  • Need to figure the Time to Knit for another project? Purchase again for each project.

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 with 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 T2K 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:  Rows or Rounds

Choose the appropriate option. Q7  

3:  Yarn

Begin by identifying the yarn you are using.  Q8  You can use any weight yarn, from lace weight to super bulky!  If you are using more than one yarn, use one name for identification purposes. 

4:  Blocked Row Gauge

This would be the row gauge you got on your blocked swatch.  Q9  You can, of course, use the unblocked gauge, but it will not be accurate for how many rows/rounds to work for the area.

5:  Stitches

Record the number of stitches in one row/round.  If you are increasing or decreasing, use the number before the stitch count change. Q10  

6:  Time Test

Record the number of minutes recorded by your stopwatch for your Timed Test.  Q11  Round up to the nearest minute.

7:  Needles

This is the needle you used in your Timed Test.  Q12 

  • 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.
7a:  Needle Conversion Table
FLTCO: Needle Conversion Chart US Metric (mm) 0 2 1 2.25 1.5 2.5 2 2.75 2.5 3 3 3.25 4 3.5 5 3.75 6 4 7 4.5 8 5 US Metric (mm) 9 5.5 10 6 10.5 6.5 10.75 7 10.875 7.5 11 8 13 9 15 10 17 12.5 19 15

8:  Rows/Rounds Worked

Record the number of rows/rounds worked during the time test period.  Q13  Please work full rows/rounds. There is no prize, so don’t worry about the numbers.

9:  Area 

Answer with the depth/length of the area that matches your test rows/rounds.  Q14  Be sure to answer in the units selected in Q5.

  • Accessories.If the piece is generally the same size, then the area will be the entire project.  If there are differently sized areas, then break the item into areas where there isn’t a great deal of change in the size.
  • Shawls.  Shawls often have continuing size changes throughout the piece.  Either do your Time Test in an area with no change, or find an area and average the stitch number.
  • Sleeved or Unsleeved Garments. Assume that there is a controlled change anywhere there is shaping.  If you are decreasing or increasing a stitch at side seams, it probably takes about the same amount of time as knitting without shaping, so your total time will end up being slightly less, or more, than if you were working straight.

9a:  Areas Broken Down

  • Areas.  If you are working top down, your project will come to the numbered items in a different order.
    • Bottom Trim. May be on a different needle or stitch count.
    • Body to Underarm / Body From Underarm.  Does not take into account shaping changes.
    • Upper Body.  I just look at the rough area without neck or shoulder shaping.
    • Sleeve Trim/Cuff.  May be on a different needle or stitch count.
    • Trim/Cuff to Underarm / Underarm to Trim/Cuff.  This requires a different calculation.
    • Sleeve Cap.  There is a lot of shaping in a small area here, but using the Underarm stitch count and the top Bind off it can be calculated as in number 5.
    • Added Trims.  Likely uses the same information as the Bottom Trim.

Calculators for each area will be coming soon-ish! I think that means Fall-Winter, 2025-2026

10:  Knitting Session

  • This starts by asking if you are talking in minutes or hours.  You choose, but if you need flexibility, use minutes.  Q15
  • Now, define that session by giving it a length.  See Fractional Measurements.  You can use either 10ths of an hour, 0.1, or eighths of an hour, 0.125.  Q16

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