Middle Aged Mama

Blogging about my Midlife Adventures

I’m a Certified Knitwit

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Knitwit-dress-patternI can’t believe I’m confessing to this – but I’m a (K)nitwit and I have the certificate to prove it!

Does anybody else remember Knitwit – shops, sewing classes, patterns, and knit fabrics?

I’ve never been much of a seamstress (I was going to write sewer, but that just looks wrong!). I failed home economics in Year 8, however in my twenties my passion for fashion (and lack of funds) meant that I was motivated to take some basic dressmaking classes. It all seemed a bit finicky to me …

Then a friend and I signed up for a Knitwit stretch sewing class in Cleveland – and I was converted. Stretch sewing always seems to get a bad rap as being “tricky”, but I’m really not sure why.

I loved the ease and simplicity of sewing with stretch fabrics. No need to finish raw seams as knits don’t fray, so in no time I could whip up a garment. The fabrics themselves are soft and comfortable to wear, and generally don’t need ironing. Over the next couple of years I made a number of dresses (including a green maternity dress), pencil skirts, and tops.

What I didn’t love was that the knit fabrics were often incredibly expensive. And, it has to be said, a lot of the fabrics stocked by Knitwit were distinctly Nana-ish. So over time I lost interest, as it truly was cheaper and easier to buy ready made.

Sadly, I mustn’t have been the only one to feel that way because the Knitwit franchise closed in 1993 and today there is just one Knitwit store in Australia (in Perth).

Straight skirtI’ve done very little sewing since then … until I found a remnant of stretch fabric at Spotlight recently. It was just enough to make a skirt for Miss 16,  and at $1 it really didn’t matter if I stuffed it up! Although I no longer have any of my old patterns, I drafted one based on one of her existing skirts and voila! One hour later Miss 16 was very happy with the new addition to her wardrobe. (And I like it too because it’s just a little bit longer than most of the skirts in the shops!).

Last week I bought another remnant of a black leather look fabric, destined to become another skirt for Miss 16 – and a burgundy piece for me, alas, not a remnant, but still good buying at under $10.

fabricWatch this space …

Do you remember Knitwit? Do you like stretch or any other form of sewing?!

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  1. Knitwit – now that is a term I haven’t heard in forever !!!!!
    I actually did the Knitwit course and you are right – the fabrics were rather Nana-rish ! I loved what I could make and did use the patterns heaps when I was doing lots of sewing. I think I must have left the patterns in South Africa when we moved here because I don’t recall seeing them in forever.
    Gotta love a bargain – and especially one that is longer than what you buy in the shops !!!!!!!
    Have the best day !
    Me

      • Funny I was just doing a search for knitwit and found your blog entry,I did many a class at a store in Bayswater Victoria 30 odd years ago.
        At the time they were the only ones with knit fabrics, years later Spotlight stores here in Victoria had most things.
        I still have my Knitwit cutting board ,its been used for all sorts of things over the years.. cubby house, kids getting dressed behind. My daughter is 25yrs now ,and I have 2 grandies.
        I lent her the cutting board yesterday and she told me the 3yr old had it up as a cubby,then she remembered she did that too!!! 🙂

    • Yesssss…..im still using my patterns and sewing again after years of just buying Chinese shop stuff. I did KNITWIT SEWING COURSE 30 years ago and find it still works for me. Recently launched a little sewing business from home – now that i have retired – and last month banked quite a considerabe amount just sewing winter wraps out of stretch fabric. Love sewing as its creative and rewarding!

  2. Haven’t heard of Knitwit, I’m afraid. But I do LOVE the skirt you made – gorgeous fabric. I can’t wait to get some time up my sleeve to do some sewing (mostly straight lines for me – beginner stage). Cheers, Alison

  4. I don’t remember Knitwit, but I was never interested in sewing either … until adulthood and now I wish I could sew!

    That’s a beautiful skirt.

    Thanks for linking up 🙂

    • Very amateur knitwit here – and yes, I’m feeling rather old today – or that could just be the dreaded lurgi!

  6. I remember Knitwit from my mother’s sewing room. I have trouble just getting a button on. Hopeless at sewing.

  7. Hi Janet!
    Greetings from Vancouver Canada! I too am a Certified Knitwit!! We had some lady’s bring Knitwit to us from South Africa in, probably, the late 80’s. I took all of the classes AND I kept all of my patterns! Yay!!

    I teach beginner sewing lessons in my home studio. I don’t know about Australia, but sewing really took a downturn to the point where many of our fabric stores closed down, and it is barely taught in schools anymore. Now it is making a resurgence, I think in part to shows like Project Runway. When I started teaching in 2008 there were almost no sewing teachers. Even now there are only a handful of us.

    One thing I have noticed is that NO ONE is teaching how to sew with knits! Soooo, I want to dredge up my old KnitWit patterns and start teaching the program. I’ve been googling Knitwit to see if it still exists and I came across your site. Thanks to your links I have located the last Knitwit store and found that “KnitWit” is now closed down and there is no more franchising or patterns available. So sad! We also had “Stretch & Sew” (which I believe Knitwit was modelled after) but it’s long gone as well.

    I guess it’s up to me to just come up with a curriculum and use Kwik Sew patterns, which I love ! (unfortunately, they have gone to tissue patterns, blah!)

    Anyway, I just had to comment, cause even though there are many nitwits out there, we don’t always get to meet a fellow Knitwit!!

    Carley

    • It was a great way to learn to sew! Good on you for making sure a new generation can learn to stretch sew 🙂

  8. My Mum was a partner in a Knitwit franchise and I reluctantly took a class in the late 70s (yes, I am THAT old). I went on to teach classes myself and still have all my old patterns. I recently dragged them out when I had to sew a couple of costumes for an amateur theatre production and am currently visiting my daughter in Sydney to give her a lesson in stretch sewing, as she has just bought a sewing machine. I think that Knitwit gave me the confidence to draft patterns from the basics and gave me the enjoyment of sewing which Home Ec certainly didn’t.

      • I agree with you both, I have made many a costume over the years , The drafting and adapting patterns I gained confidence from their classes

  9. Yes I also used to be a knit wit. It was great and I made loads of clothing for me and my daughters. We always had something new. When they grew up and didn’t want me to make them home made clothes anymore I stopped sewing. Now I have a granddaughter who dances and I would like to make her some leotards. But somewhere along the way all my patterns disappeared. I will contact the knit wit in Perth and see if I can purchase new patterns. I also made plenty leotards for my daughters when they were dancing. It really does feel good to go down memory lane. I used to go to this shop just down the road from me, they just sold stretch fabric. There was some lovely fabric there. Where have all the years gone?????

    • I wonder if you could find some patterns on Ebay? Sadly I think I got rid of all of mine years ago 🙁

      • Hi Janet and fellow Knitwitters.
        I have loads of patterns and have just been contemplating selling them. I’m a certified Knitwitter from the 80’s. I live in Brisbane.
        If anyone is interested in buying any patterns from me please let me know. Prices will be reasonable, not sure about the postage though. Was thinking of selling on Gumtree.

        • Wonderful news! I am sure you will be contacted by some keen knitwitters 🙂

        • hi I would love to know if you have the childrens patterns i have lost mine from what i remember it was on a red background the pattern was t-shirts shorts and trackie pants. you can contact me via email i would appreciate it, thanks !

        • Hi
          I’m also a Certified Knitwit. I did my course in South Africa but now live in the UK.

          Along the way some of my patterns have disappeared, including Pattern 901 Swim and Gym.

          If anyone has this pattern and is looking to sell, PLEASE please, let me know.

  10. Hi there Im also a knitwit with a lot of fabric and all of my patterns which Im getting ready to start on them again. The pattern are really easy to follow and the end result to fabulous.

  11. it would be just great silly me got rid of my patterns now i really want them again

  12. Interesting post as only yesterday I went to a Knitwit showing in Brisbane. I sew extensively and have a mail order subscription to Knitwit based in Perth. They send out a newsletter and 32 fabric swatches 4 times a year. They also tour the country twice a year – for both the Summer & Winter portfolios. I had not heard about them until about 5 years ago – probably via google while trying to find ‘good’ knit fabric. I also did not know there were South African in origin until last night when going out with friends I mentioned I had been to the showing and my South African friend remembered the name and explained all about them. I knew it had to be the same company as the women running Knitwit is Wendy, and she was definitely South African.

    Anyway, I definitely agree that many of the fabrics are Nannaish. I was the youngest (at 41) person in the room. But they do have beautiful plain knits. I am always on the look out for more natural fibers/blends. I ordered wool jersey, rayon and some blends. Only one piece was patterned. Still not a bad shopping trip as i walked away $250 dollars poorer. Wendy also explained they she travels to Italy to source her fabrics. You can certainly tell – no Spotlight blends here.

    There were no Knitwit patterns, but they do use and supply Kwiksew patterns which are available anywhere in Australia.

    But I have fallen in love with a wonderful Australian pattern company that has a lot of knit patterns. http://www.stylearc.com.au these girls are really cool and they always have a free pattern of the month with every purchase. Their patterns are drafted as ready to wear, sew up a dream and look so good.

    Anyway, just thought I would share my experience. Enjoy your sewing.

    Cheers – Meg

    • Thank you for sharing your experiences Meg. Good to know that there are still patterns and fabrics out there for stretch sewing!

    • Knitwit was started by Vera Randall, an Australian – I believe she was from Melbourne. I believe she got the original idea from Canada.
      I became a Knitwit in South Africa and when I moved to the UK I tracked them down and bought rather more than I probably should have from their store there. This eventually moved down to the Southampton area and operated as a primarily online shop. Sadly that also closed down and I could not find a supplier in the UK.
      I have now moved to Australia and I am very pleased that Spotlight carry some stretch material.
      I am waiting for my furniture to arrive and look forward to being re-united with my Sewing Machines – yes, plural as I have 3 of them. These are mainly embroidery machines purchased whilst I was selling sewing machines for a large chain in the UK.
      It is quite amazing how many areas of my life have been influenced by my original training with Knitwit. Oh! and my mother who was a dressmaker.
      Betty

  13. I would love to but some patterns if any one is no using them. I teach sewing and would just love to teach the knitwit way

  14. I am also a certified Knitwit.

    I did all the classes at the local store in Sydney (which was about 100m from where I worked). I was only in my early 20’s at the time (I am now fast approaching 50) and didn’t think it was ‘Nanna-ish’ at all but that was probably a result of the two ladies who owned the shop being in their mid to late 20’s at the time.

    I still have all my patterns, course booklets and the notes they handed out but haven’t used any of them, apart from the children’s patterns, in ages. I am planning on getting some of the basic plain coloured double knits from the Perth store soon and yes I too will probably be making them up using Style Arc patterns 🙂

    • Debbie from what I hear a lot of people are desperate to find the original Knitwit patterns and booklets, you might be surprised what you could get for them if you advertised them on Ebay!

  15. I returned to Canberra, Australia in 1979 after being in Europe for 2 years to find a Knit Wit shop in my local centre so I signed up and became a certified KW. I made tons of clothes for my kids, my mother and myself plus a hooded top for my then husband. But as time went on and included divorce my interest in sewing clothes waned as the cost of fabrics was, as others have said, pretty high. Fast forward to now, and my interest in making my own clothes has revived since I have become interested in and practice textile art. Wearables have a place in my work so sewing my clothes has begun to happen too. But the fabrics are still very expensive!

  16. Hi Janet,

    I’ve visited the Knitwit shop in Nedlands, WA 2 years ago and although small it is lovely. So Many beautiful knit fabrics, no longer Nanish. I have never attended a Knitwit course but have started using knit fabrics. A couple of ladies that come to the Australian Sewing Guild group held in Ormiston, of which I am a member, have done courses in sewing with knits, and I get a lot of help, so getting more courageous in using knits. If we want good fabric, unfortunately, we have to pay for it. I’ve been happy with my purchases from Wendy Gager in WA and she’s very helpful with advice, pattern suggestions .etc.

  17. I did all the Knitwit courses that were offered, including the lingerie course and the designing course, in the early 80’s when I was 40. I even came second in one of their fashion shows and still have the pictures! I used Knitwit methods and fabrics to sew many, many garments for my family and others as they grew through High School and University…………even “stinger suits” for full body coverage when swimming up here in North Queensland, men’s underdaks and “speedos”s from the swimsuit pattern, etc.. I am still using Knitwit methods, now sewing for grandchildren, and I find Spotlight sells fairly OK knit materials.

    I am now sewing with my granddaughter who is at university and she loves fashion of all kinds! Last week with her I made two 4-gore skirts (one for each granddaughter in Uni), and a sleeveless top with chanel trim, the top was from material leftover from an outfit her mother had at university!!…..Knitwit taught us to save all our excess materials to use for trims, etc. …. I am making panties from old T-shirts,and from lycra scraps it is really SO easy to make those panties that have no elastic, which don’t show the panty-line through your clothes! (ie through your gym tights) Those cost about $10 each pair, to buy.

    I still have my instruction books and every Knitwit pattern that I had, including leotards and tights. I would not want to part with them even though I am “old” now, but still using them! But if anyone would like a traced-off pattern in a certain size I could maybe help them. I’ve made many tights over the years and my own gym clothes too, trouble is these days the large companies have bought up all the best quality materials. Sunproof lycra is hard to find, one shop in Cairns used to sell it but that woman retired and went out of business.

    I am currently making a tab-front T-shirt for grandson’s birthday present, and an old Knitwit friend has given me some lovely materials that she feels she will not be sewing anymore.

    Knitwit definitely should be revived by somebody!!! My 20-yr-old granddaughter is happy to be learning it from me……

    And recently I’ve been lucky enough that another “old” friend gave me her brand-new Overlocker as she won’t be sewing anymore, so I am now all set to do flat-lock seams on my gym clothes!!

    So nice to contact with other Knitwits!! And to find out that there is a shop in Perth!!
    cheers, Marilyn

    • Hi Marilyn, yes fingers crossed some enterprising person will revive the Knitwit business. How I wish I’d kept my patterns! Thank you so much for offering to trace them for others. I don’t sew much anymore, but I will let you know if anybody is looking for some x

    • Hi Marilyn

      I have a knitwit cutting board and am trying to find instructions on how to use it. Do you perhaps have these.

      Kind regards
      Wilma

  18. Hi Janet
    Just stumbled across your post about Knitwit. Back in 1980 I did their basic course which was enough to sew myself various items of clothing. I also sewed lots of stuff for ‘the boys’ when they were young (now 23 and 31) and made a few items for Mum and my sister. Then I stopped sewing. Recently I decided to get back into sewing with stretch fabric. I still had a couple of Knitwit patterns and bought 3 more second hand at a church op shop. The lady felt $1 each was a bit pricey but I thought ‘What a bargain!’. I see the buy now price on e-bay is about $5-$7.

    I was surprised to discover the only retail store is in Perth and there are no modern patterns with the Knitwit brand. Knitwit was so popular back in the 1980s. From the response to your post I can see there are plenty of others who love/d Knitwit.

    • I think it just needs for an entrepreneurial person to come along and resurrect the brand!

  20. Good morning,

    I’m a lady from South Africa in KZN Amanzimtoti. I’m looking for Knitwit Patterns to buy. Is it possible that any body can help me.

    Regardts,
    Esther

  21. I did my course at Top Ryde, still have about a dozen patterns and about to re-cut a gored skirt and cowl top. hey ladies, just wander into any fabric store and pick up some stretch fabric they all have them…..great colours and patterns, buy end of season for a better price and make for next year. Sckafs in Brisbane have a good selection, Spotlight has them too it does not have to be a Knitwit fabric. Christine Johnson (USA) has a great range each season and ships to Oz.

    • Oh I remember Knitwit with pleasure and I live in the UK. Did a course in 1994 and made some lovely beautifully fitting garments. I did keep all the patterns (8 of them) and notes and just got them out of their dusty box! The shapes are very 90’s looking but I’m sure they can be tweaked. I’m keen to have a go again. Just about to go online and research knit fabrics!

      Thanks for info will google Christine Johnson – sure they will ship to UK.

  22. Is there anyone out there who will sew up some already cut knit fabric dresses? I cut my own patterns from garments I already have that fit nicely. I don’t own a machine anymore and really don’t have room for one. Happy to pay someone else to do the sewing. Live Toowong area, Brisbane.

  23. I have inherited a knitwit cutting board….but I don’t know how to use it. Would somebody be able to advise me please.

    • Lucky you! It’s been several years, but I loved my Knitwit cutting board and wish I’d never got rid of it! The idea is that you pin your fabric and pattern directly to the board, which I found was a much easier way to work, especially when it comes to cutting out. The board helps you to keep everything straight as it is marked with a grid. This also allows for easy adaptation of patterns to your exact measurements.

      Although meant to be used with Knitwit patterns, you can use it with any paper pattern or when drafting your own.

      Hope this helps!

  24. We had Knitwit in South Africa many years ago, but sadly no more. How I miss the fabulous fabrics, patterns and accessories.

    • As you can see from the many responses here, you are definitely not the only one!

  25. I too did a Knitwit course wayback when my now forty year old was just a baby. I have retained all my patterns and have been lucky enough to have been given other patterns by friends who have decided they no longer want to sew. Often I have thought about selling them. There are so many nice fabrics around. The Tilton sisters have fantastic ideas that can be tweaked with my Knitwit patterns. Yes, I would also like to see them revived again. All things old are new again.

    • Let’s hope some enterprising person resurrects this wonderful brand or creates something similar so a whole new generation can enjoy sewing!

    • Hi I used to have the pattern for childrens tshirts, shorts and leggings i think it was a red pattern do you have that if so can you tell me the pattern number so i can try and buy one to make some for my grandkids and that was the best pattern

  26. Dear ladies
    i am swiss an did the knitwit courses in south africa in the early 80s. i took all the Patterns and
    the cutting board with be back to switzerland. Now i started sewing again, not only by the knitwit System, but the cutting board is going out of order now. Can anybody help me to get a new one. it is really very helpfull.

  27. Knitwit was started by Vera Randall, an Australian – I believe she was from Melbourne. I believe she got the original idea from Canada.
    I became a Knitwit in South Africa and when I moved to the UK I tracked them down and bought rather more than I probably should have from their store there. This eventually moved down to the Southampton area and operated as a primarily online shop. Sadly that also closed down and I could not find a supplier in the UK.
    I have now moved to Australia and I am very pleased that Spotlight carry some stretch material.
    I am waiting for my furniture to arrive and look forward to being re-united with my Sewing Machines – yes, plural as I have 3 of them. These are mainly embroidery machines purchased whilst I was selling sewing machines for a large chain in the UK.
    It is quite amazing how many areas of my life have been influenced by my original training with Knitwit. Oh! and my mother who was a dressmaker.

  28. Hi everyone. Stumbled on this site. My mum did knitwit course when I was growing up. Ditto to the comments. I remember mum saying them as well. She was a good sewer, and had a little problem with lack of finishing. I have her cutting board still, even though it is 10 yrs since her passing. Might take the suggestion of one the lady who used it for the children. Can’t sew on a button myself, so my grand children might make use of it. Cheers. Maxine

  29. Yes!! I learnt at the Cleveland store too! In 1992 I did the course and went on to sew a maternity dress and another maternity outfit. It was like you said, not many options for us younger ones.

  30. Tanks for sharing! I attended the classes here in Bloemfontein South A frica in 1990. I saw a sticker today and wondered if the firm is still in operaion?

    Regards.

    Sylvia du Toit

  31. Wow, I’m a Knitwit too! So many years ago i attended the sewing classes in Claremont, Cape Town (my certificate somewhere), Busy sorting through patterns, I’m a Grandmother now so sewing for the Grand-kids!