Realistic Knit Texture + Patterns, Stitches & Felt Fabric!

[lynxster4]

This tutorial is available as a PDF. Click here to view or download it

 

 

Hi, all.

 

I came up with this technique to create a realistic knit texture.  Level of difficulty - easy.

 

Plugins needed:  NomBot's Dot Matrix

                               MJW's Trail Blur

                               Pyrochild's Trail

 

We will be making this basic knit pattern:   -------->> 

 

Basic Knit Pattern:

 

Spoiler

 

1)  New Canvas Size-->36 x 600

 

2)  Effects--->Stylize-->Dot Matrix

 

 

3)  Effects-->Blurs-->Trail Blur

 

 

4)  Image-->Canvas Size-->12 x 600, anchor center

 

5)  Image-->Canvas Size-->600 x 600, anchor left  (make sure it is transparent...turn your opacity to '0" on the secondary color...or 'Trail" won't work)

 

6)  Duplicate the layer

 

7)  On the top layer, use Layer-->Flip Vertical

 

8)  On the top layer, Edit-->Select All (ctrl+A), Move Selected Pixels to the right 12px and down 5px

 

9)  On top layer, Effects-->Object-->Trail (run twice)

 

 

10)  On the bottom layer, Effects-->Object-->Trail (run twice)

 

11)  Merge layer down

 

12)  Edit-->Select All (ctrl+A), Move Selected Pixels, grab upper center nub and pull up 5px

 

13)  Deselect

 

14)  Edit-->Select All (ctrl+A), Move Selected Pixels, grab upper center nub and pull up 10px

 

15)  Edit-->Select All (ctrl+A), Move Selected Pixels, grab lower center nub and pull down 10px

 

 

Now your texture is made!  Save this as a .png file.  This will always be your 'base' file.

 

There are endless ways to colorize this.  Some examples:

 

 

 

PDN's Color plugins are the limit here.  And that's not really true...you can use gradients.

 

Now, you may be wondering why I had you do Steps #14 and #15.?  It looked pretty good after Step #12.  Because...now we've made it SEAMLESS!  ?

 

 

A couple more examples:

 

 

 

The possibilities and coloring are endless.  Please have fun!

 

Block Pattern Stitch:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

MK Stitch:              MadJik's Plugin Pack

 

Spoiler

 

Mock Cable Stitch:

 

Spoiler

 

OAS Stitch:           MJW's Offset Alternating Stripes plugin

 

Spoiler

 

SW Stitch:

 

Spoiler

 

 

Then create a seamless pattern on a larger canvas:

 

 

 

My Favorite - The Squirkle Stitch:        Red's Plugin Pack

 

Spoiler

 

 

Change the color of the 'squirkled' layer!

 

Make a more complex pattern:

 

 

Follow the instructions in the next image:

 

 

 

Waffle Weave Stitch:

 

Spoiler

 

 

This reminds me of thermal underwear cloth.

 

 

Stitches:

 

Spoiler

 

I've included a few 'stitch' patterns to be applied with TR's Paste Frame;  or you could apply them with Brush Factory .  

 

                                                                 

Color these as you wish.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus Felt Fabric!!

 

Spoiler

 

Make your own felt.  I feel this belongs in this tutorial. It would go nicely with the knit.

 

Step 1.  Add Noise as per the image below.

Step 2.  Apply Fur Blur with the settings below.

 

 

Examples:

 

 

 

 

 

Please enjoy and do experiment with more of the 'Distort' plugins.  The above are my top choices.  ?

 

 

[lynxster4]

Thanks to all of you who repped:  @welshblue, @Maximilian, @MadJik, @Eli and @MJW   

 

The texture itself is easy to make, it's thinking of ways to use it!  And I have hundreds of ideas already!  

 

I may go on a 'knitting spree'.....

[lynxster4]

1 hour ago, welshblue said:

 

Wobble gives the knit an interesting look

 

Ohhhh....I totally agree!   I really like that.  I'm going to have to experiment further!  Thanks for the tip!   ?

 

I just can't get over how realistic this looks...I'd swear you knitted it yourself, welshy!  

[Pixey]

What a gorgeously realistic result for knitting @lynxster4   I had a bit of trouble around step 7.  I couldn't get the trail to work until I deleted the white background.  Trust me to get something wrong .............. but that's me and is so typical

     

 

    

[lynxster4]

2 hours ago, Pixey said:

Trust me to get something wrong .............. but that's me and is so typical

 

Don't knock yourself.  I should have stated that this needs to be on a transparent background and I didn't...(my fault)  ?

I should edit the instructions.

 

The inspiration for this came as I was perusing PS tutorials Friday night and came across psd-dude's knitting tuts. He was making something else, but he included a swatch of his knitting.  I thought,  "I can make that" and this tut was born.

 

Do we have anything that makes realistic-looking stitches?  I'll have to investigate...

 

And your bunny looks soooo precious!  Great job!    I love the creamy color of your knit.  

 

Reps to you and welshy tomorrow...I'm out!

 

 

**clarified the tutorial**

Edited September 17, 2018 by lynxster4

[lynxster4]

1 hour ago, welshblue said:

 

Those days are long gone.  I think I remember how to cast on ... then knit one purl one etc  ... drop a few ... swear ... knit one ... poke myself in the eye ?

 

          You're quite welcome!  

 

 

[lynxster4]

Thank you @xod  @doughty  and @Maximilian for the reps!  

 

Let's see your knitting skills!  ?     Thank you @LionsDragon!  

 

Also, thank you to @Pixey  @toe_head2001and  @MJW!  

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by lynxster4

[lynxster4]

I'm going to be adding instructions a little later in the week for these additional patterns I've created:

 

          

 

           

 

Thanks for all the support everyone!  

 

[Seerose]

 Dear @lynxster4!  

Thank you so much for your effort.  Beautiful tut.  

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by Seerose

[lynxster4]

Beautiful waterlily dear @Seerose!   

 

Thank you for trying the tutorial!   ?   (rep later)

[MJW]

A plugin that could be used in conjunction with this method, to give different variations of the knit pattern, is Offset Alternating Stripes.

[lynxster4]

As promised, added 7 additional knit patterns!  

 

[LionsDragon]

Hrrmmm...I am half-tempted to try some fisherman's sweater patterns with this.

[lynxster4]

7 hours ago, LionsDragon said:

Hrrmmm...I am half-tempted to try some fisherman's sweater patterns with this.

 

I had to Google that.  The pattern looks very complicated to me!  ?

 

And thank you to @ReMake for the rep!  

 

 

Edited September 22, 2018 by lynxster4

[Pixey]

Wow!  What an excellent use of Plugins @lynxster4 and I think this should be Pinned!  If I can't figure out how to do that, then perhaps @BoltBait or @Ego Eram Reputo can do it           I managed it!  Oh ........ and please could you add a link to @MJW's Offset Alternating Stripes please

 

 

[lynxster4]

Oh, thank you @Pixey!!!      I've added the link.

 

And, yes, I had something like that in mind for this year's Christmas wallpaper!  ?

 

The image is perfect!!  ?

 

[lynxster4]

Just added some stitches for you all to try and a quick 'felt' fabric tut.

 

I'm done...now everyone can happily 'knit and stitch'!   ?

 

[dipstick]

Too lazy to make my own, so I used your image and saved it as a pattern. Thanks for this....

 

[lynxster4]

Very nice @dipstick  ?    I like the way you did your coloring.  

 

[Seerose]

 Dear @lynxster4! I used Red Ochre -  Scintillate effect. Thank you so much for your effort.  

 

 

 

[lynxster4]

Excellent @Seerose!    Great job.

 

I did not even go into the 'Renders' menu.  My main concern was ways to distort the knit fabric.

 

I'll leave that up to you guys!  ?

[Seerose]

 Thank you so much dear @lynxster4!   

 

I have combined another version. Hopefully you'll find that nice too.

The combination of: @TechnoRobbo Magnitude and @Red ochre Scintillate. 

The golden colour looks like mottled wool.  

 

[Seerose]

 Dear @Pixey and  Dear @dipstick! 

 

Your results are excellent. Thank you for sharing.    

[lynxster4]

1 hour ago, Seerose said:

The golden colour looks like mottled wool.

 

Now, I really, really like that @Seerose!    ?    Fantastic coloring!   ?

 

[LionsDragon]

 

A lot easier than actual knitting!