Staff observing undergraduate students enrolled on the BSc Hons Textile Design and Design Management programme in The School of Materials, The University of Manchester, identified difficulties with knowledge retention in the area of constructed textile design. Consequently an experimental pilot was carried out in seamless knitwear design using a Problem Based Learning approach, to determine whether or not this method of learning was more effective for design students. This article investigates the effects of the trial on the student volunteers and documents the shift of focus from teacher to student centred learning. It also outlines plans for future curriculum developments in other areas of constructed textile design.

3D seamless knitwear machinery allows the creation of virtually finished garments, which require little to no make-up. The introduction of this technology forces a conceptual shift in the way knitted garments are both designed and created. Moreover, it challenges educators to re-evaluate the curriculum for textile or fashion design courses.This study is based upon a survey of UK Higher Education Institutions, which are currently teaching knitwear design within their curricula. It discusses what is currently being taught with regards to seamless knitwear design and compares this with the views of a number of industrialists. It finally offers some suggestions as to how to teach seamless concepts.