The level of complexity in designing and making knitwear is high, as it entails learning about both textile construction techniques and form-building. This research explores the potential of discarded knit garments as a learning tool in fashion knitwear design within higher education, to bridge the gap between translating small-scale two-dimensional knitted samples into a garment collection. Digital sketching and virtual sampling are not sufficient for the full understanding of knitwear design. Practice-based learning is key to fully grasping the potential of the knits. In addition to foundational technology and practice, existing garments can also be considered to be an open source for deriving technical knowledge and a basis for design ideation. In order to explore the potential of garment-based learning in knitwear design processes, a three-and-a-half day workshop was conducted within a basic knitting course for first-year BA Fashion Design students. The participants were divided into groups and instructed to select, analyse, and create new knitted designs using discarded garments, and to reflect on their learning outcomes. The knowledge gained during the workshop bridged the gap between the knit samples and the garment collection making. In their reflections, the students expressed a deeper understanding of various knit properties, structures, and technologies in relation to knitted garment forms and details, as being useful learning outcomes from the workshop, which they were then able to apply to their collection making processes. The collaborative, interactive, and communicative nature of the group work in relation to processes and actions was expressed to be highly beneficial, and the inclusive approach of sharing knowledge and joint learning facilitated creative and technical development. This ‘re-design for pre-design’ approach deepened the understanding of knitwear design using existing garments – constituting garment- based learning – and suggested a sustainable, practice-based method of learning with a high potential within higher eucation in fashion design.