Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Add Chevron Stripes to a Sweet Vintage Sweater

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You probably know by now that I am really trying to use my yarn stash, and that I have a lot of odd balls that don’t necessarily easily make a garment on their own. I’ve been thinking about just going through my stash from one end to the other and making myself use whatever I find, but I also love big projects that can use a lot of stash, and different colors of stash, all at once.

That’s a great thing about the Vintage & Variety sweater from Caitlyn Turowksi. This worsted/aran weight pullover is worked in a colorwork chevron stripe pattern, with raglan sleeves and a V-neck worked from the top down.

You can make it with as many or as few different colors as you want. Make it a sort of retro rainbow as shown, or use all your stash of a single color to make an ombre effect.The pattern page shows the design worked in three colors or 12 colors, and you could do something in between by repeating some of the colors more or less often if you want.

There’s also an option for working it in a single color, which would make the chevron really subtle but would still be fun to knit.

This is one where you’ll want to look through all the different projects on the pattern page on Ravelry if you can to see if the colors other people used spark any ideas for what you can pull out of your stash to work with.

The pattern come sin nine sizes, with a finished bust measurement ranging from 32 to 64 inches, or 80 to 160 cm. You can decide how much ease you want; the three-color version in the project notes has no ease, while this colorful version is a little more relaxed.

As you might have guessed, you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Caitlyn Turowski]

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.