Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

An Overview of Sweater Construction Options

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Yes you can knit a sweater now!There are so many different ways to knit a sweater, and thinking about how you want your sweater to go is a good place to start when you’re trying to choose a pattern.

The first consideration is whether you want your garment to be knit in pieces or all in one piece (or as much as possible in one piece). Both pullovers and cardigans can be worked either way.

There are pros and cons to both. Knitting that is pieced may be more portable, makes it possible to do intarsia and, some people say, is more stable and durable because the seams support the weight of the sweater. On the other hand, advocates of seamless sweaters may tell you they are faster, better for other kinds of colorwork and more likely to get to a state where you can wear them because there’s minimal finishing once the knitting is done.

Whichever method you choose, you can also work from the top down or the bottom up. I usually see pieced garments worked from the bottom up, and while circular yoke and raglan sweaters make more sense to me worked from the top down, you really can go either way.

Another choice you may have to make is how the sleeves are knit. They, too, can be done top down or bottom up and they can be worked flat or in the round. You may work the body from the bottom up in the round and then work the sleeves from the top down in the round, or you can work the body and sleeves both from the top down.

Of course if you’re just looking at patterns rather than designing a sweater yourself you don’t have to really think about all these different options, but it’s nice to know what’s out there and to understand how different sweaters go together before you start knitting them.

Does a particular style of sweater seem more or less attractive to you as a knitter? I’d love to know. And throughout the month I’ll be sharing patterns for different construction methods, so look out for your favorites.

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Comments

  1. Well, as a knitter, I prefer seamless knitting… but recently I made a sweater specifically to gauge and even though it was to gauge it was too big for the wearer. In the back of my mind I am wondering, if I had knit it with seams, would it have been “truer” to the gauge… but perhaps (and more likely) the publisher didn’t state the gauge correctly.

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.