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Big Sweaters are, Well, Big for Fall

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Giant sweaters are in fashion for fall.“Yarn for years” is how Wall Street Journal reporter Megan Hayes described the sweaters seen in collections for this fall (which were shown back in the spring). She notes that giant cowls and roomy sweaters were everywhere to be seen, as well as layers of knits — sweaters and skirts with a scarf and legwarmers, for example.

While knitters certainly would love to dress like that, most of the time you shouldn’t wear all knits all the time, the style experts say. They recommend pairing your knits with sleeker fabrics like leather or lace, and to tone down the volume of a giant sweater with skinny jeans.

Or try what fashion consultant Yasmin Sewell suggests: pair two sweaters of similar or matching colors. Wear one normally and tie the other around the neck. Will that work off the runway? There’s only one way to find out.

What do you think of the trend (back) toward giant knits? Would you knit an enormous sweater for yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo by Danny Kim for the Wall Street Journal.]

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Looking for Fall patterns to Knit? Check out these Fall knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Comments

  2. Well, this trend does make it a lot faster to knit for tweens and teens! I already have one request for a big fuzzy sweater. I may knit myself some chunky leg warmers, though. That’s one of the few things I miss about the 80s. 😉

  3. Hmmmmm, knitting an enormous sweater for myself – usually done with bulky yarns? Would probably be fast and easy. But I already look like a blog so with a big sweater I’d look like a warm fuzzy blob. 😉 Sure would be comfy though!

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.