Books and Other Resources for Sweater Knitting

If you’re inspired to start knitting a sweater this fall or winter, there are some great books and courses out there that can help you get started with confidence.

The 30 Day Sweater is a fun ebook course that takes you step by small step through the process of choosing and knitting a sweater in the span of a month. It specifically looks at knitting a top-down raglan, and it breaks down the task into little pieces that can be accomplished daily (and once you’ve gotten through the first few days of measuring, getting gauge and doing your raglan increasing, it’s pretty simple sailing after that).

My First Sweater is a Craftsy class by Amy Ross with Lion Brand Yarn. It takes viewers through a super simple bottom up, pieced raglan that can be worked either as a cardigan or a pullover. The class gets a little tedious at times but it’s a great one if a lack of confidence is keeping you from casting on.

And speaking of cardigans, My First Cardigan Workbook is a nice little resource for knitting that particular garment from the top down. I wish there were a bit more explanation of what’s going on in the patterns, but if you’re willing to trust the process these are nice basic patterns that will get you started (I also like that even though there are only eight patterns, you get babies and adults up to size 54 covered).

Do you have a learn to knit a sweater resource that you love? I’d like to hear about it and maybe add it to my list!

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.

[Photo via Craftsy.]

Next Pattern:

I know that my posts can be read at different times of year and in different years by different people, but as I write this we’re on teh cusp of summer. And I know a lot of people don’t knit as much, and certainly don’t wear a lot of knits in the summer, but I want to encourage you to make and to wear your makes no matter the temperature.

To introduce you to the joys of summer garment knitting, I offer the Tied Vest from Lion Brand Yarn.

This easy project is great to make and wear throughout the year but it’s especially good for summer. It’s worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, mostly in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch edging. The I-cord ties are worked directly onto the garment so you don’t have to sew them on.

The project uses worsted weight yarn, and calls for a blend of cotton and hemp that’s great for warm weather.

There are eight size options, ranging from a finished chest measurement of 35 to 62.5 inches, or 89 to 159 cm. That makes it sound like it should be worn with at least a few inches of positive ease, but the pattern doesn’t specify.

The ties at the front give it a casual look and make it great to wear over a tank top or T-shirt when the weather is warm.

I also think this one would be good to knit in wool or a warmer fiber, too, to make a version you could wear more comfortably in the winter months, too. Though of course you could layer the summer version over a long-sleeved shirt and wear it throughout the year, too.

The tied vest is a free pattern available from Lion Brand. You can also purchase a kit that includes the yarn and optional needles and stitch markers if you need them.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Knit an Easy Hooded Vest

Knit Vests to Help Transition to Warmer Weather

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