Bottom Up Sweaters to Knit

The other day we looked at top-down sweater knitting patterns; today we’re turning that idea upside down with bottom up designs.

Sometimes bottom up projects are seamless, while other times they are worked in pieces that are then seamed together. Some of both are featured here.

Still, it’s kind of nice to start out nice and easy with the ribbing or a long section of body that doesn’t change much, and then all the action comes at the end. It’s just a different way of doing things.

Again, there are a ton of great patterns out there worked this way, and here are some that caught my eye.

If you’re a fan of spinning, you’ll love the spinning wheel motifs on Fileuse by Valérie Miller. This is a great one if you like a snug fit, too.

Go Fish by Divine Twist is her knit version of a sweatshirt. It uses fisherman’s rib and a hemline that’s lower in the back for lots of comfort (and while I usually only post free patterns in these roundups, this one is free with a donation to the designer’s favorite charity).

I’m pretty sure I’ve shared this one with you before, but I absolutely love Graphite by Norah Gaughan so you’re getting it again. This one is stockinette stitch through and through, worked in the round to form an A-line, which is a shape I love.

Aimee from Conway and Bliss is a roomier raglan that’s worked from the bottom up in pieces. I love the contrast sleeves on this one, like a classic sports shirt.

Brume from DROPS Design is another one that looks like you’ll live in it once it’s knit. This one is worked in a false English rib, pieced and finished with a keyhole neckline. So cozy looking!

Westminster Fibers has the Sunset Raglan, another pieced piece I really like for the different take on a V-neck. This one looks super cozy, too.

Cardigans can be worked from the bottom up, too, of course. The Roxanna Cardigan from Stashknits is a seamless bottom up cardi that’s a great choice for new sweater knitters.

And Ballade from DROPS Design is a big open jacket where the back and fronts are worked in one (huge) piece and the sleeves are worked separately and sewn up later. Still not a lot of finishing for a jacket that’s sure to keep you cozy all season.

Do you have a favorite bottom up sweater? I’d love to hear about it.

Next Pattern:

Why should the fireplace get all the fun? Instead of knitting stockings this year, why not whip up a pair of Christmas themed socks? These Christmas sock knitting patterns are lots of fun to make and you can wear them to holiday gatherings for years to come.

For our friends in the southern part of the world, there are the Christmas in July socks from the Kiwi Lodge – Kylie (Ravelry link). These shorty socks are covered in Christmas trees and have bright pink heels and toes for a tropical feel. There’s also an option to make a longer sock if you celebrate somewhere it’s colder.

Twin Stitches Designs (Ravelry) has a fun pattern with mix and match colorwork motifs you can use to build your own cozy Christmas socks. From the sample socks I see Christmas puddings, trucks hauling trees, Santa belts, ornaments and a couple of different borders. There may be more patterns included but the listing doesn’t say. Make a pair that matches or use different motifs on each foot for extra holiday cheer.

If you want to stick to Christmas puddings on your holiday socks, check out this cute pattern from Stone Knits. These lovely socks feature a band of puddings around the leg and a bit of holly by the toes.

These vintage holiday light socks from Grey Owl Knits by Sarah are classic looking and lots of fun at the same time. I love this color combination but of course you can make your lights and stripes whatever colors you like or have on hand. They’re worked using stranded knitting.

And if you’d like even more of a mix of patterns for your socks, try Barbara Ceglédi’s Christmas Chaos socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. The pattern includes 25 little motifs you can choose from, ranging from snowflakes and Christmas trees to elf hats, reindeer and hearts.

Next Pattern:

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