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.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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