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Bottom Up Sweaters to Knit

October 9, 2014 by Sarah White

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:

  • Vintage Men's Sweaters To Knit And Crochet
  • Vintage Boys Sweaters To Knit And Crochet
  • Vintage Fanny Sweaters to Knit
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Have you read?

A Sweet Skater Dress to Knit

I know knitting a dress sounds like a major time commitment. And that’s before I even tell you that this particular dress, the Sixth Ave Skater Dress by Briana Luppino, is worked in light fingering weight yarn. 

But would you just take a moment to look at it and tell me if it doesn’t look like it would be worth all the time you would spend knitting it? And it’s miles of stockinette stitch so it’s actually beginner friendly and a great semi-mindless knit you can take with you on your travels this summer and wear when it is done. 

The dress is worked from the top down with tank straps, a scoop neck, waist shaping and a flowy skirt for a fun and comfortable fit. 

The pattern has 10 sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 28 to 64 inches, or 71.5 to 163 cm. The sample shown was worked with 4 inches/10 cm of negative ease at the bust, and the designer says most people like between 2 and 6 inches/5 to 15 cm of negative ease in the bust and around 10 inches/25.4 cm positive ease in the hips. 

(To refresh your memory, negative ease means the measurement of the garment is smaller than your actual body measurement, while positive ease is bigger than your body.)

To pick a size you’d work from the bust measurement because you can always add more or fewer decreases as you need to get your desired fit at the waist and hips. And because it’s worked from the top down you can try it on as often as you like to make sure it’s the perfect fit. 

The I-cord edgings give the dress a super casual feel, and I think this would be a great one to add to your summer rotation. (Yes, even with a wool blend yarn.)

You can see lots of cute finished versions and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself on Ravelry. 

[Photo: Briana Luppino]

Book Review – Knitted Tanks and Tunics

How to Knit a Simple Sweater Dress

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