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:

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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