Knit a Sweater Inspired by Fast Fashion

I love a design with a good origin story. This one goes like this: Berroco released a rectangular shawl/wide scarf pattern called Ludlow, and a lot of knitters wanted to know about the sweater the model was wearing. It turned out the original was from Target, but designer Alison Green got on the case to re-create the sweater for knitters.

The result is Sydney, a scoop-neck, drop shoulder design with a pretty allover seeded rib pattern.

The design is worked flat in pieces that are sewn together at the end, and the shoulders are shaped using short rows. That makes it more of an intermediate pattern, but if you’re comfortable with short rows its otherwise a pretty straightforward project.

The pattern is available in 12 sizes, with bust measurements ranging from 35.5 to 77 inches (or 90 to 195.5 centimeters). The sweater is meant to be worn with around 4 to 6 inches (or 10 to 15 centimeters) of positive ease.

Sydney uses the same yarn as the original scarf pattern, called Berroco Renew. It’s a combination of viscose, wool, nylon and cashmere that’s a DK weight and comes in 18 colors. If you don’t have access to this yarn, I’m sure this sweater would be lovely in a range of different fibers.

You can get the pattern free from Berroco. (Ludlow, linked above, is also free; it’s a charted cabled pattern they call a scarf but it’s really wide so I’m calling it a shawl. Whatever.)

Want to play with more ribbing patterns? I’ve got a collection of easy ribbed knitting patterns you can try, which includes everything from a scarf and a hat to socks and a tank top. And while we’re talking about ribbing tricks, I can’t help but remind you of cartridge belt rib, which is a special kind of ribbing pattern that doesn’t use any purls (you slip the stitches that would be purled with the yarn in front instead).

[Photo: Berroco]

Bluebell Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Knit the Perfect Argyle Cardigan

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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