Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Knit a Sweater Inspired by Fast Fashion

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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]

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Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.