Knit a Sweet Chevron Pullover

I love it when articles I write just happen to go together without my really intending them to. Earlier this week I wrote about a circular yoke sweater that was worked in a single color, noting that usually those kinds of sweaters have colorwork on the yoke to emphasize the construction method.

Today I have a sweater knitting pattern that illustrates what I was saying. The Sharp Chevron knit sweater has stranded colorwork chevrons in the yoke portion of the sweater, which is a fun contrast to the circular rhythm of the increases.

It also shows the common design of having colorwork on the yoke and the rest of the body being worked in a solid color. That makes the beginning more exciting to knit and the end faster because you can just knit straight on to your needed length. (This one does also have a high low edge at the bottom, but that’s pretty easy to do with just a few short rows.)

This sweater is rated intermediate and is worked from the top down in bulky weight yarn for extra coziness. The pattern is available in five sizes up to a chest measurement of 66 inches, which is intended to fit a range from 52 to 62 inches, depending on the amount of ease you would like.

The colorwork design is charted, but it’s a really short and easy repeat, so this would be a good one to start with if you’ve never done knitting from a chart before. Choose two colors of yarn with high contrast for best results. This would also be fun with a multicolored yarn used as the contrasting color, because it would make the colorwork look more complex.

You can grab the free pattern, plus any supplies you need to complete it, from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations.]

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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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