Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit a Sweet Chevron Pullover

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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.]

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.