Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Mix and Match Sweater Patterns for Kids

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pick the pieces by lorna miserPick the Pieces by Lorna Miser is a fun book for those who want to learn how to customize sweaters on a small scale.

The book includes 12 complete sweater patterns (some of them are on Ravelry) in sizes from six month to six years, along with 48 components you can mix and match to make your own designs without the work.

So, for instance, you can make the short-sleeved sweater as shown, with allover Seed Stitch patterning, picot edging, a V neck and ties at the front, or you could make it long sleeved, turn it into a crewneck, add pockets and a hood and more.

This is a fun way to kind of dip your toe into designing, because you can choose the components and knit a totally custom sweater without having to do the math. And your kiddos will love having projects made just the way they want them (my daughter, for instance, wants every sweater to be a hooded cardigan).

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, November 5. I’d love to know a little about the little ones you knit for. My daughter is 8 so she’s aged out of this book, but she does still love me to knit for her, which is great. Because last year’s sweater still fits, this year I’m making her a big, squishy lap blanket instead.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

Comments

  1. What a great book! Thank you for the chance to win a copy. I have two grandsons (3 & 1) and love to knit them things. I know the day is likely to come when they won’t want handmade things so I’d better have my fun now!!

  2. I love the concept of this book! The tiny kids I knit for are my nieces/nephews who are 6 mo -10 yrs old and new babies of friends!! Thank you

  4. Perfect-many sweaters with one book! I have one grandchild, a boy almost a year old, and now is the perfect time to knit him up a few sweaters. I have a vest in progress right now but I’ll finish it up in case I win 😉

  5. Love to mix and match…four DGDs would love to help pick out:)

    from chilly autumnal VT,
    the Vermonster

  8. With 2 grandsons I need sweater patterns for kids, especially if they can be work as boys sweaters that are hard to find. I need to go check out this book. Winning it would be even better

  9. I knit for grandchildren of friends and for charity. This book would help with variety. Thank you for the chance to own it.

  10. My not-so-little-one will be turning 7 soon. She really needs some new sweaters! All the ones I find in the store are so thin they don’t seem like sweaters!

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.