Show Your Bias with this Sweater Knitting Pattern

I’ve been knitting for a really long time, and I know a lot of different knitting techniques, but even for me there are things I either don’t know or don’t do all that often.

So I decided this would be the year that I delved into some techniques a little more deeply. It might be things I know how to do but don’t do often, like double knitting, or things I’ve never tried, like helical knitting (more on both of those soon!).

One thing I do know how to do that I don’t normally do but that I also didn’t think about when I was thinking about things I wanted to do was knitting on the bias.

Bias knitting is accomplished by starting with just a few stitches and increasing to your desired width, then increasing on one side of the work and decreasing on the other to the desired length. This makes a fabric that leans to one side, and when you also work this kind of design in a self-striping yarn, it makes a really fun diagonal effect in your project.

If you want to try it out, the Tunic-on-a-Bias pattern from Yarnspirations is a great way to see it in action. This boxy dropped shoulder sweater is worked in pieces from the bottom up letting the stripes shine. It’s rated for intermediate knitters.

It comes in six sizes, with a finished chest measurement ranging from 39 to 62 inches, or 99 to 157.7 cm. The smallest size is meant to fit a chest from 28-34 inches, or 71-86.5 cm, but the amount of positive ease goes down considerably as the sizes go up.

The project calls for Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes, an acrylic yarn that has what they call “blurry stripes,” which have a bit of a marled look. Any self striping yarn you like would look great in this project.

The pattern is a free download from Yarnspirations, or you can buy the yarn and supplies direct from them.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery technique that uses running stitches to make lines (straight or otherwise) that reinforce and insulate fabric. It can be used as a mending technique or for decorative purposes, and it has become popular in recent years as a visible mending technique.

It’s also the inspiration behind the Sashiko Tee by Elenor Mortensen. This top down, circular yoke top is worked in the round with allover stranded knitting designs reminiscent of intricate sashiko stitching.

You’ll find floral patterns, starbursts, straight lines and individual colorwork stitches in this design.

The pattern is offered in six sizes and two different gauges (both use fingering weight yarn) making a dozen different size options. The finished bust circumference of the sweater ranges from 33.8 to 57 inches, or 86 to 145 cm.

The project calls for two colors, and I love the traditional blue and white of the designer’s sample, but some of the projects shown on Ravelry use more than two or use a multicolored yarn as one of the options, which gives it a different look that’s even more interesting. There are also some projects that show longer sleeves, repeating the patterns from the body on the sleeves, which is a great move if you need a sweater for the fall.

I know I say this a lot but it’s worth your time to look at the different ways people have approached this sweater by clicking on the projects tab on Ravelry. You’ll find different colors and sleeves, different ribbing treatments, added beads, a bit of mohair, different lengths, subtle colors and bolder choices…so many fun options.

The pattern is available in English, French and German, and you can grab a copy of Ravelry. I think this one would be a fun way to get into colorwork knitting without having to deal with a bunch of colors, and you get a cool result and lots of practice following a chart.

[Photo: Elenor Mortensen]

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