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Take Your Stitches in New Directions with this Knit Sweater

May 26, 2023 by Sarah White

When I first saw the New Directions Knit Pullover from Yarnspirations, I thought it was a cable knitting project.

But it turns out these shifting stitches are caused by strategic increases and decreases that form those lines that look like cables.

This is a super fun way to get a cable like look without needing to actually make cables, and it will give you lots of practice with difference increases and decreases (the pattern uses knit 2 together, purl 2 together, slip, slip knit and make 1).

The project is rated for intermediate knitters and uses worsted weight yarn. It comes in six sizes up to a finished chest measurement of 65 inches, though it is meant to have a lot of positive ease. The extra small/small size, for example, has a finished chest measurement of 42 inches and the pattern says it is to fit people with a chest measurement from 28 to 34 inches.

The pattern is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up on the body and the top down on the sleeves. It has raglan shaping and the back is longer than the front. In addition to the shifting cable like stitches, the pattern uses reverse rice stitch on the rest of the body and sleeves, giving it lots of fun texture. (It’s a combination of knitting one row and working ribbing on one row, so it’s actually really easy.)

This project looks super cozy and not too difficult to stitch. And if you have knitting friends they might be as surprised as I was that this one is worked without a cable needle since they aren’t really cables!

If you are ready to knit actual cables — or are a pro with them already — check out my collection of cable knitting patterns to help boost your skills. There’s a sampler blanket, a sweater, a cozy hat and more to choose from.

[Photo: Yarnspirations.]

Next Pattern:

  • Take it Easy with this Sweater Knitting Pattern
  • How to Take Apart a Sweater
  • Take it Easy with a Bulky, Textured Sweater
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Have you read?

Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

7 Tank Top Knitting Patterns

A Great Simple Tank Top Knitting Pattern

A Great Tank Top Knitting Pattern for Summer

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