Tag Archives: Sweater

Knit Picks Podcast Episode 340 – The Joys of Building A Sweater

An all too familiar knitting crossroad – do I knit a sweater or not. While sweaters can seem intimidating if you’ve never done one before, chances are once you’ve made one, you’ll likely make another.

On today’s episode of the Knit Picks Podcast, Lee and Stacey do a deep dive into sweater construction. Whether you’re new to sweaters or have been making them for years, you’ll likely enjoy this “nerdy” sweater conversation. 

First they catch up by discussing what’s on their needles. Both Lee and Stacey are making patterns from our latest Knit Picks Collections. Lee even shares her latest yarn substitution and talks about color selection.

From pullover and cardigans, to seamed vs seamless, Stacey and Lee review the various styles and constructions of sweaters. Stacey asks the question – what does the word “sweater” mean to you? Is a cardigan a sweater? Together, the two ponder fashion philosophy and ask you to weigh in.   

In the second half, the two ruminate over different sweater collars, sleeves, and shapes. Cowl neck vs. turtlenecks, boat vs crew, and more, they define some terms to help clarify what you might see in a pattern. Stacey loves a good scoop neck where Lee prefers to adapt necklines for varying situations.

Happy Knitting!

Listen, Rate, Review and Share on Apple PodcastsSpotify or wherever you get podcasts!

Pullover Sweater Example:

Mentioned in This Episode:
Gannet Hoodie by Kristen TenDyke
Chalet Collection
Vertex Collection
N for November Sweater by Fabienne Gassmann
Comfy
Hawthorne
Aloft
Twill
Stacey’s Sweater Blog
Mister Postman by Kristen Jancuk 
Harley Pullover by Jenny Williams
Lansbury Cardigan by Holli Yeoh
Rustic Tweed 
Oshinkoshin Pullover 
Teasel Shrug by Sarah Shepherd
Cloud Sweater by Sarah Shepherd
Windfall

Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome to the Knit Picks Podcast
0:24 “What’s on your needles?”
6:52 Let’s talk about sweater construction
7:56 “What does the word “sweater” mean to you?”
11:36 Favorite type of construction – seamed vs seamless, top down vs bottom up?
13:21 Raglan defined
16:31 Other shaping – set in sleeves
19:47 Heather and Producer Sarah talk about what’s new at Knit Picks 
21:53 Lee and Stacey are back with more sweater talk
22:15 Shapes of sweaters
24:08 What’s your favorite for pull over sweaters
26:57 Sweater shaping
28:59 Saddle shoulder
32:43 Drop shoulder
35:56 Dolman sleeves
44:39 Credits

Pattern is the U-District Pullover: https://www.knitpicks.com/u-district-pullover/p/52774D
This sweater is a wool, top down, seamless, raglan with a oversized turtleneck
ID: A neutral colored sweater lays with a brown hat, styled with dark pants and a purse.

Indie Knitting Patterns to Inspire Your Next Project

Who is looking for some inspiring new indie knitting patterns? I am! It’s my favorite time of year—the air is cooling off and maybe we’re all looking for new knitting patterns, either for ourselves or for gifts for loved ones. If you are looking for inspiration, check out some of these fabulous brand new indie designer patterns that I absolutely cannot wait to make!

Knitting Patterns by Tamy Gore

A woman holds up a knitted shawl in multicolored green, black, and gray chevrons. Kaliya Wrap by Tamy Gore: A new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Kaliya Wrap, using 2 packs of Stroll Tonal Minis and Aloft. Warm, pretty and fun to knit!

First are these beautiful patterns by Tamy Gore! She has so many lovely patterns available, and I’m excited about these three lovely wraps now available on the site.

A woman wears a colorful knitted shawl in multicolored teal, hot pink, white speckle, and gray stripes. Color Crazy by Tamy Gore -- A new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Color Craze, as the name implies, uses a colorful selection of our Hawthorne yarnlines and wonderful eyelets and stripes.
A woman holds up the corner of a knitted shawl in blue, white, yellow, and gray stripes. Adira by Tamy Gore, A new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Adira, full of beautiful texture and fun techniques. Knit up in 4 colors of Gloss DK.

Knitting Patterns by Kalurah Hudson

Next is one of our favorite designers – Kalurah Hudson. Her new pattern is a cozy wrap that is a perfect quick knit in bulky yarn and large needles.

A woman wears an oversized knitted gray shawl/scarf around her neck. Rainsong wrap by Kalurah Hudson, a new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Rainsong Wrap, knit in gorgeously texutred Biggo yarn

You might also enjoy: Our interview with indie designer Kalurah Hudson

Indie Knitting Patterns by Other Designers:

And, if you listen to our podcast, you know how much I love knitting socks. A new -to-me designer Belinda Barbagallo has a super cute sock pattern I cannot wait to get on my needles. I love the extra detail on the soles!

Two feet wearing adorable knitted socks featuring an off-white background with multicolored dots, and contrasting red toes and heels. Flea Circus Socks by Belinda Barbagallo, a new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Flea Circus Socks using a mix of Stroll colors. Belinda hand dyed Stroll Bare for the colorful dots, but this is a perfect pattern to use up your leftover sock yarn!

And if you need to a new sweater to wear this fall, I think Wool + Pine’s gorgeous pullover will fit the bill.

A model wears a pretty purple knitted sweater with a fan-like detail around the yoke. Sorrel by Wool + Pine, a new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.
Everyone on the staff is in love with Sorrel with the mix of colorful Hawthorne Multi and fluffy Aloft. And check out that beautiful yoke detail!

Note: We also have Sorrel Pattern Kits in 8 sizes, from 31.5″ bust to 66″ bust!

Finally, Emily Kintigh updated her fun Stuffed Football pattern to include extra sizes – just the thing for football fans of all ages.

A pile of knitted footballs looks like fun! Stuffed Footballs: A new indie knitting pattern available at knitpicks.com.

Need more indie knitting patterns inspiration? Check out our full line of our Independent Designer Partnership patterns here!


September News: Colorwork, Ganseys, Faux-Fur, and more!

Even though fall is just around the corner, we’re more than a little excited to debut an abundance of new colors of some of our favorite cotton yarns for all of you cool cotton lovers. We’re also ecstatic to introduce our first-ever faux-fur yarn, Fable Fur! It’s an ultra-plush premium acrylic yarn that is destined to add an extra-touch of softness to your cold-weather knits. The cozy possibilities are practically endless!

Given that the temps are about to start dropping in the Northern Hemisphere, we naturally couldn’t help but to create two new collections that are fit to serve you well throughout the colder months—one a modern take on traditional gansey sweaters and the other a comprehensive pattern collection and reference guide to the intricate art of colorwork knitting.

Sound good? Then read on!

New Yarn: Fable Fur

5 colors of Knit Picks' Fable Fur, a premium acrylic faux-fur yarn.

A luxuriously soft faux-fur effect yarn, Fable Fur is perfect for bringing a touch of elegance and snuggly softness to your latest projects. Add a stylish trim to your next accessory, or knit up a gorgeous wrap or afghan exclusively in this premium, 100% polyester yarn. What makes it premium? This grade of polyester holds it’s shape well and doesn’t shrink. Projects will work up fast at this super bulky weight, so you’ll have a menagerie of cozy accessories and home décor projects in no time!


Throwback! Hawthorne Sock Lab

Limited edition retro-inspired Hawthorne Sock Lab colors.

Inspired by a nostalgic fever dream, this trio of limited-edition Hawthorne Sock Lab colorways are sure to transport you back to the days of watching after-school specials and microwaving pizza rolls. Created on our bestselling machine washable sock yarn base, these handpainted yarns are perfect for adding a retro vibe to your sock drawer or for making ultra-hip accessories


New Andean Treasure Colors

8 new colors of Knit Picks' Andean treasure yarns.

Love our beautiful heathered Andean Treasure yarns? Then you are sure to love the 8 modern colors we just added! The softness is irresistible—count the number of hugs you get when wearing a sweater made with Andean Treasure vs. other sweaters, and this one will win, hands down! Excellent for items that are worn close to you—scarves, vests, legwarmers, pullovers, even the humble pair of mittens.


New Comfy Color Mist Colors

The complete lineup of Comfy Color Mist, a Pima Cotton and acrylic blend yarn.

We rounded out our previously pastel-centric line of Comfy Color Mist with 7 new vivid colors! Made with the popular Comfy Worsted base, acrylic microfiber gives elasticity to this lightweight, long wearing, machine washable yarn. Good for warm weather knits of all kinds, you’ll find it especially great for children’s clothing and baby blankets that need an extra misting of color.


New Comfy Colors

11 new colors of Comfy Worsted yarns in a circle.

Enjoy 4 new colors of fingering and 11 new of colors of our worsted weight of Comfy yarns! Soft, machine washable, and lightweight, this Pima cotton and acrylic blend fiber is the ultimate solution for easy care and warm weather knitting. Did we mention it has excellent stitch definition, too?


New Biggo Colors

7 new colors of Knit Picks' Biggo yarns.

We have 7 new autumn-inspired colors of our Biggo yarns for you to enjoy, just in time for sweater weather! Biggo is a bulky weight 50% Superwash Merino Wool, 50% Nylon blend yarn that is well suited for cozy & oversized easy care garments and accessories.


New Billow Colors

Knit Picks' 100% Pima Cotton Billow yarns.

Billow is all about creature comforts: oversized cowls and wraps, lazy weekend pullovers, and cozy blankets that hug you back. Eight plies of super soft pima cotton create a thick and thin texture for a feel that is both rustic and modern all at once. Plus, now there are 7 new colors for you to explore!


New Pattern Collection: Form & Function

New Knit Picks exclusive pattern collection, Form & Function: Modern Ganseys.

Ganseys (or guernseys) were originally knit for hardworking fishermen to wear at sea; they were traditionally made with tightly spun wool, and the resulting garments were dense and almost waterproof. Today we can take these historical garments as inspiration for wearable, fun-to-knit, beautifully textured pullovers. Featuring cables and/or textural stitch patterns using just knit and purl stitches, the assortment of sweater patterns in Form & Function: A Modern Gansey Collection showcase a variety of construction techniques and styles, something for every modern knitter.


New Pattern Collection: Spectrum

New exclusive Knit Picks pattern collection, Spectrum: A Colorwork Collection in Palette yarns.

Our Palette yarn was designed for colorwork, and this colorful collection was designed for Palette! Spectrum: A Colorwork Collection in Palette begins with an intro to color theory and some stranded colorwork tutorials, plus an introductory pattern that doesn’t even use stranding. Several small and simple projects provided are perfect for trying your hand at stranded knitting for the first time. From there, the patterns in this collection become larger and more complex. Pick and choose patterns you love, or work through this book beginning to end. You’ll find yourself getting more confident as you go, and by the end you’ll be picking and throwing multiple colors like a knitting pro!


New Tools & Accessories

Ultra cute exclusive enamel pins from Knit Picks.

Things you can never have too many of: skeins of yarn, puppy & kitten cuddles, and super-cute enamel pins. Pro Tip: Start making room on your favorite denim jacket now so you’ll be ready when your fresh batch of pins shows up!

Knit Picks exclusive enamel stitch markers.

Complicated patterns weighing you down? Stay on track of your trickiest stitches with our new, colorful enamel stitch markers.

Limited edition Soak scent, Unleash.

It’s the 10th anniversary of this very special, limited edition scent inspired by all things Ravelry! Unleash comes in an 8 oz. bottle and is a lightly sweet, fruity, and spicy scent that will leave all of your woolen wonders smelling fabulously. Plus, Ravelry receives $1 of the proceeds from each bottle sold!


FREE PATTERN – Benka Cowl

Free pattern-Benka Cowl knit in Palette yarns.

The Benka Cowl alternates between a veritable sampler of colorwork patterns and solid blocks of stockinette stitch, with 3 options for a colorfully customized finished knit.


FREE PATTERN – Ephemeral Cowl

Free pattern—Ephemeral Cowl knit in Fable Fur, a new faux-fur yarn from Knit Picks.

Knit in new Fable Fur yarn, the Ephemeral Cowl knits up SUPER quick, making it an easy afternoon project ideal for gifting during the upcoming holiday season.


FREE PATTERN – Magic Ribbon Blanket

Free pattern—The Magic Robbon Blanket is a free pattern from Knit Picks knit with a Brava Mini Pack.

Our latest free pattern featuring our Brava Mini Packs, the Magic Ribbon Blanket is a unique pieced, 15-block Garter Stitch blanket consisting of five sets of three identical blocks.


40% off All Books

40% off all books

Last, but not least, it’s time for another book sale. Save 40% on every single book on the site! The sale runs through 10/8/19 and ends at 11:59pm PT.



Summer Staff Projects

With mid-summer temps soaring, it’s been the perfect time to stay inside (read: air conditioning) and tackle those project queues. Everyone in the office is so jazzed about new Twill yarn that it’s no surprise we have collectively made at LEAST 10 projects with it thus far this summer. Hats, sweaters, cowls, with many more projects in the works for fall. Here is a roundup of our latest, greatest FOs, with a heavy dose of Twill knits in the mix. Enjoy!

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Staff Project: Simply Wool Docklight Sweater

Docklight Sweater in Simply Wool Worsted

I loved knitting with the springy, wooly goodness of Simply Wool for the first time! I’m so used to Wool of the Andes Superwash as my go-to worsted weight yarn but I’m truly a convert to our new line. I always reach for natural, undyed worsted wool before other colors and I love all the browns and greys in these happy hanks.

Simply Wool has all the squish of my favorite wools without the scratchiness. Each stitch felt so good that I actually regret how quickly this project worked up. In case you weren’t sure, I want to re-emphasize that I knit a worsted wool sweater in Portland during one of our hottest summers and loved every minute. Seriously. Get thee to some Simply Wool, you won’t regret it.

Docklight Sweater in Simply Wool Worsted

When summer started, I planned on taking a short sabbatical from knitting (feel free to laugh all you’d like). Obviously, I lasted all of two weeks before diving in to a sweater quantity of Simply Wool Worsted! Five skeins in Wordsworth mysteriously (ahem) found their way into my knitting tote along with Julie Hoover’s fabulous Docklight pullover pattern and I simply couldn’t help myself.

Docklight Sweater in Simply Wool Worsted

I made two mods to this pattern: the first was to extend the sleeves which I actually didn’t need to do! Next time I’ll leave them as-is. I also worked a Fisherman’s Rib instead of Brioche which made the whole project much faster while maintaining the extra squishy ribbed fabric. For reference, I’m 5′,7″ with a 35″ bust and I knit up a size 40″ with zero complaints! It’s the perfect size to slip easily over collard shirts without any of the extra fabric of sweaters with too much positive ease.

Docklight Sweater in Simply Wool Worsted

Some of you may remember that I made a New Years resolution, way back when, vowing to learn Brioche. Fast forward to today and I still just cannot with that stitch! Luckily, I’ve found that Fisherman’s rib is less fiddly and a perfectly adequate substitute for single color brioche. I’m sure there are some minor differences but I get the right gauge with this alternate stitch and, to me, it looks nearly identical. Feel free to let the fur fly in the comments, I’d loved to be schooled! Maybe that will finally be the nudge I need to hunker down and actually learn it. Maybe.


Say “HI!” to the New Stroll Tweed

stroll_Tweed_Glamour_SE13

Check out our new Stroll Tweed yarn! Once, a few years ago we had a yarn with the same name, however we’ve gone back to the drawing board when it came to the tweed nepps since then and I’m delighted to show you what we’ve come up with! I love the rich color palette we’ve chosen and the new natural-colored flecks. I love using the Stroll family for washable fingering weight projects (especially baby sweaters!) and Stroll Tweed. The minute we opened the box of our photography samples I grabbed a bag of the Indigo Heather (the prettiest purple-blue I’ve EVER seen!) and got to work picking out a pattern.

I didn’t care what I made, I just had to have a whole bag of that pretty yarn! I went through my Ravelry queue over and over again but I wasn’t finding anything that really spoke to me. I could do another shawl, but I thought all those pretty nepps really needed to be featured in a sweater of some sort.

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I was still wracking my brains, trying to think of a project I liked enough to spend so much time working with fingering weight yarn when I spotted my copy of First Light on the shelf above my computer. When we first shot all the pieces in that collection I remember mentally bookmarking a few of them so I decided to flip through it to jog my memory.

I opened right to Jill Wright’s Kelso hoodie. I loved how this light weight sweater looked when we put it on Erin (our fantastic model for that half of the collection) and I loved it even more now that I was picturing it knit up with the yarn I’d picked. I envisioned it as the perfect “chilly office top” solution that would also be comfortable in the car on the ride home and endlessly washable which (in my mind) makes it the perfect “work horse piece” to add to my wardrobe.

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I admit that most of the things I knit wind up tucked away for special occasions (usually really short ones too) because they’re so precious or itchy. This one is definitely going to get hung up in my closet with the rest of my store-bought cardigans because it is just so comfy! The tweed flecks give this garment a timeless, traditional feel while the subtle heathers in the yarn itself give the fabric and unexpected depth.

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Stroll Tweed is definitely going to be my new go-to sock yarn and fingering weight yarn for projects I know will need to be washed often. I can’t wait to work up a little baby sweater in Farmhouse Heather (I think all babies look like little old fellas and I’m definitely not above making them sweaters that remind me of something a scholarly gentleman would don) and I’m definitely eyeballing Flagstone Heather and Down Heather to knit SOME sort of stripes! I think that would look so nice.

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Last but not least, I tried my hand at crocheting with Stroll Tweed in Thirst Heather for a last minute free pattern. The Swiss Tweed Cowl takes just one ball of Stroll Tweed, works up in a weekend and is a nice, light accessory that works even when it’s more than a little toasty outside.

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I’m still fairly new to crochet and find myself getting irritated when I try to thread a hook through some yarn with out splitting the strand. Figuring out what yarn works best for crochet and what is, quite simply, an absolute nightmare has been a process of trying everything and seeing what I like and what doesn’t work for me.

Stroll Tweed was a clear winner! It was easy to work with and the tweedy bits managed to shine even with the thicker fabric produced with crochet. I think it’s safe to say that I’m thoroughly enamored with the new yarn, and I hope it charms you too! What patterns leap to mind now that you’ve seen this lovely new yarn? I can’t wait to see what beautiful projects start appearing now that you can get your hands on it.