If you’re like me, you have a Ravelry account with several favorite patterns carefully curated into their appropriate Bundles. As fall tries to settle itself into the southern states of the U.S., I find myself dreaming of knitting something cozy to wear for when winter is upon us (and we can actually wear it for the two months out of the year we get for truly cold weather).
Being home with my sick kids this last couple weeks (because…you know, it’s not fall without the obligatory virus being spread through school, then through your whole household) has allowed me a moment to go through my Ravelry favorites causing a spark of creative desire for soft yarn and smooth needles in my hands. For years I have wanted to tackle knitting a sweater, but it was not timely or financially feasible in the past. Now, however, I can get away with investing the time and money to make a great wardrobe staple piece.
As I was parsing through what I had already set aside as possible projects, I thought I’d share the top 10 styles/types of sweaters I would make and why.
So here are my top 10 sweaters I would love to knit
1. My Basic Pick
If I were left to my own devices, I would literally put every pattern that PetiteKnit has ever created on one of my many Ravelry bundles. So, so, so many great knit patterns for any occasion and style, from the coziest sweater to the cutest summer top. What I feel like they do best, however, is designing amazing basics that you could use to build the foundation of your wardrobe with.
Which is exactly why their No Frills Sweater will be the first sweater that I knit. The pattern calls for a light colored yarn, but I plan to use a medium to dark grey which will better fit my aesthetic and lifestyle as a mom with three boys. This sweater would be a great addition to your wardrobe in the neutral color of your choice to beef up your basics.
Pattern: No Frills Sweater
Why it made the list: A versatile wardrobe staple that would make a great addition to a collection of everyday basics.
2. My French-Inspired Picks
After my first child, when I was finally getting back into dressing for myself, I did a deep dive into capsule wardrobes. One of my favorites is a French-inspired capsule wardrobe, and within that, the classic Breton black and white striped sweater.
There’s just something so classy and chic about this sweater. It’s versatile and looks just as great with a pair of boyfriend jeans as it does with a pair of dress pants or slacks. The two patterns I’ve included are great variants of this sweater.
Other popular color choices include replacing the black with navy blue or red, or making the darker yarn the main color and the white/beige yarn the stripe.
Patterns:
Why they made the list: The classic black-and-white Breton striped sweater, a timeless staple of the French-inspired capsule wardrobe.
3. My Beginner-Friendly Cable Pick
One of the many knitting skills that I want to acquire is cables. Many years ago I made a cable knit swatch, so I do have limited knowledge and experience with them. However, nothing beats the knowledge you gain from completing a whole project.
The Bloomfield Sweater pattern features a basic repeated cable design that is great for beginners. I really love getting into the groove of a ribbed knit, and I imagine a basic cable pattern would scratch that same itch in my brain but with a twist. The finished sweater is a classically beautiful piece to add to any wardrobe.
Pattern: Bloomfield Sweater
Why it made the list: A classic cable-knit sweater choice for building confidence with cable techniques while creating a versatile wardrobe piece.
4. My Oversized Pick
I wanted to pick a sweater dress to add to this list, but to be honest, I haven’t found one that I’m in love with enough to want to knit it. However, I found this pattern in that search. And while it has the word ‘dress’ in it’s name, I personally would not categorize it as such. I consider it to be more of an oversized sweater.
I love the side slits and oversized cables. As an 80’s baby, this sweater gives me a sense of nostalgia with it’s bulky boxy design which was popular in that time period. With the right type of yarn, I bet it would feel like being wrapped in your favorite throw blanket, and it would be perfectly paired with some skinny jeans or leggings. Maybe throw in some leg warmers for fun!
Pattern: Aegyo Dress
Why it made the list: A fun, funky, snuggly, 1980s-inspired statement sweater. Although technically labeled a sweater dress, the high side slits make it feel more like an oversized sweater than a traditional dress.
5. My Audrey Hepburn-Inspired Pick
I’m a sucker for retro and vintage fashion. One of my favorite fashion icons is Audrey Hepburn. Her quiet understated elegance is absolutely captivating. One of her quintessential wardrobe pieces was a black turtle/mock turtleneck shirt or sweater.
The Ernie Sweater pattern combines a mock turtleneck with the ribbed knit technique that I love, to create a vintage inspired piece. Knit it up in black for the Hepburn look, or choose your favorite color. Either way, it’s another win for your wardrobe!
Pattern: Ernie Sweater
Why it made the list: Three reasons: its classic ribbed-knit construction, stylish mock turtleneck, and timeless Audrey Hepburn-inspired retro aesthetic. A sophisticated wardrobe basic with vintage appeal.
6. My ’90s Nostalgia Pick
If you didn’t have a pair of Sketcher shoes, pleated plaid skirt, JNCO jeans, or a cropped fuzzy sweater in the 90’s, you were doing it wrong.
I remember Liv Tyler sporting the cutest baby blue cropped sweater in the movie Empire Records, one of my favorite movies from the decade. The Ida Sweater pattern personifies this quintessential sweater of the period!
I would love to make this sweater in forest or sage green, or maybe even a burgundy. The type of fiber and airy construction is sure to make it feel light and soft, like you’re wearing a cloud.
Pattern: The Ida Sweater
Why it made the list: This sweater captures the cute, fuzzy, cropped knitwear that was everywhere in the 1990s. It’s a fun, nostalgic addition to the winter wardrobe with plenty of retro charm.
7. My Classic Turtleneck Pick
I can see myself in this rustic turtleneck sweater under a pair of overalls complete with my gardening boots, running out to my chicken coop to feed the girls and collect eggs. Again, I love a good ribbed knit and having a true folded turtleneck allows you to pull the fabric as far up your neck as you want to keep out the chill of a misty fall or winter morning.
I can see myself making a couple of these in my favorite colors to have on hand for those rare truly cold days here in the south.
Pattern: Berry Sweater
Why it made the list: Another fantastic wardrobe basic featuring ribbed knitting, but this time with a true turtleneck. A timeless, cozy winter essential.
8. My Textured Basic Pick
Bouclé baby! I chose this sweater for the choice of bouclé yarn that gives the sweater it’s wonderful texture, of course, but let’s not overlook the design choice behind the simple non-textured ribbed knit collar, cuffs, and hem! They frame the bouclé base so wonderfully which gives this sweater a polished look that sets it apart from the cropped fuzzy sweater listed above.
I actually love this silvery grey yarn the designer chose and will likely follow suit!
Pattern: Artemisia Sweater
Why it made the list: A classic wardrobe basic with a little something extra! Bouclé yarn adds beautiful texture and visual interest to an otherwise simple sweater, creating a cozy, stylish piece without sacrificing versatility.
9. My Colorwork Picks
I’ve always been enamored of colorwork sweaters. As someone with Norwegian, Scottish, and Irish roots, I feel like a beautiful colorwork sweater is an inevitable right of passage that I must complete.
There are a LOT of amazing sweater designs in this category, but these two seemed simple enough for me to tackle when I’m ready to attempt a colorwork piece.
Patterns:
Why it made the list: Inspired by the intricate blue-and-white patterns of traditional porcelain china. A beautiful combination of classic decorative motifs and wearable knitwear.
Why it made the list: Delicate floral stripes give this sweater a romantic, feminine quality. A lovely alternative to more geometric colorwork designs.
10. My Statement Piece Pick
I’m in love with this sweater design. It feels like it’s as if someone transformed a Frida Kahlo painting into a sweater concept. The bold variegated yarn paired with the pictographic folk-art tulips make this one of the most interesting and artistically inspiring sweaters I’ve ever seen.
The creative possibilities are endless with this one. You could choose monochromatic colors from a chosen color family to create cohesion or choose contrasting colors, like blue and yellow, to create visual interest which would most certainly turn a few heads!
Pattern: Tulip Pullover
Why it made the list: A showstopping sweater featuring colorful yarn and a distinctive, folk art-inspired tulip motif. This is the kind of handmade statement piece that turns heads and starts conversations. Best of all, when someone inevitably asks where you bought it, you get the satisfaction of saying, “I made it!”
So Much More!
There are so many more sweater patterns available on Ravelry to explore! If you would like to check more of them out, feel free to visit my Ravelry Bundle dedicated to Sweaters!
Leave a Reply