Knitting Patterns: Fresh Knitwear Ideas for Spring

Spring is here, and with it comes the desire to pick up our knitting needles and revitalize our wardrobes with fresh hand-knit wearables. While scouting this season’s top colour and pattern trends, we have picked up a few knitwear patterns with all the chances of becoming favourite statement pieces.

From cozy sweaters that fend off the last chill of winter to lightweight tees and dresses perfect for sunnier days, our selection of spring knitting patterns caters to beginner and intermediate skill levels. with projects crafted on circular knitting needles in the round or as flat knit pieces.

Striped Sweater: A Modern Twist on a Classic Marine Look

Embrace the essence of spring with a beginner-friendly marine-inspired unisex sweater in a cotton-wool blend. The design features a unique twist that sets it apart. Employing a reverse stockinette pattern automatically adds a subtle yet distinctively blurred effect to the color transitions between the stripes. The extra-long sleeves follow the latest trend and are cozy on those cooler spring mornings.

Materials Needed:

1. Main Color (Almond): Approximately 500g
2. Contrast Color (Navy Blue): Approximately 250g
3. Knitting Needles: Size 3.5 and 4 mm (straight knitting needles or circular, based on preference)
4. The guidelines provided cater to sizes L—XL. To complete the sweater, you will need approximately 500g of Almond and 250g of Navy Blue.

Utilize the reverse stockinette stitch as the primary pattern. This means the 'wrong' purl side of the stockinette stitch will be displayed on the right side of your project, giving it a textured appearance.

Using a smaller needle size, eg, a 3.5 mm circular knitting needle, cast on between 96 and 110 stitches each for front and back pieces, and knit 5 - 7 cm in a 1x1 ribbing pattern. Alternate between wider Almond stripes of 6 rows and 4 rows in Navy Blue stripes. For a more relaxed fit, increase your stitches by 10 - 12 by evenly distributed invisible increases after completing the hem. Learn everything about increasing stitches in knitting in this blog article. Continue with the striped pattern in reverse stockinette stitch.

Pro Tip:

1. Blocking is key to achieving the perfect fit and finish. Take your time with this step to ensure the best results.
2. A row counter ring will help you achieve an evenly striped pattern.
3. Pay close attention during the blocking and sewing process to ensure the stripes on the front and back align perfectly. This step is crucial for a professional and cohesive look.

Spring Tee with Wide Neckline and Butterfly Intarsia Pattern

The vibrant mint green hues of this charming wooly sweater, a wide neckline and a butterfly intarsia pattern in variegated yarn make this project an essential addition to your spring wardrobe. This piece is crafted in stockinette stitch using the rich semi-solid and variegated shades of Symfonie VIVA yarn in superior superwash Merino quality.

Materials Needed:

1. Main Color (Symfonie Viva Mind): Approximately 300g
2. Intarsia, hems and stripes (Symfonie Viva Tropical Seascape): Approximately 100g
3. Knitting Needles: Size 3.5 (straight or circulars for the tee body and double pointed needles for the sleeves).

The construction of this project is straightforward yet rewarding. The front and back panels are knitted separately as flat pieces. We have used circular knitting needles (size 3.5 mm) from the Mindful Collection since their elongated, pointed tips are ideal and comfortable for all kinds of colorwork and lace patterns.

The medium-sized puff sleeves, striped for subtle texture contrast and knitted seamlessly in the round using double-pointed needles (size 3.5 mm), add a playful touch. Begin with a cozy 6 cm cuff in a 1x1 ribbing pattern, then execute invisible increases generously after every third stitch. To achieve the signature puff effect, sew the sleeves with three upper folds to the body of the tee.

Pro Tip:

Master the butterfly colourwork chart without headaches by using a magnetic knitting pattern holder. Its securely keeps your printed pattern in place even when knitting on the go, while an additional magnet serves as a handy marker to track your progress row by row.

Dreamy Spring Cardigan

This delightful monochrome cardigan made from a luxurious wool and silk blend features a delicate cable pattern that mimics the airy essence of spring. Crafted in one piece on a pair of circular knitting needles with an 80 cm swivel cord, this project promises to keep you warm on chilly spring days while presenting an airy look.

The structured diamond pattern is achieved through front and back cabling techniques over a single stitch worked over a repeating stretch of 10 stitches.

Materials Needed:

1. For a M - L-sized cardigan or a cropped vest, approx. 300 g of high-quality fingering-weight yarn
2. Circular knitting needles (size 4 mm)

Pattern Overview:

1. The pattern spans ten stitches and twenty rows, with the return rows knitted as the stitches appear.
2. Although the pattern shines on a stockinette stitch backdrop, the cables will become more prominent and visible against a reverse stockinette.
3. Begin your cardigan with a garter stitch border at the bottom, working upwards towards the armholes before dividing the work into front and back sections to be completed separately.
4. For items knitted in the round: Alternate between cabling on every other round to maintain the diamond structure pattern.
5. For flat pieces: On the wrong side, knit all stitches as they appear (this means you simply knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they present themselves).

Whether you're drawn to the fresh appeal of a striped sweater, the playful charm of a spring tee with Intarsia, or the elegant simplicity of a cardigan, each presented project can become a classy addition to your spring wardrobe. KnitPro’s high-quality knitting needles are shaped to perfection to suit every knitter’s preference and style. They enable you to turn your unique visions into timeless projects that never go out of style.