Cheers to Sweater Weather!
To celebrate the colder weather and the desire to wrap ourselves in all things warm and snuggly, the June monthly theme for our #2023loveloKAL and #2023loveloCAL make-a-long is sweaters.
You can find out more about our year-long KAL/CAL or join in the fun in our Ravelry group or on Instagram (by simply using the hashtags).
The premise is simple - let's explore and celebrate Aussie and NZ designers and yarns.
And if you work on a sweater design during June you'll be eligible for a bonus entry for the monthly prize.
So here it is...the list of our top Aussie & Kiwi sweater designs to get you inspired.
Overlay is worked in 2-colour brioche knitting. Body front and back are worked in pieces from bottom up, with an intarsia pattern. Shoulders are joined together with 3-needle cast-off and sides are seamed together with mattress stitch. Collar and sleeve stitches are picked up from neckline and sleeve openings and worked in the round.
The pattern is featured on the front cover of Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 44. It is knit with a combination of Fingering weight / 4 Ply and Mohair Silk Lace / 2 Ply yarn.
For the knitter who is in love with cables and texture here is a jumper that will give you satisfaction. The sideway construction means that the lines are horizontal, avoiding that “bulky” look that aran style knitting tends to give to a silhouette. The sleeves are narrow and long to keep the hands warm or to roll up to get them out of the way, and they follow the contour of the arms in contrast with the boxy look of the body. Knit in Sport weight / 5 Ply yarn.
Reversible, cropped, 3/4 sleeves and a funnel neckline, this sweater is as fun to knit as it is to wear! It has a unique raglan shaping and a subtle batwing shape.
Knit it in one colour for a more understated look, have fun with colours with a fade version or go for a striking and bold striped look with just two colours. Designed for Fingering weight / 4 Ply yarn.
Kookaburra is an everyday, unisex jumper, with moderate positive ease to provide comfort and casual look. Its yoke is decorated with a rustic texture pattern, which can be successfully expanded to the whole body part replacing a simple and quick to make, but graceful Double Seed st pattern. It is all up to you! The jumper was designed taking male proportions into account, so consider length modification of your sleeves and body to your personal measurements if needed. It is designed for DK weight / 8 Ply yarn.
In striking three-colour stripes, this easy-to-wear sweater is knitted in two separate pieces – back and front – beginning with a K2, P2 ribbed band, and increasing out for short sleeves. Designed for DK weight / 8 Ply yarn.
The graphic stitch used in this sweater is a nod to Barbara Walker’s simulated basketweave pattern. However, instead of using a mosaic (slip-stitch) pattern, it has been reworked into stranded colourwork. The all-over graphic pattern is a symmetrical 10-stitch, 10-row repeat and is easy to memorise.
This classic-style sweater requires intermediate to advanced knitting skills. It is a great layering piece worn fitted or a bit looser, depending on your preference.
It is designed for DK weight / 8 Ply yarn.
Astra Vest is a fun slip stitch vest that is perfect for layering over your favourite outfit. Fun colour play is encouraged with the contrasting colour - use yarn with a long repeat colour change or use up all those colourful scraps you have stashed away; alternately keep it simple with a solid contrasting colour. Designed for DK weight / 8 Ply yarn.
Knit yourself a lightweight cardigan with chevron lace detailing and add an indispensable layering piece to your wardrobe. Worked in linen yarn, Ochre cardigan is a wonderful summer garment. Or use wool to knit up your Ochre Cardigan for a cosier version to add a layer of stylish warmth when required. Knit top-down with simple raglan shaping, the body and sleeve lengths are easily adjusted to suit your preference. Enjoy this timeless classic, a garment you’ll be reaching for regularly over the years to come. It is designed for Fingering weight / 4 Ply yarn.
Calypso Sweater is a circular yoke pullover that uses the magic of
color-changing yarns to create an intriguing yoke design, and features sweet picot edge details on both the neckline and hem, along with ¾ length sleeves, ribbed cuffs and a relaxed slightly cropped fit. It is designed for Sport weight / 5 Ply yarn.
Cables, cables, cables - cables and raglan, is there a better combination? We don’t think so! Sauvabelin’s top down construction makes it easy to customise the length and the beautiful cable pattern ensures that you want to knit just one more row… and then one more… Lana Rara’s yarn from rare Swiss sheep breeds is the perfect match to bring out both the best in yarn and sweater. In case you’re between sizes, we suggest you go up a size. Designed in Sport weight / 5 Ply yarn.
Georgie is knitted top-down and has a slouchy fit that feels instantly comfy. Her sweeping neckline and soft, gently shaped stockinette sleeves are flattering and easy to wear and a faux side seam gives a special finish to the body and slides effortlessly into a ribbed hem. It is designed for Sport weight / 5 Ply yarn.
Knitted from the top down, so you can try her on as you go, Floozy Too uses slipped stitches to create her stunning colourful yoke.
You’ll just work one colour per row! Nothing complicated, just simple, easy knitting that’s suitable for every level of knitter.
Her relaxed fit makes Floozy Too the sweater you’ll reach for day after day!
Designed for Fingering weight / 4 Ply yarn.
This jumper is a typical top-down raglan worked in the round. You begin by casting on the neckline, then work short rows to raise the back neck. After that the yoke is worked with regular increases for the sleeves, front and back, along with the cable panel that runs down the sleeve. The sleeves are then held and the body is joined in the round and worked with waist shaping and cable panels running down both sides. The sleeves are then picked back up and worked to the wrist with the cable panel continuing where it was established in the yoke. Designed for Bulky weight / 12 Ply yarn.
Mameko is one of the basic patterns of Japanese Kogin-zashi, a type of hand-embroidery. Mameko means a small bean and is characterized by a hollow diamond shape.
Bold Mamekos are placed on the entire body of the sweater.
Stockinette stitch is used as a base to represent a hollow diamond, the diamond line is made by slipped stitches so it looks like beans are connected in a row, and the connection with the adjacent diamond is made by cables. Place a series of small Mamekos on the sleeves as well.
The main body is aligned with DK weight / 8 Ply yarn and mohair yarn held together, and the rib parts are finished with only the DK.
Very Kochi Cardigan is a round shaped raglan cardigan worked from the top down with cute pockets. This seamless cardigan begins with a small garter collar and 3-D cable front bands.
The cabled raglan lines continue uninterrupted and become a pocket opening. The fun of knitting this cardigan is the work of pocket bags made by connecting them to the main body as a one-piece construction. It is knit in Aran weight / 10 Ply yarn.
Fresh and weightless in double-stranded Pebble, this sweater redefines contemporary comfort. Silk Cloud adds plushness, highlighting a single shoulder and cuff in blocks of glowing contrast. Folded edgings add structure to the cuffs and hem, while supporting a funnel neck that is sophisticated, not constricting. It is designed for Light Fingering weight / 3 ply yarn.
Celebrate the comfort of cashmere, alpaca, and merino in each delicious stitch of this double-stranded sweater. Envelop yourself in considered details, from the lengthened, curved back hem to the collarbone-enhancing boatneck. With inside-out seaming and beautiful construction, it’s easy to create this wardrobe staple that reaches well beyond the weekend. It is designed for DK weight / 8 Ply yarn.
Porto features a simple, top-down yoke design with an easy-to-remember, all-over-textured pattern. The slim-lined lower sleeves and an over-sized yoke give this sweater a modern look, while the relaxed fit offers plenty of ease in the body, making it very comfortable and cozy to wear. It is designed for Sport weight / 5 Ply yarn.
Salerno is cosy, top-down sweater that features a relaxed fit around the body and flattering slim-lined sleeves. The fun, woven-stitch pattern used for the body creates little spots of embossed colour that stripe playfully across the fabric. Salerno was created using fingering weight yarn and mohair silk lace held together; however, you could easily substitute both of these for a Sport weight yarn. It is knit with a Fingering weight / 4 Ply and Lace weight / 2 Ply yarn (Mohair Silk Lace) yarns held together.
The Kai Fella pattern uses the Intarsia method which twists the yarn and allows you to create the distinct colour blocks. It is knit with Worsted weight / 10 Ply yarn.
