As a busy working mum who is attempting to spin many plates, I tend to pick knitting projects that are both practical for my every day life (or my families, depending on who I am knitting for) and projects that are easy enough to pick up and put down. This means that it is pretty common for me to come across beautiful patterns that I know I am very unlikely to ever cast on. Damn, I have even purchased patterns I would desperately like to make but they are yet to hit my needles for this very reason.
By sharing these patterns here, I hope to not only highlight some wonderful patterns by some very talented designers, but I also hope that one day I may revisit this list and actually cast one (or maybe more) of them on!
So lets get stuck in…
1. Quicksand by Hanna Maciejewska
Quicksand is a DK weight triangular shawl knit entirely in brioche and cables. The pattern is reversible and has a tidy i-cord edging to finish. Originally published in Laine’s ‘52 weeks of shawls‘, the design was inspired by the beach where the sand ripples this and that way, and by little boats bobbing up and down on the waves, tied with halyards to the docks. It was originally published in 2 sizes, but there is now a ‘scarfette’ version available as a separate pattern. Although Hanna has both a LoveCrafts and Payhip store, I can only find this patten for sale on Ravelry. Maybe this is a limitation placed on the pattern by Laine? I don’t know.
Although I am a confident cable knitter, I don’t have tonnes of experience with brioche. In fact, part from the odd swatch that never became anything, the only other brioche project I have knit, I frogged! Not because there was a problem with my brioche, but because I changed my mind on the pattern I was knitting…
Oh, wait a minute, I knit the brioche section in my Shawlography shawl (by Stephen West), too!
Anyway, I think the potential complexity of this shawl is the thing that is holding me back from casting on. Plus it’s fairly yarn hungry, using 4 or 5 skeins of DK, which to me, makes this a pretty large shawl. It just sounds like a lot of work I don’t know that I want to commit to… though I am totally sure it would be worth it! I am now considering whether the ‘scarfette’ would be more appropriate for me, but I’m not convinced… something to think about!
2. Starflake by Stephen West
Starflake was Stephens 10th MKAL (mystery knit along) design. It can be purchased wither from Ravelry or Stephen’s website (as a kit). This was the 2019 shawl and I didn’t knit my first MKAL shawl until 2020. However I have always admired the geometric shapes against the soft wave of the shawl border and the striking effect the contrasting colours create. Plus, as always with a Stephen West pattern, it is filled with a variety of fun techniques to keep the project interesting which I appreciate!
However, having now knit 2 MKAL shawls (Slipstravaganza and Shawlography), I know how much work goes into knitting one of these. They are large and take a lot of time! I had over 900 stitches on my needles by the end of the Slipstravaganza which is crazy! Not to mention having to work an i-cord bind off on them all!
This isn’t the only thing that puts me off either, and this point is also valid for the Quicksand Shawl and any other shawl I mention. I don’t mind a middling size shawl, but I don’t find huge blanklet like shawls super practical to wear. My Shawlography is slightly smaller, so I wear that fairly often, but my Slipstravaganza I have only worn a handful of times.
3. Festive Yoke Pullover by Skeindeer Knits
Everyone has to have a festive jumper in their wardrobe ready for December, right? I would say this is the time for any knitter to shine! The Festive Yoke Pullover is a top down, in the round design by Skeindeer Knits. This sport weight design comes with 20 charts so you can pick your own festive design. The main sample was knit with all over colourwork but there are many examples of where the colourwork was worked on the yoke only. If I were to actually knit this, I’m not sure how I would do mine, I would probably make the decision based on the colourwork motifs I chose. As far as I can see, this pattern is only avalable on Ravelry, but please correct me if I am wrong!
Although this is a lovely pattern, there are a few reasons I doubt I will ever knit this. First and foremost because I actually knit myself a Christmas jumper a couple of years ago, the ‘Rockin’ Reindeer Richard’ pattern by Jacki of The Woolly Badger and I’m not sure I have it in me to knit another festive themed jumper just yet.
I am also not a huge fan of the circular yoke construction. I don’t really like the fit on me. I dislike the way it fits round my shoulders and find it just hangs funny and rides up. This is awful but it kinda feels a bit like wearing a bag with a hole for the neck. Many of Jacki’s patterns include bust adjustment instructions but at the time of knitting my Rockin’ Reindeer Richard, I didn’t feel the need to add extra space for my bust because I am not exactly big in that department. However, since then, I have knit her Summer Jimmy Jab pattern. I sized down but did add the bust adjustment and I am so pleased I did. The fit is much better on me. I think if I did knit the Festive Yoke Pullover (or any other circular yoke, for that matter) I would have to make similar modifications.
4. Gaudi by Julie Knits in Paris
Gaudi is a sweater by Julie Dubreux who took inspiration from the Gaudi mosaics from Park Güell in Barcelona. It was released in November 2018, just a couple of months after we visited Barcelona and Park Güell. It is a 4ply colourwork circular yoked design which is intended to be boxy and slightly cropped. I instantly fell in love with this pattern simply because we had not long visited. I purchased not only the pattern, but also yarn to make it, which is still in my stash, now! Julie does have a website, but for some reason I cannot see Gaudi (the jumper version anyway, there is a cardigan, too) listed so unfortunately I only have a Ravelry link for you, again.
At the time, Pippa, my daughter, was around 8 months old. Uninterrupted knitting time didn’t really exist so taking on a 4ply intricate colourwork pattern was just unrealistic. Since then, I’ve had another kid, moved house, changed jobs a few times. Basically life’s happened and now I’m not sure I want to knit it anymore! I still really like it, I’m just not sure if I would wear it. Especially as it is another circular yoke!
5. Lodestar by Kjerstin Rovetta
I probably don’t need to introduce this because cor blimey did it do the rounds when it was first released in 2021. Lodestar, by Kjerstin Rovetta, was published in PomPom Mag Issue 37 and I think the majority of the people I follow on Instagram knit this! This is another pattern that I purchased and wound the yarn for but have yet to actually knit… I even cast it on, but then realised I messed up the neckline rib so frogged but then never got round to starting again.
I absolutely love the eyelet lace pattern on the yoke and I really like the sleeve shaping, too. But this is another pattern where I am not convinced by the yoke shaping. To begin with, it appears to have a raglan construction but I don’t think it is a ‘proper’ raglan (I write without checking the pattern so please do correct me if I am wrong). It is tagged as a circular yoke on Ravelry and I think this is putting me off.
Gosh I really didn’t mean to hate on the circular yoke quite like this…! I do apologise if you are circular yoke lover!
6. Wishing and Hoping by Louise Tilbrook
The Wishing and Hoping blanket was designed and released by Louise Tillbrook in March 2020, the year and month my son, Oscar was born. If it had been released 6 months earlier I am sure I would have knit this for him. Louise knit this blanket for a good friend of hers right as the pandemic was gathering momentum, working her good thoughts and wishes into every stitch. The sentiment behind this pattern really speaks to me as at the time I was also eagerly anticipating my own imminent arrival, wishing and hoping that all would be ok in a world that was full of uncertainty. I really like the elegance that it exudes; the simple, gender neutral grey is a perfect background to the beautiful pattern made up of twisted and slipped stitches. If you have seen any of my own designs you will see I am a sucker for both twisted and slipped stitches.
Unless I decide to knit this for a gift, I am unlikely to make it now. This is simply because I don’t intend on having another babe of my own, and if for whatever reason I did, we already have a plethora of hand knit blankets, including one that was mine as a baby!! I can’t really justify making another. I am also pretty bad at finishing blankets. I can think of at least 3 I have started and subsequently frogged. I also have a crochet granny stirpe blanket still on the go which I started in 2021 and its not yet wider than a scarf…. I love it and it will get finished but it wont be this year, or next, or the next probably!
7. Brioche Adventure by Johnathan Tollow
Back to shawls! Although I would class this one as more of a scarf. More brioche, too!
Brioche Adventure uses mini skeins to create a beautifully textured and multicoloured wrap that looks so snuggly and warm to wear. Once you have got the hang of the brioche techniques, it is a relatively straightforward pattern so should be an easy project to pick up and put down when suits. I love how Johnathan as placed his colours which looks like a mix between 1 colour and 2 colour brioche to fade. I have so many mini skeins, it would be great fun to start working them up into something like this!
It doesn’t look like Johnathan has his own website or an alternative to Ravelry, but looking at his store, it appears he mainly designs shawls, hats and shawls in brioche.
8. Synchronicity by Cheryl Faust
Knit using the mosaic techniques, Synchronicity is a top down, elongated triangular shawl designed by Cheryl Faust. I really like the mixture of simple garter stripes and the the more intricate mosaic, almost aztec looking pattern. It would look really nice worked in a plain colour such as a white (like pictured) or black, coupled with a Zauberball. Although the pattern uses Spincycle which is an excellent choice also!
I haven’t knit much mosaic in the past so this is probably why Synchronicity speaks to me. Cheryl has designed several mosaic shawls, another one worth looking at is Promises in the Dark. Particularly love this one because ‘that is ‘Promises in the Dark’ such a great name, but also because it is another really beautiful design.
I’m just really not sure I am ever going to knit (or wear) all of these shawls! For me, the end result has to be as important as the process.
9. Bowhall by Monica Christine
Bowhall, by Monica Christine, is a boxy, drop shoulder design that features and intricate cable design and lots of 2×2 rib. I think the way it hangs from the body is really flattering and it would be super easy to wear. The pattern was released by Brooklyn Tweed in 2023 and is available both on the Brooklyn Tweed website and on Ravelry. I can really imagine myself wearing this one to work with my black cord trousers or with my black knee length pencil skirt.
However, I can’t imagine myself having enough patience to work all of those cables on such an oversized garment.
Maybe my time for this sort of project will come one day!
10. Pressed Flowers Cardigan by Amy Christoffers
The ‘Pressed Flowers’ pattern from Amy Christoffers is another popular one, and other mosaic pattern. Amy has used this stitch pattern on many designs now. The first pattern was the ‘Pressed Flowers’ shawl which was released in 2020 and, as of writing this, has over 2800 projects on Ravelry. The cardigan was the 3rd design to use the ‘Pressed Flowers’ pattern and the first garment design. It has over 1400 projects on Ravelry. like I said, it has been popular! There are now a total of 8 ‘Pressed Flowers’ patterns, all of which have gone down well in the knitting community.
My problem is two-fold. Firstly I have a lot of yarn, but I don’t have any sport weight in stash and I don’t really want to be buying any in. I have too many jumper/cardigan quantities to justify that really. I could spin some. I have some lovely stashed fibre that would work well. But I’m not a good enough spinner to guarantee a sport weight yarn at the end. My other problem is that I am not sure whether I want to knit the cardigan version or the pullover. On one hand, knitting the pullover may solve my yarn problem as it’s a DK weight pattern. I have plenty of DK stashed but maybe not in the colours I would choose for this design. I also so think I prefer the cardi overall. Just maybe with a little less positive ease than recommended. Oh, I don’t know… and that’s why I haven’t knit it!
So in conclusion, there are so so many wonderful patterns out there that I would love to have on my needles. Many of them for the finished object, but also many because I know I would enjoy the process of knitting them. Some of them also have elements that mean that I know the finished object may not quite work for me, which is ok. I think it’s important to both recognise the beauty of a pattern but also understand how it may not work for me.
I also know that for as many beautiful patterns are available, I still have designs of my own in my head that I would like to explore one day. Overall my design mojo is low at the moment but my making mojo is high. This means am making plenty of things that are not my own patterns is fun, and definitely more productive than designing, but when my focus switches again I know I will work very little on other things. I just don’t have enough time or brain space to do both!
I found it really hard to whittle my ‘knitting wishlist’ down to just 10 patterns, but I didn’t want to be here for weeks detailing hundreds of patterns. I congratulate you if you managed to get to the end as it is!
Do you have a list of patterns you love but haven’t yet got round to knitting? Despite having my own list as long as my arm, I find great enjoyment is browsing patterns and finding new beautiful thins to dream about making one day. I’d love to hear your list, too!
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