Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced knitter, there’s nothing quite like wearing a beautiful sweater you’ve made yourself. From picking the right yarn to mastering the techniques involved, knitting can be an incredibly creative, challenging and rewarding experience.
In this post I’m going to show you twelve of the best cosy sweaters to knit this winter. I’ve split them up into four sections; beginner patterns, big softy sweaters, fair isle jumpers and three that I love but can’t quite categorise. All of the patterns I’ve listed, I’ve either knitted already or they’re on my ‘to do’ list for the coming months. I hope you like them too. You can see some of my knitting efforts on my instagram page here.
A few basics
For those of you that are new to knitting or haven’t knitted for some years, let’s cover a few basics before we start.
Picking the perfect pattern
In my opinion, it’s always better to pick the pattern before you pick the yarn. To be honest though, I don’t always do this. I get seduced by a beautiful skein of yarn calling “Buy me. Buy me” and then I look for a pattern to fit the yarn. That’s not always easy, and accounts for why I and most other knitters, have a huge stash of yarn that we’re sure we’re going to find the perfect pattern for one day. So, if you want to avoid this, get the pattern first.
It seems obvious I know, but make sure you choose a pattern that will produce a garment that you really want to wear. You are going to spend a lot of time on this project and the prospect of that beautiful jumper will help you stay focused through the tricky and boring bits. Yes there are boring bits; sleeves anyone?
Pick a pattern that is at the right level for your ability. A lot of the designers put a difficulty grading on their patterns (Petite Knit is very good on this), so let that guide you. You want a project that will be challenging and maintain your interest, but not one that is going to cause you to give up in complete frustration.
Finding the right yarn
Choosing the right yarn for a particular project is key. Let the pattern guide you here. You don’t have to buy the exact yarn specified in the pattern, but if you want the same kind of texture and drape you should look for a similar type of fibre content. Shetland for instance, will not look or feel like merino. It knits up firmer and is less soft and drapey than merino, so the finished garment can look quite different.
Substituting Yarn
It’s fine to substitute one kind of yarn for another though, as long as you can get gauge (see below) and understand how the yarn will behave on your body. A good local yarn shop (LYS) can be a real help if you need advice. The people that own and run them are knitting enthusiasts with a wealth of knowledge and experience about the yarns they sell. If you don’t have a LYS, some of the online stores are brilliant and will offer a virtual shopping service via zoom. I know Tribe Yarns does this. For your information, I’ve added a short list of yarn retailers at the bottom of the post that I can recommend.
The types and colours of yarn available today is phenomenal. There are some brilliant hand dyers producing fabulous yarns. You can get multi-coloured, variegated, speckled, ombre effects or self-striping. There are even sequinned and beaded yarns to try. The novice knitter can knit the simplest of patterns with one of these luxury yarns and produce a truly stunning sweater. I’ve added a list of hand dyers whose yarn I buy below.
Checking gauge and measurements
Don’t skip this. I know it’s boring, but knit your gauge square and make sure it matches the gauge on the pattern. If you don’t know how, there a lot of videos on YouTube that will show you.
Also, check the pattern to see what ease the designer has built into the garment sizing. Make sure you are knitting the size with the right amount of ease to get the look you’re aiming for.
Mastering the techniques
Here again, YouTube is your friend. Often the pattern designers will have their own YouTube channels where they demonstrate the techniques involved in their patterns. I’m a fairly experienced knitter, but I often consult YouTube from time to time to check how to do something. It’s a brilliant and free learning resource that ensures that you are never stuck on a new technique.
Phew! We got there so here are the 12 best cosy sweaters to knit that I promised you –
3 Best Cosy Sweaters to Knit for Beginners
1.Novice Sweater, Petite Knit
This is the sweater pattern that I recommend to anyone who wants to try knitting a sweater in the round for the first time.
It’s a really simple pattern that’s well explained at every step. There’s also a chunky version and a super soft mohair version. The pattern is basically the same for each, but adjusted to take into account the different thicknesses of yarn and needle size. This was the first sweater I ever knitted in the round, and I found the instructions really straightforward.
You can check out other knitters versions of these sweaters on Instagram here – #novicesweater #novicesweatermohairedition #novicesweaterchunkyedition
2. Sweater No 9, My Favourite Things Knitwear
This has been one of the most popular sweaters on Instagram for the past few years. The pattern is really simple and it looks great on everyone. Check out the over nine thousand versions posted on instagram here #sweaterno9.
It’s a heavy knit sweater with classic raglan shaping and a high neck. A chunky and elegant style with lovely raglan details. It’s cut for a comfy loose fit and sits beautifully on all shapes and sizes.
The pattern gives instructions for either a regular length or a shorter cropped version. As it’s knitted from top to down, you can try it on as you go and choose the length that best suits your body.
I’ve knitted this in the chunky merino specified in the pattern, and also in a black tweed and mohair. Both look great and are my ‘go to’ sweaters for the cold winter days.
3.Badger & Bloom from Anne Ventzel
BADGER AND BLOOM is a soft, warm sweater that’s worked from the top down. It looks complicated but it’s really pretty simple and would be an ideal first colour work project for an adventurous beginner.
The two colour pattern sections are easy and repetitive, and it knits up really fast.
I like knitting this sweater so much that I’ve done it three times. The first time I used the black and white yarn pictured. The second with three strands of mohair knitted together and the 3rd uses a grey eco yarn for the body with bright contrast colour bands in different colours of mohair. Again you can get lots of ideas from Instagram #badgerandbloom
3 Big Softy Sweaters
1. Spot Sweater by Anne Ventzel
This is another beautiful sweater from Anne Ventzel. It’s more challenging to knit than Badger & Bloom, but definitely worth the effort.
This sweater became a massive Instagram hit when Anne posted pictures of a version she had knitted in leftover mohair yarn (pictured left). She also posted details of exactly what yarn she used. You can find it here. I’ve knitted a similar version, and whenever I wear it out, people stop me to ask me where I got it. If I had to choose my best cosy sweater to knit, this would be it!
Check out instagram for other version of this show stopper sweater. #spotsweater
2. Jeol Sweater by Aegyoknit
Jeol is a Korean word and means to bow for Buddha. According to the designers, the inspiration for this sweater is the fusion between Scandinavian and Korean aesthetics. The bottom is inspired by the classic men’s herringbone coat which is contrasted with the plain stocking stitch of the top.
This sweater is knitted with a tweed and mohair yarn held together throughout.
I haven’t knitted this yet, but it’s next on my list. It looks so cosy and soft and yet really stylish too.
3. Snowy Forest Sweater by Midori Hirose
This is what Midori Hires says about her Snowy Forest sweater pattern –
” I wanted to knit a circle yoke pullover with a snowy and frosty cable pattern, like rime ice (freezing fog) on branches and snow-covered trees. In north Japan, rime ice and snow cover trees thickly and build hulking shapes, which are called snow monsters. I have knitted voluminous snow monster cables and needle-shaped rime ice cables.”
If that doesn’t make you want to knit this jumper I don’t know what will! It’s got to be one of the best cosy sweaters to knit and it’s on my list…
3 Fair Isle Sweaters
1. Noomi Sweater from Sophie Ochera
Designer Sophie Ochera specialises in revisiting and modernising the traditional fair isle sweater.
This roll-neck pattern has a fitted yoke that blooms out into a wide-fitting body and sleeves. The body is cropped and gathered into a fitted hem giving it a flattering, rounded-look at the waist. Bracelet-length sleeves feature visible decreases before being gathered into a tight cuff.
I love Sophie’s fusion of traditional fair isle with a modern aesthetic. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of knitting a few of her patterns and am looking forward to trying this one. #noomisweater
2. Call Me London sweater by Martina Markova
This wonderful pattern was posted on Ravelry by Martina, who I follow on Instagram. She describes the sweater as follows
“Call Me London Jumper is a love letter to London. If you live there, want to live there or used to live there.., this jumper brings you your favourite London things on your needles.
As a Londoner born and bred, it certainly speaks to me and I will certainly be knitting it in the not too distant future. It’s so different and fun that I had to include it here. #callmelondonsweater
*note – This pattern has not been extensively tested and is therefore published free. Care should be taken if you decide to knit it.
3. Clairdelune by The Petite Knitter
Surely this is the cuddliest of fair isles? I haven’t knitted it yet, but it looks like a fun and relatively simple colour work project. Knitted on 5mm circular needles from the top down, it should also be a fairly quick knit.
I particularly love the two tone rib on the high neck, cuffs and bottom edge. There’s something about this sweater that just looks so cosy and warm. I’m also wondering if that rabbit sweater would size up to fit my dog…
3 More Brilliant Sweaters To Try
1. Gr8 Gingham Raglan from Jessie Maed Designs
Subtle colour changing yarn adds a surprise twist to this classic gingham colourwork raglan. It features a fitted yoke and contrast raglan seams. The pattern includes instructions for both short and long sleeves, a ribbed or i-cord neck finish, and general guidance on modifying body and raglan length to your preference.
I haven’t knitted this one yet, but I will get to it. Again some great versions on Instagram.
2. Paul Klee Sweater by Midori Hirose
This is a sweater inspired by Paul Klee’s paintings. It’s great fun to knit and much easier than it looks. You can play with the colours of the square motifs and develop your own combinations using many colours or just a few. Take a look at the Instagram page for inspiration. There are some wonderful examples there. #paulkleesweater
I knitted this sweater in the Paul Klee inspired colours of the adult version pictured left, but I’m also going to try a looser fit monochrome version at some point.
3. Shifty Sweater by Drea Renee Knits
This sweater is all about being playful and having fun with color! It uses the mosaic knitting method where one colour is used as the “background” while slipped stitches and contrasting colours are added to create colourful and textural depth.
You can knit this jumper using the suggested yarn, but it is rather expensive. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative there are a lot of suggestions on Instagram. #shiftysweater
I used a lovely yarn, Schoppel Wolle Crazy, which looks and feels great but worked out a lot cheaper than the yarn suggested. Alternatively I’ve seen wonderful examples knitted from leftover scraps.
List of my favourite online yarn stores
- Tribe Yarns, Fife https://www.tribeyarns.com
- Loop London https://loopknitting.com
- This is Knit, Dublin https://thisisknit.ie
- A Yarn Story, Bath https://ayarnstory.co.uk
- Knitt https://knitt.co.uk
List of my favourite hand dyers
- Artyarns (available from Tribe Yarns above)
- Black Elephant https://blackelephant.uk
- Qing Fibre https://www.qingfibre.com
- Noro (available from Tribe Yarns above and other online retailers)
- Manos Del Uruguay (available from Tribe Yarns above and other online retailers)
- Olann https://olann.ie/category/shop-all
As always, thank you so much for reading my post. These are my best cosy sweaters to knit but I’d love to hear about any pattern recommendations you may have in the comments below.
Sian. x
Well, you know you had me at knitting… 🙂 Great selection!
Thanks Kate.
Are you tempted to give any of them a try?