’Tis the season for warm wool around your head, neck, and hands. To quote the often memed Ina Garten clip, “If you can’t make it, store-bought is fine.” But why settle? With fiber arts arguably the most popular they’ve ever been, knitters and crocheters alike are inventing new techniques and patterns for garments that are more exciting than anything you could buy outright. Whether you’re a knitting newbie or a crochet connoisseur, these artists and their designs are sure to inspire you to create something with your hands that’s just as cool as the temperatures outside.
Jamie Lomax
@pacificknitco
Known for her Doodle Card Decks, which are playing card-sized knitting charts for creating colorwork motifs, Jamie Lomax’s designs can be translated onto just about anything. Hats, socks, scarves, koozies for cans or coffee cups… the options are limitless. Similarly, the themes for Jamie’s decks are vast. You name it, there’s probably a doodle deck for it. Have a cat lover in your life? Grab her Cat Doodle Card Deck (pictured) and use some of the twenty-four cat-themed charts, which include paws and balls of yarn, to make the purr-fect handmade gift. Or lean into the season with the Arctic Doodle Card Deck (pictured), which has charts for snowflakes, penguins, polar bears, and more to include on your next make.
Lydia Morrow
@whatlydiamade
Lydia’s designs ooze utter cool girl energy. They’re trendy while being still size inclusive and well-constructed. Many of her patterns are made to be customizable with whatever text or image you’d like to duplicate stitch (similar to embroidery, but done in a way that mimics a knit stitch) onto the garment. Her Instagram is a treasure trove of ideas for just what that text or image could be. Lydia often uses her knitworks to display political messages; her Tether Top (pictured) pattern is one example, customized here with messaging about joining your local tenants’ union. Plus, this tank has a lovely collar in the front to dress it up. Got lots of yarn scraps? Check out her Partner Pullover Pack, a set of patterns for funky striped sweaters including the one pictured. It’s perfect for using up those smaller skeins of yarn that you’ve been looking to get out of your stash.
Sari Nordlund
@sari_n_
When you think about a handknit sweater, the first thing that comes to mind may be something similar to a Sari Nordlund design. Sari is the author of Softly – Timeless Knits, an aptly named book containing quintessential patterns. Many of her evergreen designs feature beautiful braids and cabling of interwoven yarn, making for classic pieces that would fit well in any wardrobe. Take her Book Club Cardigan (pictured), which is designed to be knit with a thicker yarn. It makes for a super comfy sweater that’s the worn equivalent of a warm hug, sure to keep you cozy while still looking put together. Speaking of cozy, the Vivienne Beanie (pictured) is a stunning way to keep your ears warm. The cabling of this hat stands out enough to catch the eye, but is simple enough to look perfect with any coat in your closet.
Toni Lipsey
@tlyarncrafts
“I would love to learn to crochet, but I have no idea where to start.” Sound like you? Look no further. Her YouTube channel, TL Yarn Crafts, is an invaluable source for beginners. Pick up a hook and check out her video “LEARN TO CROCHET (for real this time) | SLOW Step-By-Step How to Crochet Tutorial.” You’re guaranteed to get the hang of things by the time the video is over. Try her Gloria Tote Bag pattern (pictured) for your first project, easily accomplished with Toni’s helpful instructions. If you’ve already mastered regular crochet, give Tunisian crochet a try. Toni is the author of The Tunisian Crochet Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide, the definitive text on this style of crochet that is done with a long hook. The method creates a unique woven fabric. Her pattern for the Bestie Scarf (pictured) is a great place to start your Tunisian crochet journey.
Brenda Calota
@petrichor.knitwear
Few designers are making patterns as campy as Brenda Calota. If you fancy yourself to be a silly goose, you most certainly need the pattern for the Mr. Goostavo Sweater (pictured). Quite frankly, more sweaters should have a cowboy hat-donning, starry boot- wearing, honky tonk, fuzzy goose on it. But for now, how lucky are we to have to have the pattern to make this one? The whimsy amongst Brenda’s designs doesn’t stop there. Her Eggcellent Vest (pictured) is, well, all it’s cracked up to be. Gather up your fellow knitters, pull up to brunch wearing your handknit egg vests, and win the eternal respect of your local benedict dealer.
Alexis Sixel
@sixeldesign
Mosaic crochet is a method of crocheting that alternates two kinds of stitches (crochet and double crochet) to result in crisp, complex images. This specific technique is Alexis Sixel’s bread and butter, to which she adds her own witchy and goth flair. The All Skulls Blanket (pictured), with skulls and skeletons galore, is an undeniably impressive statement piece. If you love the skull design but want to take it off the living room couch and onto your clothing, try her pattern for The Lovers (pictured). As shown, she crocheted this pattern and made it into a back patch for a denim jacket. If regular ol’ back patches are punk, then a handmade, fringed one of two romantic skeletons is even punker. More of Alexis’s designs can be found in her books, Dark & Dramatic Mosaic Crochet: A Master Guide to Overlay Colorwork and Zodiac Mosaic Crochet.
Ashley Lee Zhong
@snapdragonbrand
Old-timey ribbon candy, with its colorful layers, is often a handmade labor of love by confectionaries. Ashley Lee Zhong used the candy as inspiration when creating a process of crocheting that mimics its swirling hues. Her River Canyon Blanket (pictured) is, like the candy, a labor of love, but the sweet payoff is a stunning work of art for your bedroom. Make it in 70’s themed neutral browns and oranges, make a monochrome ombre, or go with bright neon like Ashley’s for a trippy vibe. The pattern includes instructions for Twin, Full, Queen, and King sizes, so any bed can be adorned with its own sugary afghan. Her pattern for the Nadja’s Wings Shawl (pictured) mimics the ribbon candy look while also giving you the wings to be the most colorful creature of the night.
Caitlin Hunter
@boylandknitworks
Caitlin Hunter, a resident of the nature-filled state of Alaska, makes designs that are inspired by the flora and fauna surrounding her home. The quirky yet sophisticated Halibut Sweater (pictured) is wildly popular with knitters, so much so that this halibut motif is also offered for cowls, hats, mittens, and a cardigan version of the original pullover design. If finned friends are not your vibe, check out her floral Autumn Alpine (pictured) sweater. The ribbing for this sweater is distinctively bold yet delicate, with its two-toned dashes. Both the Halibut and Autumn Alpine sweaters have designs that circle the front and back so your hard work on the needles doesn’t go unnoticed from any angle.
Charlotte Stone
@stoneknits
One of life’s greatest pleasures is a pair of toasty socks to warm your freezing phalanges on a winter’s day. Charlotte Stone knows this all too well and has dozens of patterns for that very purpose, each cuter than the next. Her Cup of Hot Cocoa sock pattern (pictured) is perfect for wintertime and the holidays – and for having on the needles while sipping on their namesake beverage by a fire. For a year-round option that’s out of this world, knit up her The Truth is Out There socks (pictured). The neon green aliens on these socks are nostalgically 90s and would make for a stellar gift for the Scully or Mulder fan in your life. She’s written two books, Joyful Colorwork Socks and Charming Colorwork Socks. Pick up either for more fun hosiery patterns.
Stephen West
@westknits
The hallmarks of a Stephen West pattern are vivid geometric shapes done using multiple kinds of knitting. His Painting Bricks Shawl (pictured) is knit with one solid color of yarn as the outline to many multicolored facets. The result is like a piece of stained-glass art that you can wear. Stephen is well-known amongst knitters for his Mystery Knit-a-Longs, or MKALs as he calls them. Each week, he’ll reveal part of a pattern for a shawl or socks. You won’t know what the finished object looks like until you’re done, but it’s guaranteed to be just as fun to make as it is to look at. His Twists & Turns Shawl (pictured), a labyrinth of techniques and textures, was from a previous MKAL. Check his social media to see when the next one starts.
