Inspiration
Pattern Scout: 6 Fast, Lush Sweaters
Dear Kay,
I am like a dog with a bone, now that we have this Winterburn Aran from Baa Ram Ewe in the house. I’ve spent the past days wallowing in Ravelry, on a quest for the designs that will sing in this yarn. Surely it’s one of the best games in knitting: I’ve got this great yarn, now what do I make with it?
There are so many designs! Have a look at these, willya? Which do you like the best?
Wainwright by Bristol Ivy
This is a cardigan, and I like it best unbuttoned. It’s got that always-surprising Bristol Ivy wacky construction thing that makes her designs such brainteasers to make.
Nurtured by Andrea Mowry
A honeycombed breeze of a pullover. This cropped-sweater-over-a-dress concept is really cute and feels great to wear.
Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers
Once again, Amy crushes it with the details. There are eyelets along the shoulder seams, completely minimal but completely everything. Winterburn Aran looks beautiful in stockinette, so Amy’s design is a perfect canvas for its nuanced colors.
Baldric Pullover by Isabell Kraemer
Click on over to Ravelry to see what Isabell’s up to on the sides of this pullover. Her playful garter stitch panels are the fun here. I also like the wide neckline. I’d wear this all the time.
Fernet Branca by Thea Colman
This is such epic Thea. She is constantly playing with cables and textures, and the good news here is that working in aran weight yarn means you can get to the finish line before the decade passes. That twirly cable! The silhouette! Gah.
Gabrielle by Leila Raabe
Here’s the woolly sister of one of Leila’s most popular designs, the very summery Deschain. The idea of a scaled-up feather-and-fan pattern is completely brilliant, and when it’s worked in Winterburn Aran, it becomes a gorgeous winter companion.
A note: whenever I substitute a yarn for the yarn specified in a pattern (which happens often), I make sure to swatch and wash the yarn I’m planning to use. An ounce of swatching is worth a pound of Sweater That Isn’t Turning Out How I Thought It Would.
I’ll be back with more, no doubt. The hard part is going to be deciding which one to make. Or which ones . . .
Love,
Ann
I’ve just cast on Baldric. It’s a lovely pattern. Can’t wait to wear it!
There’s plenty of Weekenders using Aran weight. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-weekender-5
I’m finding myself enchanted with sweaters made with this weight yarn this fall. Going on my needles this week are Alanis by Elizabeth Smith Knits and Ash in Plain and Simple by Pam Allen. With all this heat and humidity in Kentucky, I can’t wait for fall!
Boy do I hear ya! Middle Tennessee is lush n lovely n HUMID right now …
And I love my Hadley!
I made the Nurtured sweater for my daughter. It turned out beautiful. I’m going to make one for myself. But first I’m going to do the Weekender. Too many patterns, not enough time!
Another great option is Mondo Cable Cardi by Bonne Marie Burns.
I love all you folks, but “fast” and “sweater” represent an oxymoron for me. I enjoy watching knitters who are able to click at warp speed, but I am not one of them. Click on sisters, and brothers…I think I’ll stick to socks.
I have been pondering which sweater will be my *first ever* and now I’m thinking it’s down to the Baldric and Felix
I have sworn off sweaters. I have sworn off sweaters for a little while. Dang it…Winterburn & Wainright have me mesmerized ❤️
I love all of your suggestions! Thank you so much for sharing them! 🙂
Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas! I fell in love with each one as I viewed it and read your comments, but Gabrielle by Leila Raabe is my favorite, no question about it!
Love scouting. Remarkably, or not, some of these are on my list already. I know Deschain; now Gabrielle is on the list, too. And Felix. Thank you.
Loving the Gabrielle!
Both Nurtured and Felix have my heart! Decisions…Decisions…
Hi, all. Has anyone used this yarn in a man’s sweater pattern, and if so, what might you recommend?