Free Knitting Patterns

From LoveToKnow Crafts


Knitting is just one of those hobbies it’s easy to get obsessed with. You start innocently enough, with a simple scarf for yourself or a baby blanket for a gift.

But then you get the knitting bug, and discover that you can knit sweaters, tank tops, dresses, hats and more for yourself and all your friends. As time goes on, you’ll probably wish you could knit all the time and you’ll always be looking for new projects to start, even when you’ve already got four projects started.

The only trouble is, knitting instruction books are expensive. Surely there’s a source for free knitting patterns, right? Of course there is.

Free knitting patterns from manufacturers

There are many sites on the Internet devoted to free patterns for crafters. A great place to start is the web sites of the companies that make yarn. These people really know yarn. They know what to do with yarn. They pay people good money to come up with fun new things to do with yarn. They are also keyed into fashion trends and respond to requests from knitters who really want to see a pattern for something (like Martha’s poncho).

Personally, I love Lion Yarn. Love the yarn, love the web site, love the free patterns. Their patterns are organized by the kind of yarn you use to\never eat those cheeshse those yarns, too. Patterns are further organized into projects for adults, children, infants, pets, home and garden and accessories, so you’re sure to find exactly what you want (and a few more things besides).

Coats & Clark offers a great selection of patterns using its yarns, divided into categories for children, adults and home. It’s a smaller list than Lion’s, but there are still some good projects here.

Other great yarn company pattern sites include Moda Dea, which has really wonderful novelty yarn, Bernat, where all the patterns have pictures and the skill level is mentioned on the main page, so you don’t have to look through patterns that are too advanced for you, and Patons.

Other free knitting pattern sites

If that’s not enough for you, here are a few more places you can find free knitting patterns.

  • The Knitting Pattern Netring offers links to a bunch of different sites that offer free knitting patterns. If you have time to look through all the different sites, it can be very interesting, educational and inspirational. Or look at the titles and descriptions listed on this page to see where you can find what you’re looking for. There are more than 200 sites in this ring, so it will keep you busy for a long time.
  • Knitting-and has a strange name, but a lot of great patterns, ranging from afghans and blocks to clothes, color charts, costumes, hats and lace. You can browse patterns by name or photo. This site also features a blog, information on other crafts and recipes.
  • Knitting on the Net offers patterns for ponchos, sweaters, hats, purses, socks, scarves and afghans, as well as charts for more complicated projects and special sections for babies and kids. This is a clean, easy to navigate site with lots of pictures within the patterns.
  • Craftown has a good little collection of patterns, many of which have pictures. There are larger collections of patterns here for afghans and baby and toddler clothes, but there are also sweaters, towels, scarves and other projects.
  • Knitting-Crochet has “antique” patterns (some of them are merely old) as well as more modern patterns, organized by who they are for. Some of these patterns are really cute, while others should probably be left in the past. Still, it’s an interesting resource for those who want to see how far we’ve come.

Keeping track of your patterns

Every crafter probably has a different system for keeping track of all the patterns he or she has collected from different sources. What works for me is a three-ring binder full of page protectors. Every time I download and print a pattern, I stick it in a binder so I’ll be able to find it again when I’m ready to start that project.

I keep mine in simple paper folders that I purchased at a garage sale. Each folder has two sides, and I have a folder for hats, mittens, scarves etc., one just for socks, one for baby things, one for sweaters and ponchos and the like, one for holiday items. Makes it a lot easier to find something when I'm needing to knit it right then!

You could also just download the patterns to a file on your computer and only print them out when you are ready to use them. As you collect more patterns, you will find a way to keep track of them that works for you. They key is that you do something, even if it’s just stuffing them in a labeled box, so you will be able to find all those great patterns when you need them..

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Comments

I knit as a hobby!

-- Contributed by: Ruth Wambua

Dianne,

Unfortunately, that was a photo from our stock photography service. We don't have access to the pattern.

Dana Hinders

LoveToKnow Crafts Editor

-- Contributed by: Danahinders

would like the patten for the hat with the ears. the one that on your front page.

-- Contributed by: dianne
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