Inspiration
Pattern Party Begins! Today: Pullovers
Hello knitting fans and friends,
Welcome to Pattern Party! In recent years, we’ve spent some time in March celebrating the great independently designed knitting patterns of the previous year. This year is no exception. The celebration is on, with a change in format that eliminates the competition aspect. Every one of these patterns is a winner, and we’re thrilled to be able to share them with you.
When we put out the call for nominations of the patterns you loved the most in 2020, you really came through! We sorted through hundreds of nominations. Some patterns and designers were completely new to us, while others were firm fan favorites. All of them knocked us out with their beauty, style, and sense of knitterly adventure.
2020 wasn’t a good year for many things, but it was a great year for independently designed patterns for hand knitters. We are so grateful to the knitwear designers who kept on keeping on through a tough year, brightening our knitting queues and giving knitters a joyful place to focus our attention and rest our minds. Your work was a much-needed escape from the stress of the world, a beacon of positivity, a blast of fresh air.
The nominated patterns sorted themselves into the categories most beloved by knitters. Each day this week, we’ll present a category. Today, we start with Pullovers, which were by far the most-nominated type of knitwear.
Here’s our schedule for the rest of the week (and yes, we like alliteration).
Tuesday (tomorrow): Head, Hands, and Home.
Wednesday: Cardigans and Cowls.
Thursday: Socks, Scarves, and Shawls.
And on Friday we will blushingly share the 2020 MDK Field Guide patterns that knitters kindly nominated.
Our Mission
The goal of Pattern Party is to support and sustain knitwear designers who are supporting and sustaining knitters. You can help make that happen by queuing, favoriting, sharing, and knitting these designs, and especially by purchasing your favorites if you are able. It’s a great way to show the love.
Patterns are presented in alphabetical order by designer’s name.
Note on links. Links are in red/orange type. The name of the pattern links to Ravelry.com. The name of the designer links to their website or Instagram account.
Sydvester by ANKESTRiCK
A simple slip-stitch pattern that gives elegant all-over texture and pattern to this cushy sweatshirt upgrade.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Léttlopi with Felted Tweed or Dyed in the Wool
Portolan Pullover by Julia Farwell-Clay
A yoke with optic pop, even when knitted in natural colors of wool.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk, Nua Sport, or Felted Tweed
Bregne Sweater by Fiber Tales
A museum-quality herringbone pattern at the neck and shoulders elevates this workaday pullover.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Léttlopi, Superwash Worsted, or Hektos
Snowy Forest by Midori Hirose
Distinctive sculptural cables and wrapped stitches, plus a gorgeous neck and sleeves and an easy-going shape.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Léttlopi or Hektos
Hvila Sweater by Frida Franckie
An enlarged botanical motif in a placement that looks fresh as can be, with a two-level, corrugated rib hem.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Léttlopi or Mohonk
Graphic Elements by Tamy Gore
Snappy graphic colorwork with great movement and style.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk, Nua Sport, or Felted Tweed
High Lonesome by Caitlin Hunter
A classic yoke pullover that was made for twinning.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk with Dyed in the Wool
Nightbook by Rachel Illsley
Is it just us or is this the coolest 1960s-inspired ski sweater ever?
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk Light, Nomade, Rustic Fingering, or 80/20 Sock
Mixage by Jimenez Joseph
Dramatic diagonals on sleeve and body, plus the knitterly delight of horizontal braids.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Hektos
Slice by Lone Kjeldsen
Knit from the cuff toward the center, for garter-stitch squish with innovative visible joinery.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Léttlopi
Tin Roof by Bernice Lim
A lightweight tee that makes clever use of single skeins or leftovers, and looks equally great in a solid color.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk Light, Nomade, Rustic Fingering, or 80/20 Sock
Cavo Jumper by Irene Lin
Lush cables with stylish braid details, a retro boat neck, and two sleeve shape options.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Hektos
Florarium by Teti Lutsak
A stylized floral yoke and a slight A-line shape make for a fancy daily sweater.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Léttlopi
Wanderlight by Tif Neilan
An everyday tee with seamless construction and refined herringbone sleeves and neck finishes.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Nomade, 80/20 Sock, Helix (doubled), or Gleem Lace (doubled)
Hana by Junko Okamoto
The pieced front and back give this cabled cocoon the romantic air of a patchwork relic.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Léttlopi
Foxthoughts by Hiroko Payne
Art nouveau colorwork that shimmers and glows and makes you glad you’re a knitter.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Helix
kareno by eri shimizu
Sinuous all-over cables and neat finishes at hem, cuffs, and neck.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop Léttlopi
Caledonia by Sylvia Watts-Cherry
Texture that’s tweedy and traditional and a loose cropped shape.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Mohonk, Nua Sport, or Felted Tweed
Kuffel by Alexis Winslow
The graphic pop of simple two-color stranding.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Hektos
Forest Vibes Sweater by Masha Zyablikova
Subtle and sumptuous with gorgeous details.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop Léttlopi or Hektos
I thought I had kept up with new patterns during the last year!
Almost all these are new to me. I do see echoes of other patterns, just like at any fashion show. Thank you for expanding my to do list
Feeling so inspired! I love the new non-competitive aspect this year. Well done.
Some here that I’m aware of and some that are new to me and lovely. I am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the rest of the week. You two rock.
Wowie! What a wonderful job you’ve done in gathering this delightful group. All I’ve been busy with this year are dishcloths and granny square blankets… time to up my game.
Ty Ann and Kay, I love this format
Wow. While I spent 2020 plodding my knitting through dishrags, these creators have made transcendental-like leaps into the great knitting beyond! I’m totally intrigued!
Loved seeing all the new designs, but I miss the March Madness brackets this year. Just curious why it didn’t happen…??
Me too! These are beautiful but March Madness really gave me something to look forward as the winter doldrums set in.
I agree! While this is a lovely collection, it was always fun to look forward to the next bracket and have a vote. I thought it was good fun and exposed me to so many new designers.
I miss it too. I never thought that the March Madness-inspired bracket was mean-spirited. I voted for my favorites, but would draw from the whole bracket all year long for inspiration. It was fun to jump on the blog and see the results.
Agreed.
I’m with that! I loved the playfulness and thrill of engaging, waiting , celebrating!
Wonderful inspiration! Thanks!
So many lovely designs and very talented designers! I look forward to trying out a few! I was excited to get up this morning to vote on the brackets but I am sure you had a reason not to do it this year.
Kudos to all the creative designers whose work was shared with the MDK friends.
So many beautiful designs! Thank you for bringing them to us.
I am seeing in the news about flooding in Nashville today. I am thinking of you and yours, Ann, and hoping you are all safe and dry.
lovely sweaters, but the RAvelry link doesn’t connect
What a great collection of pullovers! And, I am very happy to see the shift to a focus on the knitwear rather than on a contest. Although I participated in the voting, it made me uncomfortable—-felt way too much like a popularity contest in which « popular » designers had an edge. Bravo to change!
Completely agree as well. Thanks for all these wonderful highlights.
I totally agree!
Okay…my list of “I need to cast this sweater on now…..” has just exploded! Gorgeous sweaters and my SLICE made the list whooohooooo!!!…..Love that sweater so much I need to make another one…and that has never happened before.
OH NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE???
You have made it impossible to keep to my promise to reduce my stash. These are stunning designs – I MUST HAVE at least 5 of them!!
Lovely patterns! I’d love to see patterns in the future fir “large” women
At least 3 of the patterns I was interested in go up to 68″ bust. I know the models aren’t large, but you might click through on the patterns you like and see if they have a size that would work for you.
So nice to be able to scroll through all the designs rather than having to click on each separately to view. Love the new format!
What a great group of patterns – some of my favorites and several new ones too. And even better, some new music to enjoy – thanks for the introduction to Ludovico Einaudi – such beautiful music.
That is so lovely to hear!
Thanks for choosing such a great group of pullovers.
Please have an alternative way to purchase these lovely designs. For me, ravelry is no longer an option.
Please, to all you designers and publishers out there, make the models in colors light enough to see the pattern. While I’m sure that a piece worked in darker yarn is gorgeous in person, if I can’t easily see what is going on in the photo I will pass it by.
Excellent point and totally agree. Sometimes the dark yarn and sometimes the styling and photography require the knitter to guess at the details, in which case I usually just pass…
Totally agree! A certain pattern I was enamored with was in a very dark color and I couldn’t see it well enough to find the herringbone stitch to determine whether or not I am skilled enough to tackle it.
Was it in the area above the armhole split or was it part of the decorative stripe or both? If the latter, I’d probably try it because I know I’d get enough practice to master the skill, but once or twice would leave me with a twisted mess that my LYS “fixer” would give me the evil eye over until I did something else equally adventurous.
Here, here.
I am gobsmacked….where to start…..
How do you vote this year?
No voting this year, just enjoyment of the patterns.
Oh, I am a bit (so) disappointed that there is no voting this year, it was so much fun!! It also made look at the patterns over and over, discover new details, and fall in love with a pattern that didn’t call my attention at the beginning.
Please, please, reinstate voting next year!!
Why’d you have to do this to me, MDK? Now I’ve got to knit half of these! I LOVE the modern, geometric ones. What a great lineup.
I really like to vote, but I don’t know how
I feel like all I did last year was look at sweater patterns on ravelry, and yet you guys still managed to showcase so many beautiful ones that I had never seen!
Overwhelmed.
Thank you! I just spent the most enjoyable hour looking at these patterns. Wow, impressive.
This is such a lovely and inspiring collection of gorgeously designed pullovers! I can see a few that I would be able to make as an intermediate knitter! Thank you makers!
Oh, so many beautiful pullovers!! I’m going to have to start knitting faster! Thank you for sharing these beauties.
I must have missed the submission period. I would add Donguri by Sachiko Burgin. I will figure out how to upload my version. It came out picture perfect.
It’s beautiful pattern, but released in 2017
These patterns are AMAZING! My jaw dropped. When I catch up, I’ll have a ‘make this’ list a mile long. Thanks for providing me with tons of great patterns for the time when we can all go freely forth into the world.
These are so inspiring! Why oh why are there only 24 hours in a day?
Great selections, as always! Love to see all of the Lopi possibilities.
Yesssssssssssssss
I’ve been waiting, waiting, salivating, for the pattern party.
Thank you for curating this festival.
Oh what fun! New patterns and new designers – spring cleaning will have to wait.
After 40 years I finally took up my needlework again during this terrible year. Finding these wonderful patterns and yarns was such a joy. Thank you.
Kuffel! A new word to rhyme with kerfluffle.
Wow…is all I can say to all great patterns shown here!
Have my yarn ready for Wanderlight – I found Tif’s patterns while checking out the Yarn Database. I feel like I’m in the know because a pattern I have in my queue is on your list!
I am disappointed that Ravelry is the primary vehicle for sharing these patterns. I am no longer able to use Ravelry and this is just one more time that I feel that I am being left behind by this community. I have always participated and loved March Mayhem, and am an avid follower of Modern Daily Knitting. However, as individuals with significant influence in the crafting community, I believe that it is imperative for you to advocate for those of us who are being left behind.
Hi Mandy,
In case you missed the notes up top, each designer name links to their website or IG so that readers can access their patterns via the designer’s own platform or direction.
Thank you for the clarification. I had read through the top but did miss that point. I am extra sensitive about this issue right now, and should have been more cautious prior to commenting. I apologize.
Many lovely patterns, but without voting, not the incentive to really look at them and pick favorites and not the fun or sadness that your picks are still in the game. Voting helped me narrow my preferences, sometimes because they continued to be included, sometimes because I totally liked something others did not see the same beauty in. I’m sure it’s a thing on the back end to count all those votes but I’m for re-enstating voting in 2022.
I see it opposite to you. I don’t really care how others vote on something. If I like it, I like it. I don’t feel voting adds anything, other than perhaps some fun for the voters—and perhaps a kind of frustration for those pattern designers who don’t “win”? Why do we need competition in knitting? Let’s just enjoy a wonderful selection of new patterns. I’m happy to use Ravelry but also am happy to know you provide alternative options. Great all around. 🙂
Wow!!! There are some truly stunning pieces in this mix! I’m not a fan of pullover for myself, but as gifts, these have great potential. For a few of the patterns I find to be irresistible, I would make them tunic-length for myself. Great selection and impressive, as usual.