Rockfall Hat… and Turned Brims Forever!
If you like strong geometric colourwork, you’ll love the Rockfall hat. It’s the bite-sized companion to the intensely satisfying Rockfall Sweater, but with the same bold motifs.
You can knit a whole family of these hats as gifts, or simply knit one or two to trial your yarn and colour combinations for a matching Rockfall sweater.
So Emily and Alexa… do you have some kind of odd obsession with turned brims?
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: Alexa and I LOVE to knit hats as gifts. But one thing we’ve discovered over a decade of knitting and designing is that head size and hair volume varies WILDLY. For instance, when my kid Max was two – I kid you not – he was wearing an adult SM hat. That kid has a big head (maybe a bit like his mum)!
So, what’s the answer to hat-sizing issues? How can you knit a hat to fit most anybody? Add a turned brim!
With a turned brim, it’s easy to adjust fit, whether you like your hats neatly rolled up, slouchy, or pulled right down over your eyebrows. We’re 100% convinced it’s worth the time it takes to knit that extra 2″ of ribbing.
Are you planning to give knitted gifts?
I am slowly developing a serious love of gift knitting, especially for my kiddos – and it’s not for the joy that my gifts may (or may not) bring them. It’s all about the JOY I feel as I knit them, and the joy I get from appreciating my kids’ beauty, heightened by the beauty of my knits. If you’re ramping up for some gift-knitting, the Rockfall hat is a great place to get started!
This hat is a FUN knit. In fact, for me, most colourwork hats are REALLY playful and satisfying to knit. Yes, it can be annoying to pull out ALL the yarns to choose your palette, but it’s totally worth it as you watch the colours combine and the pattern form right under your fingertips. Then before you know it, it’s off your needles and onto somebody’s head!
Other colourwork hats you might enjoy
If you’ve got a craving to knit more colourwork hats (either as gifts or for yourself!), check out all our cozy caps. Click your favourite to get the pattern!
~Em
Rockfall…Falling in Love with Colourwork All Over Again
It’s official: colourwork yokes are my go-to for COMFORT knitting. And as autumn begins, I’m reaching for a little cozy comfort – which led me right back to the Rockfall sweater I created a couple of years ago. This particular design is so delicious that I couldn’t stop knitting it! I knit one for John and then made a matching sweater for myself. I also knit one for my mum, and I couldn’t resist making a teeny-tiny one for a beloved friend’s first baby – and it was all pure pleasure through and through.
With so much goodness to go around, we couldn’t keep it to ourselves any longer; the Rockfall pattern is now available!
Loving the knitting and knitting the love
Love of family and friends is knit into each and every stitch of this striking yoke. Even when I’m feeling far, far away from family (4,400 miles to be precise), it brings me joy to think of my mum wearing a sweater that matches mine while she cycles or paddles – or chases along behind my nephews through the forest trails of my childhood. And I smile when I see John reach for his Rockfall sweater on a chilly (summer) afternoon here in Edinburgh!
Our theme this year is Knitting for Love, and I have to say Rockfall is the epitome of everything I love. It was a challenge to ‘get it just right’ when I first designed this yoke sweater for John, but I took so much joy from the process! Then there was the guilty pleasure of stealing John’s because it’s seriously the most COMFY thing ever. Then I thoroughly enjoyed the colourful process of selecting a second palette to make one for myself…because cheesy matching sweaters are a must (obviously)!
Once I finished knitting all my love into my mom’s sweater, Alexa said it was time we shared the pattern! That meant grading Rockfall across our inclusive size range – from baby to big – and knitting a couple more teeny-tiny versions too, of course.
A fun knit with loads of resources
So what are you waiting for?! If you’re new to yoke sweaters, Rockfall is an excellent introduction because it knits up relatively quickly in worsted or aran weight yarn. And if you’re at a loss for colour ideas, you can check out the dozens of palette ideas I put together.
Since we released our Strange Brew colourwork collection years ago, we’ve been busy developing a long list of tutorials to help you with colourwork and yoke sweaters. Here are just a few:
- How To Knit Stranded Colourwork (with videos!)
- Swatching colourwork
- Gauge in a yoke sweater: understanding where it matters
- Selecting yarns for colourwork
- Mixing and matching yarn types and weights in colourwork
- How to knit a pattern at a different gauge
- How to block a hand-knit sweater
I hope Rockfall brings you the same love and comfort it gave me – and I hope you’ll share your knits with us on your favourite social spot. Use #TinCanKnits or #RockfallSweater to connect with the TCK community!
~ Emily
How to Get Started Knitting Colourwork
Knitting colourwork (also known as stranded colourwork or Fair Isle knitting) may seem difficult, but it’s actually quite simple. When knitting colourwork patterns, you use two colours (sometimes more) in a single row or round. This looks tricky to the uninitiated; however, the pattern is formed using only knit stitches, so it’s not nearly as complicated as it looks! If you’ve been too intimidated to give colourwork a try, this tutorial will demystify the process and take you through it step by step.
The basics of colourwork knitting
- First, you knit a stitch (or several) in one colour – let’s call it the main colour (MC).
- Then you knit a stitch (or several) in another colour – let’s call it the contrast colour (CC).
Simply follow the colourwork chart, and the pattern appears! The mechanics are REALLY that simple, and if you know how to follow a chart, then you can stop reading, grab one of our free colourwork patterns (like the Anthology hat and cowl or the Clayoquot toque), and start knitting right now.
The rest is just details! But since you’re here – and maybe you’re in the mood – let’s talk about some of those details…
How do I read a colourwork chart?
Typically, stranded colourwork is knit in the round, rather than back and forth in rows. This is convenient because you’re always looking at the knit side of the work – and thus can ensure that the pattern is forming correctly. A colourwork chart is typically read right to left, starting from round 1 at the bottom of the chart and working your way up to the top, one round at a time.
As you work following the chart, the fabric grows to create the pattern shown, so you can look at the colourwork chart and make a fair guess at what the finished product will look like – they’re closely related.
But how do I hold two yarns when knitting colourwork?
Try the first timer’s easy-peasy method (just drop the yarns when changing colours)
For YEARS, well into her career as a pattern designer, Emily knit colourwork this way: Knit with the MC colour and then drop that strand. Pick up the CC strand, knit with it, and then drop it. Pick up the other strand and knit with it…and so forth. It’s not as slow as you might think (though it’s also not fast 🤣).
Try holding one yarn in each hand
I like to knit stranded colourwork holding one yarn in each hand. When knitting the MC with my right hand, I throw (English style), and when knitting the CC with my left hand, I pick (Continental style).
I’ve taught countless colourwork classes and literally NEVER had a student who couldn’t learn to do colourwork using this method – but they did find it difficult it at first (there’s always a bit of cursing). But after a couple of hours of practice, everybody manages to get the hang of it.
Other techniques for holding yarn when knitting colourwork
There are about as many ways to knit colourwork as there are ways to knit, so feel free to experiment and find the technique that works for you. There’s no wrong way to knit, and there’s no wrong way to knit colourwork. There’s only what you prefer.
And what’s this about floats and tension?
Floats
The yarn that’s not currently being used is drawn across the back of the work, and those strands are called ‘floats’. It’s important to draw this yarn LOOSELY across the back of the work. Otherwise, the fabric will be tight and compressed horizontally, which is NOT fun as you knit it – and it doesn’t look good when it’s done, either.
Tension
Because you have floats making a straight line across the back of the work, the fabric formed by stranded colourwork is much less stretchy than that formed with a regular knitted fabric. You’ll want to keep this in mind when choosing the right size if you’re knitting a sweater with a colourwork body (get more info on choosing a colourwork sweater size here). And before embarking on a sweater-sized project, it’s wise to do a swatch first. Check out our tutorial on swatching for colourwork here.
Trapping floats
You may have heard of trapping floats, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: Emily and I almost never trap our floats! Some folks will tell you to trap floats every 3, 5, 7, 10+ stitches, but we almost never do (mittens are the exception). If you do want to trap your floats, it’s as simple as twisting your two yarns together. If you hold your yarns in each hand, check out this video for a slightly fancier way of trapping:
That’s it? C’mon! I still have a million more questions…
How do I join a new yarn?
To join a new yarn, just leave a yarn tail and then get started with the new yarn from the beginning of the next round. You’ll weave in the ends later.
What about increases and decreases?
When there’s an increase or a decrease in a colourwork pattern (like in a colourwork round yoke), you’ll simply work it in the colour shown on the chart. You can work any increase or decrease stitch in the colour shown.
What is ‘yarn dominance’?
When you knit colourwork, the stitches sit a little differently than in regular stockinette. When you go from knitting one stitch in the MC to one in the CC, they don’t sit as perfectly as they might if they were done in the same colour. For some knitters, the difference is glaring, while others hardly notice it at all.
Is blocking different for colourwork pieces?
Blocking colourwork isn’t really different from any other kind of blocking, but it is CRITICAL! You’ll definitely want to block your colourwork piece after you complete it, and regular wet blocking works just fine. It’ll make the finished knit look a lot better because it will even out the stitches and help the yarn ‘bloom’.
How do I keep my yarns from getting all tangled up?
When you begin knitting stranded colourwork, you may find that your yarns get all tangled up around and around each other, which can be annoying, but this is simple to prevent. If you place the CC ball to the left of your body and the MC ball to the right of your body (and always keep them in those positions), they will not tangle. You will always draw the CC yarn (the one on your left) up from underneath the other colour, so it will create slightly longer ‘dominant’ stitches.
What about all the yarn tails?
Suck it up, buttercup – those yarn tails aren’t gonna weave in themselves! Or, you can be a lazy ass like me… I just tie them to the next colour, trim them fairly short, and then hope that, with plenty of time and wear, they’ll eventually felt themselves together into a nice, solid, woolly mess.
What kind of yarns should I use?
We’ve got an opinion (or three) on this topic! Check out our posts about:
- Choosing a yarn for colourwork
- Choosing a sweater yarn
- Combining different yarns in colourwork
- Stashing similar yarns
How do I choose colours for a colourwork project?
You sure you really wanna open that can of worms? Okay, excellent, so do I!
We’ve got a long list of posts that are all about picking palettes and combining colours. Here they are in order of relative usefulness (just my opinion!):
- Week of Colour: Strategies for Designing a Palette – picking a palette can be easier when you choose a strategy…
- Monochrome Monday – all about two-colour palettes.
- Tonal Tuesday – fun with OMBRÉ.
- Wacky Wednesday – colourwork with self-striping, handspun, and speckled yarns.
- Tricolour Thursday – what happens when you add in a third colour?
- Fair Isle Friday – blendy combinations.
- Applying Colour to Stranded Knitting Motifs – because there are MANY ways you can do it!
- Swatching Colourwork – we detail several methods for you.
- Collect Your Favourite Colour Combos – beg, borrow, and steal!
- Colour Theory for Knitters – key terms like saturation and contrast.
Ready, Set, Go!
While all this can seem like a lot of info, you won’t figure any of it out unless you get going. We recommend starting with a hat and only two colours – just dive in and enjoy the learning process! Once you’ve knit a project or two, you’ll be ready to tackle any colourful knit. Check out the pics below for a little inspiration and click your favourite to get the pattern!
~ Alexa
Mix and Match: Combining Yarn Weights and Types in Stranded Colourwork
Have you always wanted to knit stranded colourwork or Fair Isle projects, but felt like you had to buy the whole yarn shop before you could even begin? Not so! If you’re planning to try this kind of pattern, let me dispel the myth that you need to buy exactly what the designer used. It’s simply not true.
When knitting colourwork projects, it IS possible (and FUN) to choose from your stash of odds and ends and leftovers. You CAN mix different yarns and still get a lovely match! Here are my best tips for getting started…
1. Colourwork yarns don’t have to be the same weight
While it’s best to follow pattern instructions for the weight of the main colour (MC) yarn, the contrast colour (CC) yarns don’t have to match precisely. For example, for CCs in a DK weight project, you could use sport, DK, worsted, or aran-weight yarns successfully. You could also hold a sock yarn doubled or a lace-weight yarn tripled.
2. Colourwork yarns don’t have to be the same brand or type
You’re entitled to your doubts, but I encourage you to try it and see! When working colourwork projects, there’s no reason you can’t combine yarns that are fluffy, hairy, crunchy, or single-ply with plied and superwash yarns. Of course, each yarn will lend something of its own quality to the finished knit, but this can be an exciting benefit. We’ve written more about this in Choosing a Yarn for Your Colourwork Sweater and Swatching for Colourwork.
3. Colourwork yarns can be doubled
You can hold yarns doubled in colourwork to get a suitable weight. For example, if you have a lot of odds and ends in sock weight but want to knit a colourwork yoke sweater in worsted or aran weight, you can hold the sock-weight yarns doubled to get a similar weight. This opens up even more of your yarn stash to be used in your next colourwork project! If this interests you, read our posts on holding yarns doubled and creating marls.
In this Sunshine hat, Alexa used sock-weight yarns held double for some of the contrast colours.
More quick tips for combining yarns of different weights and types in stranded colourwork projects
- When using a CC yarn that’s a different weight than your MC, choose a yarn that’s a little bit thicker or thiner than the MC, but not TOO much thinner – or the pattern won’t show up well. I’d estimate that the CC yarn shouldn’t be more than one weight off your MC. Check out the Craft Yarn Council Standard Yarn Weight System for more info.
- If you want to use your sock-weight yarn as the CC in a DK, worsted, or aran-weight project, I’d suggest you hold it doubled, so it’s plump enough to hold up to the MC yarn.
- Hold the thinner of two yarns in the ‘dominant’ position – that is, allow it to be pulled up from underneath the other yarn when working the pattern.
Don’t just take my word for it
Combining yarns across weights and types in colourwork projects is one of my FAVOURITE ways to play in knitting, but YOU won’t know for sure until you try! You’re gonna have to get your yarn combination on the needles to know how it works, so go for it! Like everything else in life, you won’t know for sure until you know for sure. Even after a decade of designing knits, I still don’t know FOR SURE if a combination is going to work until I get it on the needles.
Get to it!
I hope these tips expand the possibilities you see in your yarn stash and give you the confidence you need to begin working some stranded colourwork projects using yarn you already have. There’s really no need to buy the whole yarn shop before you begin!
Perhaps you’re like me – an avid yarn collector who can’t bear to throw away the quarter or half skeins that pile up after projects are finished. If this is the case for you, I’d recommend getting started with some simple colourwork projects to use up those odd balls. We’ve got a few lovelies for you – just click a photo to get the pattern!
~ Emily
sunshine sweater 
sunshine hat
Whether you’re planning a Sunshine sweater or hat – or planning to use the hat as a swatch for the sweater – let’s take a look at how this playful colourwork design works! Understanding the nature of a colourwork pattern and analyzing its structure and relationships can help you modify the colour palette to suit your preferences and yarn stash. Grab your copy of the Sunshine sweater or Sunshine hat pattern, and let’s get started!
While the Sunshine sweater and hat can be worked using either a light or dark main colour (MC), we’ll analyze the dark MC palette in this tutorial. See how the pattern reads differently with a dark vs. light MC? This is just another way colourwork knitting is a playful joy!
Colourwork palette notes
In the Sunshine sweater and Sunshine hat patterns, we included something NEW: a palette notes section. Palette notes describe the relationships between the colours in the design. We hope this helps you select colours with a little more confidence. If the colour terms used here (like hue, contrast, and saturation) are unfamiliar to you, read Colour Theory for Knitters. Remember that MC means main colour, and CC means contrast colour.
Palette A notes (dark MC):
- MC (dark) and CC1 (light) are two shades of the same colour.
- CC2 (dark) and CC3 (light) are also two shades of the same colour.
- CC4 is darker than CC5; the saturation and contrast of the palette through the central 6/8 rounds should increase.
- CC6 should be a colour with strong contrast that really ‘pops’ against the other CCs.
Take a look at the hat in colour, as compared to black and white. When you view the photo (or the chart) in black and white, it becomes clear how the overall pattern is formed from primary columns with dotty columns between them, and how the CCs stack up light over light, and dark over dark, to create these columns.
How to choose a colour palette, step-by-step
Tip your box of yarn odds and ends out onto the floor. Grab the sport, DK, worsted, and even aran weight yarns, and get ready to have some fun! Sunshine is designed for DK weight yarn, so your MC should be DK weight; however, this project is great for combining yarn weights within the colourwork pattern. It works (trust me and try it!).
First, select your MC and then choose CC1, which will be a lighter shade in the same (or similar) hue as the MC.
Second, select CC2 and CC3. These should also be dark and light shades of the same or similar hue. I prefer a strong contrast between the MC/CC1 hue and the hue used for the CC2 and CC3 pair. In other words, make it interesting – don’t just use another two blues!
Third, select CC4 and CC5. In this case, I used a lighter and a darker colour, but I chose hues from different colour families. In the sweater palette, I used a vivid red as CC4 (darker) with vivid yellow as CC5 (lighter). The saturation and contrast of the colours in this section are increasing, as mentioned in the palette notes.
Fourth, select CC6. The key here is to choose a colour that really ‘pops’ and contrasts strongly with both CC4 and CC5. You can see in the palettes I designed that I used a new hue (a totally new colour family) that hadn’t been used in the palette so far.
Are you ready to get creative?
For me, the joyful thing about playing with colour in this way is that it makes me feel incredibly creative, even though I only have to make a few choices. I simply need to be willing to experiment, and a hat isn’t too much of a commitment, really. And I love it when I can adventure a little bit outside my ‘comfort zone’ to seek a combination that really pleases me.
Which is your favourite of these colour combinations – one of the hats or one of the sweaters? What colour combinations will you try? Let us know in the comments!
~ Emily
My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine,
you make me happy,
when skies are grey.You’ll never know dear,
~ 1930s Georgia, USA, authorship disputed
how much I love you,
please don’t take
my sunshine
away.
At Christmas last year, I was missing my family in Canada hard, and my urge to knit my love for them was greater than ever. So I decided to design a special new sweater pattern and knit it up for my nephews. This was a huge change for me. Unlike Alexa, I’ve never been much of a gift knitter. I thought it was ‘impractical’. (Hahaha that’s me – skipping right through life and almost always missing the point!)
Following my love of knitting
When developing this design, I got swallowed up by the creative urge. I went all in and enjoyed myself, letting the joy of knitting consume my energies for a few weeks. This year’s theme at Tin Can Knits is ‘For the Love of Knitting’, and I think that as I age and gain more experience as a designer, I become more comfortable chasing my ‘love’ – knitting the things that bring me the most joy, and hoping other knitters feel the same way.
Before I shipped the Sunshine sweater off to my nephew Sawyer, I photographed it on Max in a frosty winter wood. Now, I know this is how parenthood works, but Max is just so beautiful to me! Even in a crisp and cloudy wintery setting, seeing him in something I knit warmed my heart. When he was a baby, the lullaby I sang most often to him was ‘You Are My Sunshine’, and that’s part of why I named this design Sunshine – for the loved ones who make me happy when skies are grey.
But there are TOO MANY COLOURS! Be reasonable!
For my Sunshine sweater, I used the delicious Rainbow Heirloom Sweater in Evergreen as the main colour. For the yoke, I mined my stash of scraps and oddballs, and pulled out seven vibrant contrast colours. Seven colours, you say?! Yes…I know this will seem unreasonable to many knitters.
If you’re doubtful, give me a chance to convince you! Next week I’ll guide you in putting together a palette for this design, and you can make decisions step-by-step, rather than figuring it all out in advance. Cast on. Trust me. This sweater will add a little extra joy and sunshine to your knitting basket – I promise!
~ Emily
Why Do We Knit?
This year I’ve been feeling particularly…existential. I’ve been questioning all my habits and routines, my favourite (and least favourite) things, my ‘whys’ and ‘why nots’. With all this introspection, I’ve been looking a little differently at how I spend my time, and one of the questions I put to myself is: why do I knit? What brings me back time and again to this craft I hold so dear? This is the theme we’ll be exploring at Tin Can Knits throughout the coming year.
Savouring rhythmic joy
My personal love of knitting begins with the process. I love to see beautiful materials pass through my fingers stitch by stitch. I adore the feeling of accomplishment as a piece grows from a little cast-on to a full-grown sweater, created with nothing but my hands, some sticks, and some string. I love taking these simple things and turning them into something amazing.
As someone who brings her yarn bag everywhere, I use my knitting in many different ways. Sometimes it keeps my nervous hands busy while I wait at appointments or sit on the sidelines of my kids’ sports. Sometimes it’s ‘conversational’. I like to have something simple on the needles as I while away the evening with friends, just knitting round and round while chatting and laughing. There’s also the kind of knitting that lets my mind wander – stitches happening seemingly by themselves, while I take the time to ponder other things.
Knitting connections
Then there’s the joy of meeting other knitters – or even those who haven’t picked up the craft yet. Knitting in public is often a conversation starter. Some people are fascinated by the fact that I can knit without looking at the work, and they just have to ask about it. Others can’t wait to tell me about the amazing things their grandparents knit for them many years ago. In this way, knitting brings a little bit of connection.
Practicing possibility one stitch at a time
Knitting is a simple but repetitive process. Stitch by stitch, you build. But you’re not only building a knitted item – you’re also building your knitting skills. With each stitch, you get a little closer to that finished object, and you become a slightly better knitter. For me, this brings a bit of confidence that translates to other areas of my life. If I can build a sweater one stitch at a time, so many other things seem possible. Maybe I can hike that mountain, read that book, or bake that fancy cake!
Making beautiful, meaningful things
While I thoroughly enjoy the process of knitting, the finished product is also a source of great pride, happiness, and love. Knitting allows me to create something beautiful that contains a lot of meaning for me. I know about all the materials that went into it, the story of the project-planning, where I knit it, and all the trials and tribulations I encountered along the way. I know where the mistakes are and where I learned something new. I know that particular thing inside and out.
Gifting woolly love
One of my greatest joys is giving things I make to people I love. I like to think about the recipient as I plan my project, and I like to think I knit a little bit of love into each stitch. I take particular pride and joy in seeing my children clothed in my knits. They’re still young enough to proudly tell anyone who will listen that their Mum MADE their sweater for them. When they leave the house and venture out into the world, I know they are clad in a woolly little armour imbued with love. The same goes for any knits I gift. I hope the recipient remembers how much I care each time they put on their toque, scarf, or socks.
Why do you love knitting?
Now that I’ve waxed poetic about my own reasons for knitting, I put the question to you: why do you knit? Leave a comment and let us know your very favourite things about knitting. Emily and I would LOVE to hear from you!
~ Alexa
Sweater Construction: The Many Ways to Knit a Sweater
There are MANY ways to knit a sweater. Let’s learn about some of them!
Jump directly to:
- What IS garment ‘construction’ anyway?
- Knit in the round seamlessly or knit in pieces and seamed
- Which construction method is best?
- Bottom-up or top-down construction
- Raglan sweater construction
- Circular or round yoke sweater construction
- Drop shoulder and set-in sleeve construction
- Hybrid constructions
- Remember to take it one stitch at a time, folks!
What does ‘construction’ mean?
In the context of knitting, ‘construction’ means the way that an item is knit. It describes which pieces are knit first, whether they are knit in rows or rounds, and in which direction the finished knit grows. We always describe the construction of our designs, so you can visualize how the project will come together.
For example, most scarves are knit in rows, from end to end. Most hats are knit in the round, starting at the brim and eventually decreasing at the crown.
Sweaters are a bit more complex. A sweater is made of four ‘tubes’ that cover your torso, arms, and yoke or shoulder section. These tubes can be made and joined together in several different ways, that is, using several different construction methods. This tutorial provides a broad overview of common sweater construction methods.
On our website, we describe the construction method for each and every one of our designs! On any pattern page, click the View Pattern Details button and then navigate to the construction section. To see some examples, check out the free Flax sweater construction, the Lush cardigan construction, and the Vivid blanket construction.
Knit in the round (seamlessly) or knit in pieces and seamed
Garments can be separated into two broad categories:
- Garments knit in the round by working a series of tubes that are joined together with minimal seaming
- Garments knit flat (in rows) and seamed together after the pieces are complete
Depending on the garment shape you’re looking for, one or the other method might be better suited for your project. However, many shapes can be worked either way – by knitting seamlessly in the round OR by knitting flat pieces and seaming them together. Alexa and I like to knit and publish seamless knitting patterns because we find them simpler. Some knitters prefer to knit in pieces and seam; perhaps they prefer to work on straight needles or perhaps they like the firmness and structure that seams can add to a finished knit.
Is there one way to make a sweater that’s BETTER than the others?
There are a LOT of opinions out there, but let’s not get blue in the face arguing about whether the toilet paper should run off the top or the bottom of the roll, folks!
Whatever method brings you pleasure, whatever way you can manage, whatever construction results in a finished garment that works for you or your loved ones – that is the ‘best’ way for you…at least for now. If you’re like Alexa and me, you’re continually learning and experimenting to expand your knowledge of garment construction. The method that works best for you today may change tomorrow, as you continue to learn and to grow your skills. Our best advice? Try a couple different methods and see what YOU think!
Bottom-up and top-down construction
Direction is another aspect of garment construction. When a sweater is knit from the neckline downward to hems and cuffs, we say it’s knit top-down. When it’s knit from the hem and cuffs upward to the underarm and through the yoke, we say it’s knit bottom-up.
TOP-DOWN DIAGRAM
Working top-down is great because you can easily adjust the body and sleeve lengths after the fact – and it’s a bit easier to try it on as you go, which gives you a rough idea of how your sweater will fit.
BOTTOM-UP DIAGRAM
Working bottom-up is great because it’s very easy to adjust the neckline, which is worked last. The neckline is a very critical point in a sweater because it can make all the difference in how well the garment fits. (Read How to Get the Perfect Neckline for more tips!) I also love working bottom-up sleeves because they’re easy to take with me for knitting at the park or coffee shop!
To see photos and descriptions that cover each step of top-down construction, check out our free Flax Sweater tutorial. For all the details on bottom-up construction, read our in-depth tutorial, Let’s Knit a Bottom-Up Sweater.
Raglan
A garment with raglan shaping has seam lines (or shaping lines) separating the sleeves, front, and back parts of the garment through the yoke. These lines extend from the underarm up to the neckline finish.
A raglan can be worked either bottom-up (with decreases to shape the pieces) or top-down (with increases to shape the pieces). It can also be worked seamlessly (knit in the round) or in pieces and then seamed.
We’ve designed more than a few seamless raglan sweaters and cardigans over the years! Click your favorite to get the pattern.
Circular yoke
A circular yoke has a seamless ‘circle’ that expands (or decreases) to shape the yoke. This type of garment is usually worked seamlessly in the round, at least through the yoke section. If a circular yoke is worked from the top down, then the yoke is shaped with increases. Worked from the bottom up, it is shaped with decreases.
The Cartography sweater is a circular yoke knit from the top down, with increase rounds placed between charming little bands of colourwork.
The Compass sweater is also knit from the top down; however, instead of discrete rounds of increase between the pattern, the yoke is made with a wedge-shaped chart with increases within the pattern itself.
We love circular yokes so much that we designed an entire ebook full of them! PLUS, we created a recipe that guides you step-by-step in designing your own! Get a copy of Strange Brew and check out our in-depth tutorial on knitting a yoke sweater to get started on your own yoke design.
Set-in sleeve and drop-shoulder sweaters
Set-in sleeve and drop-shoulder constructions are quite similar. Drop-shoulder garments have little to no underarm shaping; the body is a box, and the sleeves are picked up and knit from openings on either side. Set-in sleeves have a little more shaping in the front and back body pieces, as well as in the sleeve cap itself.
It is possible to work set-in sleeves and drop-shoulder garments mostly seamlessly.
- Working from the bottom up, work the body tube in the round for a pullover, or work back and forth in long rows for a cardigan.
- From the underarm point to shoulders, work the pieces for fronts and backs in rows.
- Next, seam the shoulders to join back to front.
- Finally, pick up and knit around the armhole opening, and work the sleeves in the round from shoulder down to cuffs, finishing with neckline and/or button bands.
As you can see, this construction incorporates both bottom-up (for the body) AND top-down (for the sleeves) construction methods. You can try out this kind of construction by knitting the Bowline pullover, Playdate cardigan, Jones cardigan, and Peanut vest!
Set-in sleeves and drop-shoulder constructions can also be knit in pieces and seamed. Typically pieces would be worked bottom-up, though top-down is also possible. When seaming the garment, you will join fronts to back at the shoulders, seam sleeves to body pieces at shoulder, and then seam body sides and sleeve underarms, finishing with neckline and/or button bands.
The drop-shoulder style is a classic. Check out some of our designs that feature this construction and click a pic to get the pattern!
Hybrid constructions
There are a wide array of hybrid constructions – methods that combine and mash-up aspects of the typical construction types described above. Of course, we have explored a few!
The Lush and Caribou cardigans share an enjoyable mash-up of methods. You work the patterned yoke band first and then pick up along the edges, working upward to to neckline and downward through sleeves and body to the hem and cuffs.
Our Low Tide top is knit bodice pieces first and then the body is worked in a single piece from a pick-up line along the bottom of the bodice pieces, with shaping that creates a swingy silhouette.
One stitch at a time – you can do it!
Sweater knitting can feel a little daunting at times, but the truth of the matter is that your sweater will be made stitch by stitch, step by step. Just get started and continue one step at a time; you will (sooner or later) be enjoying your own hand-knit creation – or an entire sweater wardrobe! Still not convinced? Check out all our sweater knitting resources to learn more.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, sign up for email updates, so we can let you know when new tutorials and patterns are available! We send knitters a helpful and inspiring email once or twice a month (and it’s easy to unsubscribe if you discover they’re not for you).
~ Emily
Pocket Power! How to Add Pockets to Any Sweater You Like
Who doesn’t love a good pocket? We certainly do! It’s always nice to have a handy spot to keep your keys close on the go or to warm your hands on a chilly day – or to have the hand sanitizer within reach when you’re out and about with little ones who like to touch everything. If you’d like to add pockets to your favourite sweater, check out our tips below. We’ve described six different ways to create pockets for cardigans and pullovers – and you can add them as you go or after the fact!
Click a link to skip directly to the section that’s relevant to your needs:
- Bottom-up cardigan pockets
- Top-down cardigan pockets
- Bottom-up pullover pockets
- Top-down pullover pockets
- Knit-in afterthought pockets
- Applied patch pockets
Just follow the pattern – or add your own pockets
If you’re following a pattern that includes pocket instructions, you can simply follow the instructions, and this tutorial will help you visualize how the process works. If you’re adding pockets to a knitting pattern that doesn’t already include them, think about:
- Type: Will you add them on the outside (patch pockets) or inside?
- Size: How wide and deep will you make the pockets? To figure out how many stitches to cast on and how many rows to work, multiply your your stitch and row gauge by the desired dimensions. For example: If your gauge is 5 sts per inch and 6.5 rows per inch, you’ll cast on (or pick up) about 25 sts and work about 32 rows to make a 5″ square pocket (5″ x 5 sts/inch = 25, 5″ x 6.5 rows/inch = 32.5).
- Location: Where will the pocket will be located on the garment? Think both horizontally (approximately in the middle of each side front) and vertically (high enough above the hem so the pocket can sit inside without falling below it).
Bottom-up cardigan pockets
When you’re working a cardigan bottom-up in rows, you can follow these steps to add pockets into your garment as you work. This is the technique we use in the Clayoquot and Playdate cardigans. You can also use this method to add pockets to Antler and Boardwalk, too!
- Knit the pocket linings first. Leave the live stitches on waste yarn and set them aside.
- Work the body piece to the length where the top of pockets will be, and then mark your pocket locations (the same number of stitches as your pockets are wide).
- Work a few more rows, working in ribbing (or a different stitch pattern) at the pocket locations between the markers.
- Pocket opening bind-off row (RS): Work to pocket location, bind off stitches across the pocket opening, and then knit the remainder of the row (binding off any further pockets).
- Pocket joining row (WS): Work to pocket location (where you’ve got a gap of bound-off stitches) and then slip all of the held stitches from your pocket onto the left-hand needle tip, with the WS of the pocket facing you. Next, knit across the pocket stitches and knit to the end of the round (or to the second pocket placement).
- Once your sweater is complete, you can sew down the pocket linings.
Top-down cardigan pockets
If you’re knitting a cardigan top-down (in rows at the body), follow these steps to add pockets into your garment as you work. This technique will work for adding pockets to the Harvest (free pattern), Lush, and Caribou cardigans.
- Work cardigan to the point where you will place the top of the pockets.
- Place four markers, one at the beginning and end of where each pocket will go.
- Pocket opening row (RS): Work to marker, place pocket sts on waste yarn, and then cast on the same number of stitches. Work remainder of row, placing on hold and casting on for any additional pockets. We suggest casting those extra stitches to the right-hand needle using the backwards loop cast on or turning the work to use the knitted-on cast-on.
- Work pocket ribbing for a few rows at the pocket locations and then work the rest of the cardigan to the hem.
- Place the held pocket stitches back on your needles. Work pocket linings to the desired pocket depth then bind off.
- Sew down the pockets linings to the back of the work using a whip stitch.
Pockets in bottom-up or top-down pullovers
If you’re working a seamless pullover in rounds, you will follow nearly all the same steps as for a cardigan. The only difference is that as you are knitting in rounds, you will always have the right-side of the work facing you.
For a bottom-up pullover, bind off on the first round (across the pocket ribbing). On the second round, add in the pocket by slipping held stitches to the left-hand needle, with the right side of the pocket facing you.
For a top-down pullover, place pocket stitches on hold and and cast on in a single round. Continue in the round, as you would for the top-down cardigan pockets described above. In the same way as for the cardigan, the pocket linings are worked in rows to the desired depth later and sewn down to the back of the work.
This is the method we use in the Clayoquot cardigan because it is knit top-down in the round and steeked. It would work well on any steeked cardigan – or any pullover you want to add pockets to.
Knit-in, afterthought pockets
In any kind of garment (or accessory!), you can add pockets after the fact. Knit-in, afterthought pockets are one methods you can use to do this.
If you are planning ahead (rather than working in true ‘afterthought’ style), decide your pocket size and location ahead of time. When you arrive at the right point in your garment for the top-of-pocket opening, follow these steps:
- Drop working yarn and knit across the pocket stitches using waste yarn instead.
- Slip all the stitches worked in waste yarn back, one at a time, from the right hand needle to the left hand needle (working from the last to the first of the waste yarn sts). Leave 6″ yarn tails on both ends of the waste yarn part-row).
- Pick up working yarn once more and knit across the waste yarn stitches. Continue on to end of round (or any other pocket locations).
This places a strand of waste yarn in the work, which you can unpick later.
Expose the stitches on top and bottom of the pocket opening
If you planned ahead and placed a strand of waste yarn in the work, pick the piece of waste yarn out of the sweater (gently, one stitch at a time), which will leave you with two sets of live stitches. Pop them on one needle each (or a needle and a stitch holder).
If you’re working pockets that are genuinely an afterthought, locate the row and edge points for each pocket on the garment fabric itself (i.e., instead of having waste yarn in the work marking pocket placement). Pick the stitch that’s right in the middle of that section and snip one leg of the stitch. (I know…terrifying right?! I promise it’s okay!) Unpick to the left and right from the snip point, pulling the snipped strand out until the correct number of stitches are exposed on top and bottom of the pocket opening.
Work the pocket ribbing and lining, and then sew them in place
From the live stitches on the bottom side of the pocket opening, knit in rows (in ribbing or other stitch pattern) to the desired edging length and then bind off.
From the live stitches on the top side of the pocket opening, knit in rows (in stockinette or other stitch pattern) to the desired pocket lining depth and then bind off.
Sew down the edges of the pocket lining to the inside of the garment and the edges of the edging to the outside of the garment. Weave in any ends.
Applied Patch Pockets
If you’ve knit a sweater or cardigan and want to add pockets after the fact, you have a couple options. One nice, clean method is to mark the pocket locations with pins or locking stitch markers, pick up and work patch pockets in rows, and then bind off and sew the edges down. We use this option in the Gramps cardigan, and you can see all the details of the process in our Gramps Tutorial.
Another option is to knit the pockets separately and then sew them on. This means you can decide the precise location once you have completed the pockets; however, this approach may be bit untidy, depending on your seaming skills!
Time to add pockets!
If you love pockets, let us know! Flex your pocket power and then share your work with us on your favourite social spot using #TinCanKnits.
~ Emily and Alexa
Pocket friendly knits from TCK
Blankets and Love
Blankets are so much more than the sum of their parts. They are knit the same way as anything else – stitch by stitch – and yet they seem to possess a sort of magical quality once finished.
For grown ups, they are both practical (thrown over the shoulders on a chilly evening) and precious (a handmade symbol of love and care). For children, they can be anything – a cape, a fort, or something to snuggle under at nap time. And for grown kids heading out into the world, they can be a comforting reminder of someone back home who loves them.
Whether you knit a blankie for yourself or someone else, it always represents a little love and caring. We often keep this concept in mind as we design new blankets. Vivid came from Emily’s changing ideas about parenthood long before Max was born. Bonfire was created out of a desire for something big and cozy to keep loved ones warm in the outdoors. Fly Away represents that inevitable, bittersweet moment when children leave us to fly off and soar on their own. And our most recent blanket pattern, Lullaby, was designed to use up every drop of a cherished yarn, like Emily’s own handspun. No matter what inspires the knit, blankets are always a sweet adventure.
The scrapper
There are many ways to knit a blanket, but one of my favourites is by scraps. I love seeing knitters reminisce about projects past as they knit their leftovers into something new. One square might represent the remnants of a comfy, old sweater, another a cherished baby bonnet, and yet another newborn’s first blanket. It reminds me of a quilt my Mum once made, using all the little leftovers in her bin. She would take out each piece of fabric and tell the story of its original purpose. Sometimes it was about how wrong the project went, and sometimes it was about the person she made the item for – but each piece seemed to have a story of its own.
The handspun
Emily recently took up spinning with a passion. Taking an inspirational fibre through the process of spinning and creating yarn, and on to a beautiful blanket, has been a happy journey to watch indeed. Emily created our newest blanket pattern, Lullaby, from her desire to showcase and use up every last drop of some precious handspun yarn.
The simple
Sometimes all you want is a little simplicity, like one of my first designs, the ever simple Waffles blanket. It’s an easy journey of just knits and purls, creating a delightful texture along the way. For me, it’s reminiscent of a Sunday morning breakfast at my house, with everyone savouring a delicious, unfussy meal and the lazy bliss of nowhere to be. We also have the Malt blanket as part of our Simple Collection. Like Waffles, it’s just knits and purls, making it a great first project for knitting newbies.
The process
If you’re ready to cast on a blanket of your own, I encourage you to embrace the journey! Blankets are a big project but not necessarily a complicated one. Enjoy the process, stitch by stitch, and knit a little bit of love into each one.
~ Alexa
