If you’re looking for a pick me up to pull you out of your winter malaise, one of these loud sweater knitting patterns might just be the answer! There’s a reason these sweaters have become so popular; we all need a little cheer. If you’ve never made anything like this before, it’s your chance to learn new skills like intarsia!
Free Loud Sweater Knitting Pattern
Knit. Sweater
Thanks to Pat Olski and Vogue Knitting, you can tell the world one of your favorite things to do…knit! It’s right there on the free Vogue Knitting Live! Knit.Sweater pattern. They rate this turtleneck as an easy pattern, although if you’ve never done intarsia it may be a challenge for you. Make it bright and chic by knitting it in Juniper Moon Farn Moonshine.
Paid Loud Sweater Knitting Patterns
Loud and Proud!
Make a statement with the Sally Melville Loud and Proud! Sweater. The symbol, an icon of the feminists of the 1970s, is still relevant today. And it’s also a great way to learn intarsia (and if you don’t want to learn intarsia, it can also be worked in double stitch)! ! It has options for both short sleeved and long sleeved versions. Melville offers the pattern in adult and child sizes, so you can get your toddler started on her activism right away. Zealana Tui would make this cozy and has some great contrasting colours.
Curiosity
Your humble writer squealed with delight when she saw the Curiosity sweater pattern by Claire Slade! If you love cats, or know someone who loves cats, this is a must-make. It is charted, so if you aren’t familiar with working charted intarsia, now is your chance to stretch yourself. The pattern comes in a wide range of sizing and has instructions for both short and long sleeves. You can make the cutest, snuggliest kitty ever if you use Alpachino Merino!
Dynomite
The Dynomite knitting pattern by Amy Gunderson is another squeal-worthy sweater. It has an actual dinosaur on it, because, as Gunderson writes, “why should kids get all the fun clothes?” (But if you don’t want to leave your kid out, there is also the Dynomini pattern.) The front and back pieces are knit flat from the bottom up, and then set-in sleeves are worked flat from the top down. It even includes a how-to video. The pattern covers sizes from XS to 5X, and the pattern is charted separately for each size so you can be assured it will look as good on you as it does on the model. And we think it would be dynamite in Urth Harvest Worsted!
In the Moo’d
The In the Moo’d cardigan pattern by Kara Eng is another sweater to get your serotonin flowing. It is a chunky, boxy cardigan with cow spots made using intarsia. It’s worked flat, with wide sleeves and straight panels. If you are looking for a first intarsia project, this might be the right one. Wool and the Gang’s Crazy Sexy Wool is one of the yarns Eng suggests for this pattern.
Head in the Clouds
If you wish that cardigan were a boxy sweater, with motifs that evoked clouds rather than cows, you’re in luck! Eng has designed the Head in the Clouds sweater, which has a similar vibe. Eng also recommends Crazy Sexy Wool for this one.
Wavy Daisy Sweater
No one will call you a wilting flower when you’re wearing the Wavy Daisy Sweater by Mia. This uses stranded colour work to make the waves and the flower. It is a boxy sweater with balloon sleeves, giving you all the room your heart desires. Mia designed this sweater with Crazy Sexy Wool in mind — maybe it’s the dynamic colour range that makes it so popular for all these loud sweaters!
#21 Star Sweater
Get a head start on your Matariki knitting for next year with the #21 Star Sweater by Sandi Prosser. This oversize sweater has three stars on the front and one on the back. It also has a crew neck and drop sleeves. This has a written pattern as well as a schematic for the intarsia stars. It will be cuddly and cozy in Zealana Kauri Worsted.
Mooncrush Tank
You may have seen us recommend Jaq Cieslak’s Mooncrush Tank knitting pattern before, but we still can’t resist this one. It’s got a bold pattern, a wide range of sizes, and uses intarsia AND icord edging. How much fun is that? It’s a tank you can wear in the summer and layer in the winter. There are options for both a cropped and a full length version, and for a two and three colour version. The pattern has tips for working intarsia and charts to help you do it. Urth 16 has a colour range that will support almost any colour blocking you can imagine!
Disclaimer: we have not tested all these patterns — but we sure wish we had the time to do so! We have read the pattern reviews carefully to help us select the best ones but cannot guarantee that each one is perfect. If you have an issue with any of these patterns please let us know.
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