Another round of toast?

We’d been getting requests for months, or possibly even years, before I finally caved and did a round-up – about this time last year I think – of sweater patterns on Ravelry that would make reasonably good matches for Toast’s ready-to-wear knitwear collection. Why the resistance? Well it’s complicated. Picking out patterns that are a match for sweaters we can find in shops read-made by machines, has a whiff of wrong about it. But read what I had to say about this last time online here and, you’ll see how I worked my way through all that. Whatever the case, the hand knit suggestions in our first round of Sweaters on Toast are still as great as ever they were, and the response from knitters suggests that a toast rack of knitting patterns can be surprisingly moreish.

So here you go.. We may not have the mid-century modernist architectural room scenes or moody mediterranean evening sunlight. But if you follow our cue on the raglans, a-line shapes and curly edge hems front, you may just get a hint of the wild thyme coming in the early evening sea breeze as you cast these on..

Toast’s Eden Wool Cashmere Raglan

Le Knit Darcy Cardigan

Finding a match for the Eden Raglan wasn’t as easy as I’d expected. Yes it’s a plain round neck raglan but it’s all about the fit and construction, and we’re pretty confident we’ve found the one here in Le Knit’s Darcy.

It wants a proper DK, so choose from Laxton’s Sheepsoft, WYS Bluefaced Leicester DK or the WYS Pure.

Toast’s Wave Stripe Knitted Top

Elymus by Clare Lakewood

CL has played cleverly with light and texture by using mohair for one stripe and 4ply for the other, and then works them together on the rib to firm up the edges. Make it Toastier by narrowing your stripes and introducing another shade or two.

It would be completely delightful worked in BG Babyalpaka or Edelweiss with a strand of Gepard Kid Seta for the contrasting fluff.

Toast’s Geo Wool Cotton Gansey

Scilly Gansey Sweater by The Raw Wool Co

I could have quite happily carried on searching for Guernsey patterns all day, but decided to stop at this one on account of the enchanting Wooldreamers Breeds version made recently by a much-loved Sweater Clubber. It’s not often that a sweater has a whole room full of knitters swooning, but the exquisite knit purl patterning and proper guernsey detailing captivated us all.

Any of our sportweights will work but if you’re a traditionalist, it has to be the Frangipani Guernsey 5ply.

Toast’s Easy Sweater

Space Time 18 by Heidi Kirrmaier

We’re feeling p r e t t y pleased with how we’ve managed the brief here. HK’s Spacetime 18 has the circular yoke, the rolled edge and that slight hint of a turtleneck. The main deviation is in the absence of raglans on her yoke shaping, but you know what? I’m fine with that – even tempted to say that HK’s has the edge. It’s a great sweater, plus it’s a worsted gauge so perfect with any of our favourites: Gilliatt, Mota, Dlana, Rauwerk, Soft Donegal.

Toast’s Donegal Easy Tank

UraUe Plain by Natsuko Lida

So Natsuko hasn’t added any pockets on her one but we know that you know you can add those if you want to. And if you don’t, we can help you with that. For the rest we reckon she’s got the shaping and the fit bang on. For that tweedy look, choose Soft Donegal. Or for heathered and plain options any of our Worsteds would be lovely.

Toast’s Stripe Alpaca Crew Neck

Piilo by Jonna Helin

The hand knitters were definitely ahead here as JH’s Piilo has been around since 2021, and looking great on everyone (and there have been many!) that we’ve seen through making it. Toast it up by leaving out the ribbed edges and finishing with a stocking stitch (rolled) edge on the body and cuffs instead.

It’s a DK, so take your pick. Any would be lovely.

Toast’s Graphic Yoke Sweater

Evergrey by Saskie and Co

There’s no shortage of great stranded colourwork circular yoked sweaters to choose from on Ravelry, but finding the best match for this Toast beauty took a while. I think we’re there with the high neck of the Evergrey, but you may want to either loosen or leave out that corrugated element in the rib on the neck cuffs and bottom to get that more a-line-ish Toasty look.

Weichien uses a DK. And because it’s colourwork I think you want something reasonably sticky – RP Vovo or Laxton’s Sheepsoft would both be perfect.

Toast’s V Neck Marled Tank

Burgos Vest by Rosa Pomar

There were very many great reasons to shout about the RP’s Burgos Vest long before Toast’s tank slipped into our rack (the fit, the construction and the play with fibre for starters), but now with this Toasty likeness we’re more than happy to shout about it again. Leave it as it is, or use the picked up button band to easily do the toasted two-tone thing.

The pattern recommends João held together with mohair, but if you’re more of a no-hair knitter, just choose a single strand of a Worsted instead.

Toast’s Kaia V Neck Cardigan

Puro Cardigan by Rui Yamamuro

There are plain V necks and there are really well concieved plain V necks. Obviously the Toast designers know their oats on that score, but with this one, RY shows us that hand knitting can totally nail it as well. From the set in sleeves at the front to the raglans at the back, oh and that contiguous button band too!, the fit, details, construction and shape really are faultless.

It’s a wearable chunky so would be super in the Dererum Natura Cyrano, Gepard Puno (for a fun rhyming project), or for a fuzzier finish the WYS Re:Treat or Manchelopis would be perfect.