Sweaters plain and simple - Wild and Woolly

Don’t say boring. Do say blank canvas.

As the year stretches ahead of us with plenty of cold weather promise, the what-to-knit-next question seems more open endedly tormenting than ever. I have watched my knitter compass swing so wildly left and right of its polar north, that I’ve decided to reach for a safety rail that I already have good reason to trust – the plain and simple sweater. Yes I know that understated may not tickle your fancy stitch itch, or float your 9 shades colourwork boat, but on the other hand, it might be just the thing to get you back into the groove after the hectic-ness of all those gift knitting deadlines.

These are the sweaters where construction, shape and fit reign supreme. The rest is up to you..

Back Yoke Sweater by Noriko Ichikawa

This eagerly anticipated latest release has all the care we’ve come to expect from Noriko with shape and fit – only this time with that inexplicably pleasing back yoke seam.

Knit at a DK gauge with sportweight yarn means it will be wearably light, without taking forever to finish.

Use the Ulysse as she suggests, or substitute with the almost identcal Wool Dreamers Cautiva. Or for a slightly firmer knit choose from DK faves like WYS BFL or Laxtons Sheepsoft.

Joane by Rosa Pomar

This sweater walked into the shop last week on the shoulders of a much-loved much-missed formerly local knitter, and was nearly (but not quite) as exciting to see the sweater as its knitter. Comfy – almost slouchy – without being at all shapeless. It has the immediate appeal of a really great fit that not even an irrational dislike of V necks (I hear you – really I do!) can put off.

Designed by Rosa Pomar for two strands of João or a single strand of Zagal (which basically is the the same thing), this one suits a lofty softy. Other yarns which would sub nicely are the slightly fluffier WYS Re:Treat, the much fluffier Gepard Puno, or the smoother DN Cyrano

Amelie by Witre Design

It’s a small detail but it makes all the difference. Those bands at the side keep this charming sweater from slipping into cape-tabard territory. Adventurous knitters can follow Witre’s lead by working the whole thing seamlessly and steeking the sides. For the more cautious amongst you, there are alternative instructions to knit each side flat and work them separately.

Go light, fluffy and floaty as Witre has with two strands of Gepard Kit Seta, or a single strand of Fo nty Saperlipopette..

Simply Me Blouse by Norgard Knitters

It was a bold move to mix the moussiness of garter stitch with the blousiness of a top with a tuck, but the Norgard knitters have totally nailed it. Knit nerds will be pleased to know it also includes an ingenious all-knit seamless garter technique and the pleat construction is pure gold.

Yarn wise, I would stick with a solid DK that has some grip – WYS BFL , WYS Pure, RP Vovó or Laxtons Sheepsoft.

Typewriter by Jared Flood

This cuddly cocoon of a sweater takes us slightly off the blank canvas path but not by much so I’m allowing it. Simple enough not to disrupt the calm, the knit purl texture has the nostalgic rhythm of a typewriter. And JF’s attention to shape and form means the fit of those sloping shoulders is bang-on.

It’s a 14 stitch chunky gauge so take your pick from WYS Re:Treat, Zagal, or DN Cyrano.

Dropp by Ailbíona McLochlainn

On the one hand it’s a slightly oversized drop shouldered sweater. On the other, it’s got those perfectly formed chevron seams running down the shoulders, and a contiguous construction for the sleeves which means there’ll be no stitch picking-up on Ailbíona’s watch. This is classic Ailbiona with multiple options for the neckline (but oh, the hood!). Basically, just what a beautifully thought through sweater.

It’s aran, so plenty of options, but its shape and form make the WYS brushed alpaca Fable my first choice.

Fitton’s Dynamo by Kate Davies

Fitted in a loose kind of a way, this is another garter stitch breeze of a top that works as a kind of tank-plus to layer over something else, or it can be a sort of sweater t-shirt for the centrally heated way we live now. It’s a suits-everyone, wear-all-the-time kind of thing and the worsted gauge makes it a knit-it-in-what-you-like sweater. Choose from Gilliatt, Mota, Dlana, Rios or Donegal. Any would work a treat.

Stella by Jared Flood

So you want a good fit, a nice shape, thoughtful finishing and you want to knit it now and have it finished next week?

I reckon you’ve got it all with Stella. JD’s uncompromising care of the details is all in place with this sweater-slipover mashup. And by doing it at a 12 stitch bulky gauge, I reckon you can make it in week.

The gauge says it’s going to have to be the Malabrigo Chunky but lucky for you we’ve just had a new delivery so there’s loads to choose from.

Cherry by Midori Hirose

Midori’s radical approach to gauge means her patterns work all the year round which is why you may remember seeing this one here before – just in a totally different summer-time super-fine mohair version. From the structure of the bizaarely simple extra step with the neck, to that super-pleasing sleeve shape, there’s something about this sweater which works on everyone who wears it. Pictured here in Gilliatt, it would work just as well in any of your other favourite worsteds.