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7 Reasons to Knit Seamed Sweaters

August 31, 2020 11 Comments

This post is brought to you by Knit Picks, which also provided yarn support. Post contains affiliate links. See site policies.

Sometimes it may seem like seamless sweaters are the only way to go, but let's take a look at 7 reasons to knit a seamed sweater - you might find yourself ready to mix up your making!

Last year, I spent a lot of time upping my sweater knitting game. My body was changing as a result of some health issues, and since I was in need of some garments that fit, this presented a great opportunity to not only polish my gauge game, but also to give several sweater construction techniques, using patterns from the 1930s to today.

Knittable in two weekends (really!), a short sleeved, worsted weight cardigan is a quick addition to a handmade wardrobe. Check out Heidi's modified take on the Myrna cardigan using Blue Sky Fibers' Woolstok yarn.
My Stripey Myrna Cardigan

On the sweaters I knit last year

After attending a vintage knitting workshop hosted by @squidneyknits in the spring of 2019, I was inspired to spend the rest of the year (of my personal making time, that is) working on my sweater knitting. In the end, I knit the Fernlace Pullover (1938) twice, the vintage-inspired Myrna Cardigan (2014), and I improvised a short-sleeve sweater for Halloween featuring an intarsia Jack O’Lantern design on the chest. For that one, I used a standard seamed sweater construction similar to the Fernlace Pullover (more on this improvised one in a minute).

Handmade beachwear is so much fun to make! Find tips for achieving a good fit when knitting from a vintage pattern, and take a look at a handmade, 1940s-inspired swim set.
My second Fernlace Pullover, last August.

Eager to see what sort of impact working from vintage knitting patterns for awhile, as well as the knitting retreat, had had on my knitting. I followed up this burst of sweaters by making two more many contemporary knitters who frequent local yarn shops will recognize: the Soldotna Crop & Find Your Fade. Arguably two of the most-knit patterns of the last few years, both feature the currently-common seamless (often top-down) construction. That is, they are knit from the neckline to the hemline, most often before picking up stitches to then knit the sleeves from armpit to cuff.

Read about one knitter's Christmas inspired take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by Caitlin Hunter, including tips for customizing for fit!
My Christmasy take on the Soldotna Crop Sweater

There’s more than one way to knit a sweater!

Yes, I am very impressive with my 2019 sweater making obsession and I definitely only listed the above to make you all know how good I am. Kidding! It’s just this:

A lot of folks would have you believe there is only one way to knit a sweater. Or perhaps they’ll imply there’s one “right” way to knit a sweater because it’s the newest or currently trendiest way of making a sweater in the mainstream knitting community. I don’t know how to break this to you, but a lot of folks are wrong. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Read about how this intarsia jack-o'-lantern sweater came to be, and the joy of making exactly what you want to make, just for you.
My improvised, seamed jack o’lantern sweater.

I once had a neighbor who, upon finding out my job involves knit design, she cornered me asking “why do all of my patterns have me making PARTS of sweaters? I want to knit a sweater, not SEW one.” I guess she missed the boat on contemporary seamless making trends, but that does present me with a great story to segue into my list of 7 reasons why you might want to knit seamed sweaters.

Sometimes it may seem like seamless sweaters are the only way to go, but let's take a look at 7 reasons to knit a seamed sweater - you might find yourself ready to mix up your making!

7 reasons to knit a seamed sweater:

  1. Seams = structure. Seamless sweaters can stretch out and warp badly at the shoulders over time, for instance. Shoulder seams and seams from joining sleeves and picking up a neckline give your sweaters internal structure, helping bear the weight of the garment.
  2. 3 words: free vintage patterns. There are literally hundreds of free vintage knitting patterns to choose from online featuring seamed construction. Free Vintage Knitting is one of my favorite sources for vintage knitting patterns.
  3. Intarsia colorwork is much easier to knit flat (vs. in the round), making it a dream to pair with seamed sweater knitting.
  4. Stripes are easier. You don’t have to worry about compensating for jogless stripes because you’re knitting flat.
  5. Repair is a cinch. If your sweater is showing signs of age, but you’d like to salvage it, you can simply re-seam it to compensate. This process is similar to taking in a roomy garment at the seams.
  6. Seamed garments tend to have a more professional, tailored look.
  7. Hot take: Seaming is fun! I’m sorry, I have always loved grafting my ends with kitchener stitch, and I am one of those knitters who delights in the feeling of magic at pulling closed a mattress stitch seam.

If I missed anything on this list, comment and let me know! I resisted seamed sweater knitting for far too long, and it’s officially my favorite way (of the moment at least! 😉 ) to knit a sweater.

What's up, 2020? Check out this brand new blog post about what Heidi has been up to on Hands Occupied hiatus, and plans for the rest of the year to come, including some surprises!
I didn’t do a blog post about it, but here’s my So Faded Pullover too!
Sometimes it may seem like seamless sweaters are the only way to go, but let's take a look at 7 reasons to knit a seamed sweater - you might find yourself ready to mix up your making!

This post is brought to you by Knit Picks, which also provided yarn support. Post contains affiliate links. See site policies.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: free knitting pattern, knitter, Knitting, seamed sweaters, sweater knitting, vintage sweaters

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. LisaBinco

    September 1, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    You forgot portability. One thing about seamless sweaters is you are caring around the whole sweater, pretty much. With seamed pieces, you are only carting around the left sleeve, say, or the back, at any given time. Great post!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      September 11, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      Oh man, you’re right! I also really like knitting short sleeved, seamed sweaters these days, so the portability is amazing. :) Thanks for the tip! -Heidi

      Reply
    • Michelle

      December 5, 2021 at 9:58 am

      My favourite reason is it always seems like a little bit of an accomplishment every time you complete one of the sections. I break the sweater mentally down into 4 or 5 smaller patterns and it makes it seem a little easier to take on. I’m an impatient knitter. Love this post it was a fun read.

      Reply
      • Heidi

        December 5, 2021 at 12:09 pm

        Aww, thanks Michelle! And I like the way you think – breaking the project down into 4 or 5 smaller patterns mentally helps you feel so much more accomplished too (and I’ll take that feeling all day every day!). 😊
        Heidi

        Reply
  2. Helen

    February 9, 2021 at 5:49 am

    I am currently knitting my first top down sweater and I can already see that it is NOT going to be as tailored looking as a seamed article. Plus, the other comments are so right: portability sucks.

    Reply
  3. Linda

    February 23, 2021 at 5:56 pm

    Ok you’ve convinced me to give it a try. Where can I learn about seaming techniques? I admit to avoiding knitting garments that need to be sewn together when finished. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      March 1, 2021 at 1:35 pm

      I’m currently making a series on seamed & vintage sweater knitting for YouTube for later this spring, but if you can’t hang tight for that, a general YouTube search of the phrase “seamed sweaters” is a great place to start! -Heidi

      Reply
  4. Diane Forster

    April 8, 2021 at 1:38 am

    As an Aussie, we’ve always made seamed items. I really don’t like the look of top down – they look a bit baggy to me.

    Reply
    • Lorraine

      October 30, 2021 at 1:51 am

      I used to hate sewing up after knitting so recently I decided to crochet the pieces together. If I make a mistake or it doesn’t sit right it is undone very easily and it feels like I’m still creating not sewing. I’m an Aussie too.

      Reply
  5. Anne Grant

    May 29, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    I am so happy with this post. I make all of my tops because I am a small person. I have started but never finished a seamless sweater. I have been making my own tops since the age of 5 and I am now 65. I am 4’11” and 97 pounds. I can never find a blouse that fits so make my own tops winter and summer. I use a DK pattern and use 2.75mm and 3.25mm needles most of the time. I found it so hard to make a sweater with no seam and I could tell it was not going to fit. I like all of the arguments given for putting seams in sweaters.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      July 15, 2021 at 11:48 am

      Thank you, Anne! :)

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Knitting & yarn crafts designer helping makers untangle various techniques with a blog & YouTube channel
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Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas Happy with how the mini Nightmare Before Christmas sweater vest turned out! Now my dog and I can go on walks in matching seasonal fits 😂
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1. I knit this bottom up with scraps and ran out of black yarn. If the vest consistently drifts down her chest upon wear, I might extend the collar or redo the chest panel at a smaller size. If you’ve read this far, what do you think? As a designer, I so rarely get to improvise a knitting project, and I’m having fun working with fewer rules than usual. 🧶
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2. June has a grooming appointment this weekend. She’s currently the mayor of scruff town, I know. 🫡
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Pattern: Chart is from the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern by yours truly in the official Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book 
Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #dogknit #knitsfordogs #handmade #brooklyntweed
I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral H I finished June’s doggie version of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest & it’s so cute! 🥰
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Do you think June appreciates the fact that she now has a sweater made with @brooklyntweed yarn? 😂 
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#handsoccupied #dogsweater #dogjumper #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #spiralhillsweatervest #spiralhillsweatervestkal #handmade #brooklyntweedimbue #brooklyntweed
Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater t Squeezing in some stitching on a selfish sweater this Saturday morning 😋
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Pattern: Fruit Stripe Pullover with some intarsia mods on the front panel 
Designed by Rachel Brockman for @universal_yarn 
Yarn: Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Dragon’s Breath & Antarctica 🧶
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#handsoccupied #knitting #weekendknitting #sweaterknitting #universalyarn #fibranaturacobblestone
As a yarn craft designer and former librarian, rev As a yarn craft designer and former librarian, review copies of craft books get sent my way from time to time. It's awesome, but I'm always looking for new, quick ways to share them with you. Today's experiment: a mini review of the new crochet book Hooked on Shakespeare: Crochet Projects Inspired by the Bard. A review copy was provided by the publisher. 
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Book: Hooked on Shakespeare by Gurinder Kaur Hatchard  @yay_for_crochet 
Publisher: @herbert.press / @bloomsburybooksus 
Number of projects: 15
Hardcover, 128 pages
Retail price $22/£14.99
Uses UK crochet terms, not US. My copy came with a conversion table (pictured).
Good for: literary enthusiasts, amigurumi crocheters
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Overall, this is a really cute book that would make a wonderful gift. Each of the 15 Shakespearean works covered features patterns for a few characters from the story. The styled photography is fantastic, with whimsical backgrounds highlighting each pattern. Includes some step-by-step instructions with photos and how to crochet tutorials at the back. I'm highly on board with the name of the last pattern in the book, "Wooliam Shakespeare". 👏🏻 
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If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I'm always trying to figure out the best way to share these new titles, and this is a first try at a new format. So if you have any feedback (if I should include more/less detail, more photos, video, etc.), please let me know. 
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#handsoccupied #bookreview #craftbook #craftbooks #crochet #crochetbook #crochetersofinstagram #crochetinspiration
New post & video tutorial are live! How to weave i New post & video tutorial are live! How to weave in intarsia ends, including avoiding holes at joins, how many ends to weave in one spot, when to use duplicate stitch, and more. Everything is on the bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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P.S. I feel like this video took forever to edit, so thanks for your patience as I worried too much over small details. 😜
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