Free Stranded Colourwork Knitting Patterns

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Here is a roundup of some beautiful free stranded colourwork knitting patterns. Lots of these are in my own queue! I’ve collected some beautiful patterns for hats, cardigans, sweaters, and scarves/cowls. Of course, you can always browse the massive archive of free patterns on Ravelry to find more free patterns. Many of these patterns are by established designers, so they shouldn’t have errors and should be well written. However, I have not tested them, so always check for errata to prevent future headaches! Trying out a designer’s free pattern is a good way to get to know how the designer writes, so if you like his or her instructions and methods, you might feel more comfortable purchasing another pattern of theirs.

In no particular order:

Pine Bough Cowl by Dianna Walla

The pattern for the Pine Bough Cowl is available on Ravelry. It uses about 1000 m of worsted weight yarn in two colours. This is one of the first patterns I favourited when I first joined Ravelry, and now it’s in my own queue! If you’re a fan of Dianna Walla, check out the free Laurus Hat pattern too.

Ellen Cardigan by Amy Christoffers

The Ellen Cardigan pattern is available on Ravelry. This pattern, published by Berroco, uses worsted weight yarn. This is another project that is in my own queue.

Algae Hat by Marie Amelie Designs

Once again, this stranded colourwork pattern is available on Ravelry. The Algae Hat uses two colours of fingering weight yarn. It is available in English and French. I love the combination of yellow and white for colourwork, as well as a fold up brim to keep my ears warm!

Salt Spring Toque by Sachiko Burgin

The Salt Spring Toque is by a fellow half-Japanese Torontonian. The pattern uses three colours of aran weight yarn, specifically Istex Lettlopi. It is available on Ravelry. When Tomiko and I visited Iceland this summer, we came home with a suitcase full of yarn!

Delft Cardigan by Rachel Sogaard

The Delft Cardigan, by Rachel Sogaard for Filcolana, uses two colours of fingering weight yarn. This is in my queue, and I would love to use Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift yarn. Many of the projects on Ravelry use beautiful colours, and I think a pale grey and cedar green would look lovely.

Templetop Cowl by Amy Gunderson

The Templetop Cowl is a gorgeous two-colour cowl for Universal Yarns. Using DK yarn, this cowl doesn’t have long floats, which will make it easy to knit and maintain tension.

Clayoquot Toque by Tin Can Knits

Tin Can Knits is another Canadian design company, and it offers many free patterns. The Clayoquot Toque uses three colours of DK weight yarn. Recently, I saw a woman wearing this hat in the wild (granted, it was outside a yarn shop). You can use any number of colours, which makes for an infinite number of variations!

Aftur Lopapeysa by Vedis Jonsdottir

I’m a sucker for lopapeysa, having already knit four! This free pattern by Vedis Jonisdottir is available in Icelandic, Swedish, and English. It’s a great unisex sweater pattern that goes up to a 42.5″ chest. Since the pattern uses six colours, the Aftur will help you use up your yarn ends!

Laurus Hat by Dianna Walla

Last but not least is the Laurus Hat, also by Dianna Walla. I knit this myself using Woolfolk Far, a beautifully soft chainette merino yarn. I think the Laurus Hat was my first ever colourwork hat. It’s well written so don’t be afraid to give it a try!

If you enjoyed these free stranded colourwork knitting patterns, check out some of our other roundups of free knitting patterns:

• knit hat patterns
• cardigan knitting patterns
• stranded colourwork knitting patterns
• summer knitting patterns
• lace shawl knitting patterns
• sweater knitting patterns

• cable knitting patterns
• miscellaneous knitting patterns
• sock knitting patterns
• mitten knitting patterns
• vest knitting patterns

• adult pant and legging knitting patterns
• linen knitting patterns
• entrelac knitting patterns