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15 Easy Winter Sweaters to Sew, Knit, and Crochet

Each season, we like to clear our closets out and make room for some new things. Sometimes we’ll fill that space with new seasonal clothes that we’ve purchased but every once in a while we like to make ourselves a new garment instead! This winter, we got rid of some older sweaters and were in need of new ones, so we decided to look into the different ways we might use our DIY skills to make a couple new sweaters after we didn’t quite find everything we were hoping for in stores!

Are you feeling just as intrigued as we were, if not more, by the idea of making your very own sweaters for winter? Check out these 15 fantastic ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance.

1. Easily sewn long sheer cardigan

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Is it actually quite warm where you live all year round but you’ve always been a pretty big sweater fan so you’re convinced that making a stylish kind of sweater is still the right move for you, but you’ll need something a little lighter than others might? Then we’d suggest taking a look at how So Sew Easy made this beautifully long sheer cardigan style sweater that gives a little bit of warmth without making you feel stifled.

2. Celtic Cocoon cardigan

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Are you actually an experienced knitter who usually prefers to use those skills if you’re going to make any kind of clothing, rather than, say, sewing? Well, if you’re looking for a little bit of a challenge in terms of stitching details and shaping, then we think By Accessorise might have just the pattern for you! Take a better look at their tutorial to see how this lovely Celtic Cocoon cardigan was made.

3. Mysa velvet sweatshirt crochet pattern

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Perhaps you actually are interested in using your sewing skills to make yourself a new sweater of some kind and you’d like something very soft, but you’re always been more of a hoodie person that a classic sweater lover? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how One Dog Woof made this velvet sweatshirt sweater! Their pattern makes an awesome hoodie that could easily be adapted to any material, but they also specifically give you tips for making something from velvet sweater fabric.

4. Day Date crochet hexagon sweater

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Did you love the loose, rounded fit of the Celtic sweater we showed you earlier but you’ve never actually been into knitting despite being a yarn crafter in other ways? Well, if you’ve got experience with a crochet hook then we think you might appreciate the shape and patterning of this hexagonal Day Date sweater crochet pattern outlined step by simple step on Make & Do Crew.

5. Bright button collar hoodie pattern

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Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of making your very own hoodie but you’d rather work with a simpler fabric than the velvet sweater material we showed you earlier? Perhaps you’re just looking for a hoodie in a different style than the simple one you saw earlier. Either way, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Small Things made this awesome button collar hoodie in a nice, bright colour.

6. Up North crochet cardigan

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Have we actually still got you thinking about how much you loved the idea of making crocheting your very own cardigan style sweater but you’re a pretty chilly person, so you’d prefer a denser finished fabric than what you saw in the hexagonal design we showed you earlier? In that case, we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like this Up North cardigan pattern outlined step by step on Make & Do Crew.

7. DIY maxi wrap cardigan

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Has your favourite design on our list so far actually been the longer style we showed you at the very top but you can’t help wondering whether there might be a warmer version of that style that isn’t sheer? Well, particularly if you’re still hoping to create something a little bit on the dressier side, then we think you might be the perfect person to give this maxi wrap cardigan outlined on Nadira037 a try!

8. Pretty twisting knitted cardigan jacket

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Have we really caught your eye with this whole idea of knitting something with quite an intricate sense of stitching detail to it, but you’d prefer a slightly more classic fit than the cocoon design we showed you earlier even though you’re still up for a challenge as far as construction is concerned? In that case, we think you’ll really appreciate this cardigan from InterUnet that has a lovely twisted cable fabric and closes with a zipper, which the pattern shows you step by step how to put in.

9. Bina Brianca inspired DIY wrap cardigan

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Are you still finding yourself thinking a lot about the wrap cardigan idea we showed you earlier but you live in an even warmer wintered place than we talked about before, so you’d prefer a design with less sleeve? In that case, a design like this one from Fine Craft Guild might be a little more up your alley! Take a better look at their tutorial to see how this light wrapping sweater was made.

10. Pretty crocheted slouching cardigan

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Just in case you’re actually thinking about how much you love the idea of making a crocheted slouching sweater but none of the patterns we’ve shown you so far have quite grabbed your eye or been as oversized as you’d like? In that case, we think you simply must take a look at the way Eleven Handmade crocheted this gorgeously comfy looking slouchy cardigan in a way that’s even easier than it looks.

11. 4-hour crocheted sweater

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Are you actually interested in a crocheted sweater that does have a looser fabric to it in the finished product because you do live in a warmer place, but you’re looking for something simpler and quicker to do than some of the things you’ve seen so far? Then we’d be willing to bet that this chain-like and chunky crocheted pullover pattern from Heart, Hook, Home that really does take just 40 minutes to make might be a little more along the lines of what you’re looking for!

12. Knitted Antler pullover

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Perhaps you are a very experienced knitter like we mentioned before but your preferred kind of pattern and garment is made from a much smaller yarn and a much tighter finished fabric? In that case, we just know you’ll get along much better with a pattern like this one from Love Crafts. The Antler sweater is made from a lighter weight yarn but the finished product is incredibly neat and impressive.

13. Easy off the shoulder V-neck sweatshirt

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Even though you’re feeling intent on making yourself some kind of new DIY garment, are you much more interested in doing some simple altering of something you already have rather than knitting, sewing, or crocheting something from scratch? In that case, we’d encourage you to take a look at this lovely, long V-neck sweater design from Creative Fashion Blog! They show you how to cut it perfectly so that it sits off the shoulder just right but not too far.

14. Hooded Remix cardigan crochet pattern

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Are you torn somewhere between making a hoodie, making a cardigan, and crocheting a sweater for yourself but you’re just really having trouble choosing between those options? Well, who ever said you have to choose? Instead, take a look at this Remix sweater pattern from Make & Do Crew that combines all three of those things and adds fun stripes and colours!

15. Easy-to-sew cozy sweater dress

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Are you still interested in making yourself some kind of sweater from scratch but you’re also intent on creating something that’s a little more unique in its style than just the average sweatshirt? Well, if you’ve got at least a little bit of experience in following patterns and you’re a fan of dresses, then we think you’ll get a real kick out of seeing how It’s Always Autumn made this long sweater dress with a bit of cinching at the back to keep it fitting in a complimentary way rather than hanging shapeless!

Have you made other kinds of awesome DIY sweaters before that you were very happy with indeed and wore all winter but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!

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