Scroll down for your four FREE PATTERNS to knit sweaters in sizes 6-36 in 4-ply, DK or aran weight yarn!

How do you knit a simple jumper?

Whether you're knitting your first sweater or your fiftieth, I always say that the most important thing is to find a pattern you trust. Our patterns are written by one of the knitters I trust most in the whole world - Michelle Hazell. I've been working with Michelle for years as a technical editor and sample knitter and if there's anything she doesn't know about knitting a jumper, it's not worth knowing! The patterns have all been tried and tested by expert knitters and beginners alike, so you can be sure you can trust the instructions.

What yarn is best for my sweater?

Most yarn is sold in standard weights. Here in the UK, the most common are 4-ply, DK and aran. Elsewhere, 4-ply is sometimes known as fingering weight and aran is similar to worsted weight. These free garment patterns can be knitted in any of these three weights, whatever you prefer. The best place to go for advice on choosing the best yarn is your local independent yarn shop. UK Hand Knitting has a fantastic directory you can use to find your local yarn shop.

How much yarn do I need for a pullover?

This question is literally like asking "how long is a piece of string?" There are so many different things that can affect how much yarn you need that it's nearly impossible to give an exact figure, but there are some easy cheats to find out. I love the handy calculator from Jimmy Beans Wool.

This calculator works best with plain yarn and stocking stitch garments. You can get a more accurate estimate with a little bit of easy maths.

First, knit a swatch, aiming for about 20cm square. Weigh your swatch and then divide it by the area, which will give you the yarn needed per cm squared. You can then work out the total area of your garment in your size using the schematics as follows:

Total body length x width x 2 =. body area
Sleeve length x upper arm circumference x 2 = sleeves area
body area + sleeves area = total area

You then multiply your total area by the weight per square cm in your swatch, and that'll tell you the total amount of yarn needed.

Or...the properly lazy (and still pretty accurate) way to do it is to look up similar garments knitted in the yarn you're using and see how much yarn different people have used! Ravelry.com is a great resource for this.

Download your free patterns!

• Alannah - a classic shape with set-in sleeve. Choose from a cardigan or pullover, with crew neck or turtleneck options. We've shown it here in Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran.
• Brooke is a simple seamless jumper, which is knitted from the bottom up, seamlessly in the round.
• Cynthia is the same design, but knitted from the top down instead. Our version is knitted in Stylecraft Batik DK.
• Danielle is perfect for beginners. It's knitted flat and features drop sleeves and a v-neck. it's shown in the photo in James C Brett Aztec.