I am really wanting to try my first sweater. I like the fisherman’s sweater, or similar Irish sweater look, but to be honest just can’t really afford to spend money on patterns.
Does anyone know of a good fisherman’s or Irish sweater pattern that can be had for free?
I don’t have any better free pattern suggestions than what Jints listed (great patterns, btw!) but I wanted to put a plug in for choosing a pattern that is worked in the round. I wish I had started making sweaters in the round instead of in pieces at first – not having to seam pieces together is so much easier (IMO.)
I also wanted to mention that when you do get to the point where you want to invest in a good book for sweater making you should consider looking into the many books by Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Her style of writing patterns takes a little getting used to but armed with her knowledge of how sweaters go together and her percentage system which will allow you to make sweaters in all sizes and with a great selection of gauges, your sweater making possibilities will be almost endless.
Where many knitting books are limited to just the specific patterns featured done in a limited choice of yarns, EZ’s books encourage you to test the limits of the pattern and add your own creativity to the mix.
This is a unisex pattern even though it’s shown on a woman… I have fallen in love with this sweater and vowed to make it for myself… it will be my first sweater too!
Here’s one from Vogue. (First pic, second row). I like it for two reasons - suggested needle size is #10 (yeah for bigger needles) and the pdf file includes the charts (I work much better from charts than “word” patterns). http://www.vogueknitting.com/vkm/?q=node/406