How to Choose a Sweater Knitting Kit You'll Actually Finish

Have you ever picked a sweater pattern, yarn for a sweater, or even a kit matching yarn with a pattern, and then you don't knit it? Maybe you start it, but something keeps you from finishing it? Or maybe something stops you from even starting?

We're here to help. Planning for the right sweater, the right project, the right yarn, and the right time can make the difference between a finished sweater and an unfinished plan.

Why Do Sweater Projects Get Abandoned? And How Can You Prevent It?

There's no shame in abandoning a sweater project. Many things can make a knitter start a project and then not make it to the finish line.

Picking the right pattern

Picking the pattern is incredibly important. This is a broader consideration than you might think.

First, it sounds simple, but picking a pattern for a sweater that you actually want to have and wear is the most important. You won't be motivated to finish a sweater that you don't want to wear in the end! This means looking at your wardrobe and deciding what styles you like to wear. Do you like a certain construction style, like raglan, set-in sleeve, or drop shoulder? Do you wear cardigans or pullovers? Do you like close-fitting or oversized? Do you wear cropped, full length, or tunic? Do you actually wear colorwork, cables, lace, or other textures? What thicknesses of sweaters do you actually wear?

Second, picking a pattern that is at your skill level or just above it is often the best approach. Something that is too easy may not be engaging. Something that is two or three steps above may become frustrating when it asks you to do multiple new skills at the same time.

Third, what focus level do you have right now? Not always, not in your life overall, but in the time you'll be able to knit. Do you need a calming, TV-watching, mindless stockinette project? Do you want something that requires your full attention to pull your brain out of the everyday? A mismatch between the brainspace you have right now and the amount that the sweater demands is a recipe for putting the sweater down.

Here are two knits at opposite ends of that focus scale:

Shop the Dunrobin Kit (opens in new tab)

Shop the Magne Flettegenser (opens in new tab)

Picking the Right Yarn

After the pattern, the next common killer of a sweater project is the yarn choice. Apart from matching the right yarn to the pattern you've chosen (which isn't an issue with a kit but is very important!), yarn weight, yarn color, and yarn texture are key to finishing a project.

Yarn weight

Yarn weight is critically important. Choosing your pattern and yarn in the right yarn weight can make or break your project. If you're used to knitting with a thicker weight, then a thinner weight can be discouraging if you don't see your progress. If you're used to a thinner weight, then very heavy weights can be harder to handle and definitely have a different knitting feel. Being realistic about what kind of yarn you like to use can prevent sweater abandonment!

Explore Our Sweater Yarns (opens in new tab)

Yarn color

Yarn color can motivate a person to finish a sweater. This is connected to picking the right pattern: pick a color (or colors) that you like and will wear. If you never wear blue, don't choose a blue yarn! If you hate pastels, brights, or jewel tones, then don't choose them! There are times to go outside your comfort zone, but the commitment to a sweater can be months of knitting, and it may not be the right time to take a leap.

Shop the Vanilla Sweater Kit (opens in new tab)

Maybe an accessory is?

Shop the Ros Kerchief (opens in new tab)

Yarn texture

Yarn texture, especially with the wide range at The Woolly Thistle, changes how you experience your knitting project. And again, this is a time to be honest with yourself. If you love Shetland wool, then use it! If you hate cotton, then don't use it! If you prefer softer yarns in a sweater, go for those! Nobody is going to be experiencing your knitting project but you, and nobody is going to be wearing it except you (or your gift recipient). Choosing a yarn that you like working with and you like wearing really sets you on the path toward a finished sweater.

Shop the Winterwoods Yarn Set (opens in new tab)

Shop the Big Sister Yarn Kit (opens in new tab)

Honesty with Yourself Sets You Up for Success

The takeaway really is to be honest with yourself. What sweaters do you like to wear and why? What capacity do you have right now? What yarns do you like and why? Picking a sweater pattern and yarn kit for that pattern that meets your needs is the best recipe for finishing a sweater.

This is not to say that you shouldn't stretch yourself. You absolutely can and should! But maybe it's a new yarn, or a challenging pattern, or a different construction, and not all of those at once. Understanding yourself is the key to understanding what sweater you're going to be motivated to finish.

Explore Our Sweater Kits (opens in new tab)

FAQs

What yarn weight would you recommend for finishing a sweater?

DK weight is often a good middle ground between the thinner and thicker yarns. It works well for many knitters and many seasons. It can be worked in cables, lace, or colorwork with great success, depending on the individual yarn chosen.

What yarns have a middle-of-the-road texture for lots of knitters?

The Woolly Thistle carries several yarns that work really well in sweaters and have a middle-of-the-road texture. They are different from each other, come in different weights, and certainly different color ranges, but share a combination of true wool character, everyday comfort, and durability.

• Retrosaria Brusca (opens in new tab) (DK) or Vovo (opens in new tab) (sport)
• Rauma Strikkegarn (opens in new tab) (DK) or Fivel (opens in new tab) (worsted)
• WoolDreamers Mota (opens in new tab) (worsted) or Cautiva (opens in new tab) (sport)
• Di Gilpin Lalland DK (opens in new tab)
• Hillesvåg Luna (opens in new tab) (worsted)
• Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt (opens in new tab) (DK)

What factors into how long a sweater will take?

Lots of factors affect how long a sweater will take to finish. Obviously, the time you have to spend on it is the biggest factor. The size you are knitting, both in width and in length, affects the time you need to spend. The weight of the yarn also has an effect. The smaller the stitches, the more stitches you need to complete to make a sweater, so the longer the sweater will likely take. The complexity of the pattern also changes the time; the more complex, usually the longer the project takes. Cardigans often have more finishing than pullovers, so those final steps can take longer. Finally, and obviously, the sleeve design can dramatically change the time to complete. A vest is going to be quicker than a short sleeve sweater, which is going to be quicker than a long sleeve sweater.