I think every knitter has a sweater story that ends not exactly in outright tragedy, but in disappointment. You fall in love with a sweater pattern, buy the perfect yarn, carefully spend hours knitting up the project, and then—the moment of truth—you try it on. And this is that one case, that unfortunate case that happens to all knitters: the sweater just doesn’t look quite right once you try it on. I can’t quite put the heartbreak of this moment into words; it’s always hard to accept that something you just invested a lot of time and money into didn’t turn out the way you imagined it would.
So how do you find that perfect figure flattering pattern? Well, before you head to AllFreeKnitting.com in search of patterns, head to your closet. Pull out all of your favorite sweaters—the ones that make you feel amazing and that you want to wear all the time. Lay out these sweaters and look at them. You should be able to pick out common themes among the sweaters. Is there a common element, be it color or shaping?
Now focus in on the sweaters that make you look the best. Color isn’t as important here; focus on the pieces that flatter your body shape. Notice the shaping of the sweater: is it well defined with shaping or is it flowy? Where exactly is the shaping in the cardigan? Is there a lot of ease or a little? Write down all of the salient points that you notice.
Once you are armed with a list, take a look at the available sweater patterns with fresh eyes. Taking the time to assess your current wardrobe will help you figure out what type of sweater actually looks good on you. When picking a sweater pattern, don’t let the color of the sweater distract you—you can easily pick another color of yarn for your own project. Look at the shaping of the sweater. If there are project dimensions or diagrams available, be sure to check them out. If it is a free pattern, read through the pattern to get an idea of the shaping of the sweater. Patterns are sometimes pinned into shape on models, so be sure to look at all the data you can before purchasing or casting on a pattern. Keep in mind that you can always knit a sweater with more or less ease, if necessary.
Now that you know how to pick out the right sweater for you, check out these summer cardigans and find the right pattern for you.
Figure Flattering Cardigans
Italian Summer Cardigan – Cable fans will love the long cable details down this cardigan.
Classic Lace Cardigan – Knit this up with a linen yarn for an amazing summer sweater.
Tessuto Cardigan – This textured cardigan is a real knock-out.
Emily Summer Sweater – Short sleeves and an empire waist make this a flattering top for most figures.
Sunday Best Cardigan – Go for a relaxed look with this relaxed fit cardigan.
Magical Top Down Cardigan – Though this cardigan is designed with a loose fit in mind, you can easily alter it to fit your needs.
Sara’s Silk Cardigan – This breezy cardigan is perfect for evenings at the height of summer.
BONUS NEW PATTERNS!
Love and Lace Knit Cardigan – The light and airy lace pattern makes this pattern figure flattering.
Adventures in Lace Knit Cardigan – The stripes of color hit in all the right places on this figure flattering cardigan.
City Girl Cardigan – This simple to knit cardigan is perfect for any outfit, and easy to style for any figure.
If you need more knit sweater and cardigan patterns that are both figure flattering and perfect for the warmer months of the year, be sure to check out “Light & Lacy Tops: 9 Lovely Free Knitting Patterns for Spring.” We’ve collected some of the prettiest free knit sweater patterns perfect for spring.
What style of sweater fits you best?
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