How to Crochet a Sweater Without a Pattern

Have you ever wanted to make a special garment for a little one who is very dear to you and didn't have a pattern at hand with which to make it? Don't give up! It takes a little figuring out but you can make it!
If you have granny squares lying around which you made for a project a while back but got sidetracked and never got to use after all, you can make some cute sweaters with them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Granny squares already made
• scraps of worsted weight yarn in colors to match granny squares or contrasting colors of your choice
• a crochet hook appropriate for the thickness of the yarn

1. You will also need a roll of brown paper
   1 pen
   1 pair of scissors
   measurements appropriate for size and age of person who will wear the garment
   or a commercial pattern for a top for the person's size and gender
   
   Assuming that you are making the garment for a child and you have the child around (a grandson, a niece, your little girl, etc.) you can take measurements and make a schematic in paper and write the measurements on it, then enlarge it using brown paper and follow it, to make your sweater. Ig you do not have the child but can obtain from the mother a top belong to her or him, you will trace the outline of it on the brown paper, and after taking the measurements and writing them on the paper, you will follow that. If the garment is a surprise, like for Christmas or for a birthday, you can otain measurements online for a child of that particular age, there are free charts available, and use those measurements to guide you as you prepare your brown paper pattern.
   If you feel more comfortable having something already made out for you, go ahead and buy a commercial sewing pattern for a top, cut it out and trace the pieces in brown paper, or simply pin them on the brown paper and carefully cut them out. Once you have it all drawn and cut out, the best part begins.

2. Pin your granny squares to the brown paper shape, and simply fill out the rest of the space with sc, hdc or dc until you have a garment. It is as easy as that! Do that for the body of the sweater and for the sleeves.

3. Once finished,join the sleeves to the sweater. With a contrasting yarn color, sc all around once, and when you come to the side that will have the buttons, 6 sc ch 1, skip 1, 6sc, repeat, until you have all the buttons you want across the front. Fasten off and clean all threads.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no limit to what you can do, but I would suggest you start with a small garment so you can see your results almost immediately.
• This is really not a pattern but a method to make up your own garments, following the contour of a paper pattern. It is very liberating, because it will allow you to use the stitches you like, to insert anything you like, like bobbles, shells, etc. in between the rows. You can place the grannies across the bottom, across the front, vertically down the front and back, and in any way your imagination dictates.

Resources

• http://www.craftybegonia.blogspot.com/

[craftybegonia]

on 2/12/2009 Thank you, staysik, I learned to crochet when I was six (had the mumps and my mom --a very smart lady-- wanted to keep me in bed, so she gave me yarn and a hook and a few lessons. . .) and have almost always flewn with my own coordinates. It is good to share and to help people as well. Stay tuned, I have more coming!

[staysik]

on 2/10/2009 This idea can really be used for many things- great approach for showcasing a person's creativity!

[resourcefulone]

on 1/21/2009 Great ideas, I have crocheted a number of garments without using a pattern and they seem to turn out better, thanks for sharing.

[craftybegonia]

on 1/5/2009 You guys are terrific. I would suggest that every time you want to have a winner, follow a variegated that has beenprofessionally done, you can add as many colors darker or lighter within the tonal range of the variegated, so much so, that if, let's say you were making garments for twins, they would not have the same garment, but still would look somewhat similar. You can do that with purses, sweaters, sets of hat, scarf and gloves, etc.

[miasavc]

on 12/24/2008 I used to crochet but always use a pattern. I like the creative idea & the nice photo that comes with this article...