Crocheting a jumper without a pattern

funkymonkey849

Is this advisable? I can't find a pattern I like.

I don't want anything fancy, just a plain jumper made up in double crochet.

I usually wing it when knitting or crocheting, patterns confuse and bore the hell out of me, and I never get the same yarn as they reccoment. I have made bags and mittens without a pattern by measuring existing ones and using a bit of guesswork but nothing bigger.

I have some nice jumpers which fit me and I would like to recreate. Could I make a pattern up and then kind of crochet around it?

Or is this completely ridiculous! Anyone else done anything like this?

foxgloves

I'm a knitter rather than a crocheter but I thought I'd chip in to say that my Gran (who crocheted regularly throughout her 96 yr life) once crocheted me a jumper without a pattern. The actual crochet was a really nice design.....sort of shells in different colours....but the shape of the jumper came out really strange. The arms were too tight, the body was too long & there was no room for my boobs. Every time I've been tempted to knit a jumper without a pattern, I've rememberd Gran's jumper, and gone out to find a pattern! I often adapt the pattern quite a lot but use the basic structural instructions. You'll probably end up desiging something completely fab now and posting on here and I shall look like a pattern wimp! x

funkymonkey849

Ok I will keep that in mind!

Thank you

Swishy_bell

I don't crotchet but I do knit. I guess it all comes down to how experianced you are. I know people who never use a patterna dn some who wouldn't dream of winging it. The important thing it to do a swatch and do the maths before you start!

Are you on ravelry? They have hundreds of free patterns which might help you find something you like, or a basic pattern you can adapt which is what I would do personally. I know there are instructions on websites that tell you have to go about writing your own pattern from your mesaurments and swatches so might be owrht a google.

It's doable, someone had to make up the patterns in the first place didn't they!

funkymonkey849

Yep am on ravelry, but haven't found anything I like - I'm quite small so find even size smalls are often too big! I really hate patterns and find it harder to modify one than to start from scratch!

I'm not that experienced, but everything I've done so far has been fine *touch wood*

I wouldn't wing it if I was knitting, but crochet is easy to unravel bits that aren't quite right - and double crochet is quite stretchy

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm......

Swishy_bell

I say go for it, as you say if it doesn't turn out right just unravel and start again. Don't think I would be brave enough as I would sulk about the time wasted if it didn't turn out how I wanted but in simple double crotchet it would be pretty quick anyway.

Rikki

I've never knitted or crocheted without a pattern, unless you count scarves. :rotfl:
If I was to try:-
I would draw out the shape I wanted, put down the sizes, width, length, sleeve length width, armhole circumference etc.
Make a tension sample and use this to work out the number of chain stitches needed for the front, back and number of rows up to the arms etc. (Just to give you an idea and starting point.)

Another option would be to find a pattern to use for the sizing and then crochet it using the double crochets as you want to.

funkymonkey849

Swishy_bell wrote: »

I say go for it, as you say if it doesn't turn out right just unravel and start again. Don't think I would be brave enough as I would sulk about the time wasted if it didn't turn out how I wanted but in simple double crotchet it would be pretty quick anyway.

And I plan to use chunky yarn or two strands of dk together so would be quick!

Think I will go for it, if anyone else has any experience in making things without a pattern and has any tips that would be fab, but otherwise I shall just have a go and hope for the best!

If it has to be unravelled then so be it, the yarn won't be wasted.

Thanks everyone :beer:

funkymonkey849

Rikki wrote: »

I've never knitted or crocheted without a pattern, unless you count scarves. :rotfl:
If I was to try:-
I would draw out the shape I wanted, put down the sizes, width, length, sleeve length width, armhole circumference etc.
Make a tension sample and use this to work out the number of chain stitches needed for the front, back and number of rows up to the arms etc. (Just to give you an idea and starting point.)

Another option would be to find a pattern to use for the sizing and then crochet it using the double crochets as you want to.

Hehe I've done many a scarf without a pattern

I planned to cut out a pattern from newspaper based on an basic jumper, or even take an old one apart, then I can measure the bits.

I should be ok getting the right amount of stitches for the main body by doing a tension swatch, like you said - I foresee problems around the neckline, and the tops of the arms...any decreasing and increasing really!

Maybe I should do another scarf...

thriftlady_2

I crocheted a jumper without a pattern once. It worked well. It was a loose tunic style so may not be quite what you are after.

This is what I did;

First I made a foundation chain long enough for the hem of the jumper.

I then crocheted rounds in trebles until I had a tube long enough for the body of my jumper.

Next I made two chains attached to the top of each side of the body the length I wanted the sleeves. Sorry it would be easier to draw a diagram!

Next I crocheted rows of trebles right from the end of the sleeve chain continuing across the body and along the other sleeve chain.

I continued in trebles until I had made enough to reach my shoulders and neckline.

Then I turned the jumper round, started again at the bottom of the sleeves and worked in trebles to meet the top of the front. Goodness, it is hard to explain!

Now I had a complete jumper but the sleeves and shoulders were open. To finish off I slip-stitched the sleeve and shoulders together leaving a neck opening. I then added a row or two of double crochet round the neck.

I made my jumper using many colours and types of yarn (I was an art student at the time).

I also did a cardigan which I started at the cuff gradually increasing the rounds (in trebles) as I got nearer the body part of the garment.

When the sleeve was long enough I made a chain dangling from the lower part of it as long as I wanted my cardigan.

I then worked in trebles from the bottom of the chain, going right round the sleeve opening and back down the other side of the chain. Does this make any sense lol?

When I'd made enough rows for it to look like half a cardigan I did the whole operation again in reverse for the other half.

I gradually decreased the rows for the front of the cardigan so that it made a nice v opening.

Finally I crocheted the two halves together at the back.

funkymonkey849

Thanks thriftlady!

I was thinking of many colours (have lots of scraps), I am not an art student but I am rocking the ditzy/boho look

I was planning to crochet front and back pieces, then the arms, then sew it all up

Am quite excited