Knitting without a pattern

I haven't used commercial patterns for donkeys years. I have a few go-to patterns of my own design. I write down my own knitting instructions so I can use the patterns again and again. I like simple top-down, seamless for cardigans and sweaters. I've also designed some seamed patterns. The main thing is to write down everything you do as you do it. You can always add a copyright (C) to make it your own design

If you are knitting stocking stitch in the round there is no purl - you just keep knitting. It's perfect mindless TV knitting

How clever. I have picked up needles again BUT I am mindlessly knitting to practice a) casting on b) plain and purl.
Line after line. It keeps me from nibbling in the evening and my arthritis worsening ( I hope ) in wrists and thumbs.

If you have knitted a lot you kind of remember the number of stitches and how to do sleeves etc. I have never tried patterns as in picture designs without looking at something but I can certainly knit little jumpers and baby cardigans. At one time I was churning out socks but now I have forgotten that pattern and would have to look it up.

Ah, you must have had a badly written pattern - I promise it’s no more difficult than making pieces and sewing them together.

The thing is, you start with the neck, which needs to be shaped, so that bit requires a bit of concentration. Once you’ve done a few and know what you’re doing and why though, it gets much easier. After the neck, you’re off! It’s just round and round after that, and no sewing up.

This one is easy, very adaptable, and best of all, free . I don’t like cropped sweaters so made it longer, and you could easily add in a stitch pattern if you wanted, or stripes, or a cable or two if you enjoy those. I made one for my daughter - just plain and very oversized - and she loved it for working at home in the winter.

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/warm-up-sweater

My mother knitted without patterns. She was knitting a jumper for DS when she died many years ago, and I would have loved to have finished it for her but had no idea where to start.

Doodle dog , I decided to knit some jumpers for peace, I could not make head or tail of the knit down pattern. It seemed to make an uncomplicated pattern into a test of endurance, so hats off to you for mastering it. I knitted the hat but can imagine no one would wear it, that looked decidedly odd. I’m not so good as I thought I was.

Yes, Caravanseara! It is Strange Brew - thanks .

Definitely another one for people's Christmas lists.

I've turned a simple jumper pattern into a cardigan pattern which I use all the time and added various fancy stitches to the front pieces - eg a bit of cable or moss stitch.

That sounds like Strange Brew - a perfect accompaniment to some Icelandic noir on TV. Only once knitted though. I can't knit colour work and watch subtitles at the same time!

If it is that collection, I see that the Anthology hat, cowl and tubular cowl are free - sizes newborn to large adult. Picture from the TCK website. Some nice ideas for presents there for the Christmas knitters.

Only really a simple scarf or blankets. I can't crochet either as I prefer knitting to a pattern.

I've made a few Flax sweaters, and agree that it's a great pattern. I have another TinCan Knits book with a variety of colour work yokes that can be mixed and matched, and recommend that, too. I can't remember the name and I'm not at home just now, but I can dig it out later if anyone wants to know the title.

Kind of. I have these two books on style and size options plus several books on stitch patterns, textured, lace, cables, aran, colour work etc so I can put together my own patterns. I used to be more enthusiastic about doing this. Nowadays, I tend to churn out plainer Flax top down sweaters in adult sizes that go to Knit for Peace. The pattern is free online and is very adaptable. The only adaptation I make to the basic pattern is to work a provision cast on for the underarm pick up rather than picking up stitches from a cast off seam which can create a hard ridge (should anyone consider making one of these).

I can knit stitch patterns into a plain jumper using a pattern for shaping, and often adapt a pattern's shaping to suit myself, but could only do a very basic shape from scratch with no pattern.

I have a book (this one) which shows you how to make patterns with different necklines/sleeve shaping etc, but tbh if I were doing that I may as well follow a pattern in the first place . It's a great book for other things, though - worth any knitters putting on their Christmas list.

I can make up crochet patterns but not knitting.

I know several older ladies who could knit very intricate designs on jumpers and cardigans without patterns. Amazing!

I’m impressed! Couldn’t even begin to knit anything but a simple blanket without a pattern. Current one is a big ‘rainbow’ one, on big fat circular needles, 1 strand of chunky, 1 of DK to use up my many oddments.
All just GS, different colour DK each row, ends left to make into tassels.
Good for mindless TV knitting but it’s been sadly neglected lately for other projects.