by Alison Jerabek

Created on: March 05, 2008   Last Updated: March 10, 2011

Do you want to create chic, boutique-worthy sweaters, head-turning scarves, and other marvelous knitwear without having to buy boutique-priced patterns? Fear not. You can have several excellent resources for free knitting patterns at your fingertips as easily and quickly as you are reading this article, without paying a cent.

Knitty.com is, without a doubt, the current queen of all free knitting pattern sites. It offers a diverse pattern collection from its many talented contributors, with patterns for every ability level- 'mellow' for beginning knitters, 'tangy' for those who are looking for a little added "zing" to their projects, 'piquant' for the more experienced knitters, and finally, 'extra spicy' for those who have "...a lot of experience. Or patience. Or both." The site also features pithy articles, a complete glossary of all terms used in the patterns, and a knitting community eager to inspire and offer advice.

Another exceptional resource can be found at magknits.com, an online knitting magazine that has been published bi-monthly since 2003. The site offers a mix of classic and contemporary designs from simple to advanced, and as far as I've experienced, if you have a basic knowledge of common pattern abbreviations, you should be able to utilize any of the patterns.

In addition, the following sites, while offering a smaller amount of content than either knitty.com or magknits.com, have a consistent level of pattern quality.

-Rebecca magazine: A German magazine that has a unique collection of innovative patterns. The magazine selects one pattern from each issue to offer for free online, however, you do have to register to download the patterns.

-Stitch n Bitch:  Offers free patterns from the popular Stitch 'n Bitch series, if you are looking for cutting edge patterns with up-to-the minute, urban styling.

-Interweave Knits magazine:  If you want modern patterns with traditional design leanings, this site offers a few superb choices.

-Knitter's magazine:  A variety of free classic patterns from Knitter's magazine are offered under the download link.

-Vogue Knitting magazine: Offers a stitch library, and elegant, modern designs. Most patterns are intermediate or advanced-level.

-Knit Picks: From quirky (like their Felted Fair Isle iPod Cozy) to classic, this site offers an interesting mix of free patterns.

-A Good Yarn:  Vintage pattern designs, mostly from the 1920's, can be downloaded from this site. Most patterns are easy to follow, but the yarn recommendations can be slightly confusing, and the designs are not ranked by difficulty.

Finally, don't forget to take advantage of your local library's resources. Many libraries offer back issues of popular knitting magazines as well as knitting pattern books from vintage to contemporary.

So, what are you waiting for? Kick back your heels, grab a fabulous yarn, and get knitting!

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