Best Knit Patterns of 2017: The Designs Every Knitter Was Talking About
Whether you were casting on your very first project or adding to a decades-long collection of finished objects, 2017 was a remarkable year to be a knitter. Designers from around the world released patterns that balanced wearability with artistry, pushed the boundaries of texture and construction, and brought a fresh wave of enthusiasm to yarn shops, online communities, and Ravelry queues everywhere. From cozy oversized sweaters perfect for layering to delicate lace shawls that stopped people in their tracks, the year gave us an extraordinary range of work to celebrate.
This roundup highlights the best knit patterns of 2017 — the ones that earned devoted followings, flooded Instagram feeds with finished objects, and reminded us why we fall in love with knitting over and over again. Whether you’re looking back fondly or discovering these gems for the first time, consider this your guide to the year’s most memorable designs.
Why 2017 Was Such a Special Year for Knitting
Before diving into specific patterns, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the broader context. By 2017, social media had fundamentally transformed the way knitters discovered and shared patterns. Instagram hashtags and Ravelry project pages turned individual makes into community events, meaning a brilliant design could travel from a single Etsy listing to thousands of queued projects within days of its release.
Independent designers were thriving. Platforms like Ravelry, LoveCrafts, and personal design shops gave talented knitters the tools to publish their own work without relying on major yarn companies or traditional print magazines. The result was an explosion of creativity — more patterns, more styles, and a much wider range of aesthetics than any single publication could provide.
Texturally, 2017 leaned heavily into a few key trends: exaggerated cable work, bold colorwork inspired by Scandinavian and Icelandic traditions, unconventional construction methods like top-down seamless knitting and modular shaping, and a renewed appreciation for simple, elegant silhouettes that let beautiful yarn speak for itself. All of these themes show up again and again in the standout patterns from the year.
Sweaters and Pullovers: Cozy, Wearable, and Endlessly Knittable
Sweaters were, as always, the crown jewels of the knitting year. In 2017, the most beloved pullovers tended to fall into one of two camps: the easy, satisfying knit that a relative beginner could tackle with confidence, and the ambitious showpiece that kept an experienced knitter engaged from the very first row.
The Oversized Silhouette Takes Over
The relaxed, oversized silhouette that had been quietly building momentum for a few years reached full force in 2017. Knitters loved the combination of generous ease, straightforward construction, and undeniable comfort. Patterns with simple drop-shoulder shaping became especially popular because they eliminated the anxiety of armhole shaping and fit a wide range of bodies beautifully without extensive modification.
Many of these sweaters were designed to showcase chunky or bulky yarn — a practical choice that meant a satisfying finished object in far less time than a fingering-weight project would require. The chunky sweater knit in neutral tones, often featuring a subtle texture like seed stitch or moss stitch across the yoke, became almost a defining image of knitting in 2017.
Colorwork Sweaters Step Into the Spotlight
On the more technically ambitious end, colorwork sweaters had a phenomenal year. Stranded colorwork — the technique of carrying two or more colors across a row to create geometric or pictorial designs — had been building in popularity, and 2017 saw it bloom into a full-blown movement. Designs drawing on Nordic and Fair Isle traditions were particularly popular, with snowflakes, reindeer motifs, and bold geometric borders appearing on everything from yoked pullovers to vests and cardigans.
What made 2017’s colorwork sweaters special was the way designers modernized classic motifs. Rather than reproducing vintage patterns note-for-note, they brought fresh color combinations — deep jewel tones paired with unexpected brights, or earthy naturals offset by a single pop of saturated color — that made traditional techniques feel completely of the moment.
Shawls and Wraps: The Year of Dramatic Drape
Shawls have long been a staple of the knitting world, offering a project that can be as simple or as complex as the knitter desires, with a finished object that’s genuinely useful regardless of skill level. In 2017, shawl design reached a particular high point, with a strong emphasis on dramatic shapes and innovative construction.
Asymmetrical Shapes and Unexpected Silhouettes
The classic triangle shawl received numerous thoughtful reinventions throughout the year. Designers played with asymmetrical construction, creating crescent shapes, elongated wingspan shawls that function as lightweight wraps, and multi-directional designs that combined different stitch textures within a single project. These shapes felt fresh and modern without sacrificing the meditative, enjoyable nature of shawl knitting.
One especially popular innovation was the “held stitch” or “slipped stitch” shawl, where simple techniques were used to create visual complexity that far outpaced the actual difficulty of the knitting. A knitter working at an intermediate level could produce something that looked intricate and impressive — deeply satisfying for anyone who’s ever wanted a showpiece project without a months-long learning curve.
Lace That Wowed Without Overwhelming
Lace shawls saw a resurgence of appreciation in 2017, with designers finding ways to make traditional lace patterns more accessible to modern knitters. Rather than charting dense, all-over lace, many opted for designs that alternated sections of plain stockinette or garter stitch with carefully placed lace panels. This gave knitters a chance to rest between technically demanding sections, reducing fatigue and the likelihood of mistakes.
Mohair and silk-blend yarns were the material of choice for many of these projects, lending a hazy, dreamlike quality to the finished fabric that photographs beautifully and drapes in an almost ethereal way. The combination of delicate lace structure and that soft, blurred fiber aesthetic became one of the most distinctive visual signatures of knitting in 2017.
Hats, Cowls, and Accessories: Quick Knits With Serious Style
Not every knitter has the time or inclination to commit to a sweater or large shawl, and 2017 delivered an outstanding selection of smaller projects that didn’t sacrifice creativity for speed. Hats, cowls, and mittens occupied a comfortable middle ground — quick enough to finish in a long weekend, but interesting enough to hold attention and produce something genuinely wearable.
The Rise of the Textured Hat
Simple ribbed hats never really go out of style, but 2017 saw an enthusiasm for more textured headwear. Patterns incorporating traveling stitches — where stitches cross over one another without a full cable needle — became especially popular, producing a subtle braided or woven effect that elevates a hat from a basic accessory to something that earns genuine compliments. These designs were typically worked flat and seamed or in the round, making them accessible to a wide range of skill levels.
Pompom embellishments made a confident return, and the knitting community embraced oversized, fluffy pompoms made from luxury faux fur yarn as a playful finishing touch on everything from slouchy beanies to structured cloches. Social media made this trend irresistible — an oversized pompom is, objectively, very good for photos.
Colorblock and Striped Cowls
Cowls offered designers a small canvas on which to experiment with color and texture without the complexity of full garment construction. Colorblock designs — where two or three strongly contrasting colors are worked in straightforward sections — were both beginner-friendly and visually striking. Striped cowls using held or slipped stitches to blend colors across rows without carrying floats gave more adventurous knitters a colorwork option that required a little less experience than traditional stranded technique.
Infinity cowls (those that wrap twice around the neck) and dramatic oversized snood styles both had enthusiastic followings in 2017, fitting perfectly into the broader trend toward cozy, enveloping accessories.
Baby and Children’s Patterns: Sweet, Practical, and Enduring
Knitting for babies and children has always been a reliable source of joy — projects tend to be smaller and faster than adult versions, which makes them excellent gifts and great opportunities to try out new techniques without committing to months of work. The baby and children’s knits of 2017 leaned into classic aesthetics while incorporating modern details.
Tiny cables on baby cardigans, sweet lace yokes on infant dresses, and colorful striped booties were all staples of the year’s most beloved small-scale patterns. Mini versions of the year’s popular adult silhouettes — little oversized pullovers, tiny colorwork hats — were particularly charming, and the knitting community adored seeing them appear in project photos alongside their full-size counterparts.
One trend worth noting was a growing emphasis on patterns sized for a wide range of children’s ages rather than the very smallest babies. Patterns sized from birth through age 10 or even 12 gave knitters far more flexibility and mileage from a single purchase, which was widely appreciated.
Home and Décor Knits: Beyond the Wardrobe
2017 also saw a lovely surge of interest in knitting for the home. Chunky throw blankets — typically worked in super-bulky yarn on large needles — were possibly the single most shared category of knitting project on social media throughout the year. Their appeal was obvious: a beautiful, cozy blanket that could be finished in a single weekend and gifted or kept for years.
Knitted pillow covers became another popular category, with designers creating patterns that incorporated cables, lace, or colorwork in a self-contained format that demanded no shaping and very little finishing beyond seaming two rectangles together. They were perfect stash-busting projects and a stylish way to add handmade texture to any living space.
Plant hangers, market bags, dishcloths with intricate textural surfaces, and even knitted wall hangings inspired by macramé all had their moments in 2017’s home décor knitting scene. There was a clear desire to bring the handmade aesthetic into every corner of daily life, and knitters responded enthusiastically.
The Designers Who Shaped 2017
Behind every beloved pattern is a designer who brought a unique vision to the craft, and 2017 produced a number of standout voices worth celebrating.
Independent designers releasing work through platforms like Ravelry and their own websites continued to produce some of the most innovative and community-loved patterns of the year. Many designers embraced the full ecosystem of social media, building engaged communities of followers who eagerly anticipated each new release, participated in knit-alongs, and shared finished objects in dedicated project groups.
Established designers who had built loyal followings over many years continued to deliver exceptional work, often experimenting with new techniques or silhouettes that pushed their style in fresh directions. And newer designers making their first or second splash in the market brought energy and originality that kept the overall landscape exciting and unpredictable.
What all the most celebrated designers of 2017 shared was a combination of strong technical writing — patterns that were genuinely accurate, clearly explained, and well-supported with helpful notes — and a distinct aesthetic voice that made their work instantly recognizable.
How to Find and Use Vintage 2017 Patterns
If this retrospective has inspired you to go back and cast on one of 2017’s standout designs, you’ll find most of them still readily available. Ravelry remains the single best archive of knitting patterns from this period, with robust search tools that let you filter by year, technique, yarn weight, and skill level. Many independent designers still maintain their original shops and have continued updating their pattern PDFs with errata corrections and additional size information over the years since initial publication.
LoveCrafts, Etsy, and individual designer websites are also excellent sources. If a pattern was published by a major yarn company as a free download, it may still be available on that company’s website, though links occasionally break over time — a quick search for the pattern name alongside the designer’s name will usually turn it up.
When you’re working from an older pattern, it’s always a good idea to check the designer’s Ravelry page or website for errata, since even well-tested patterns sometimes contain small errors that are corrected after the initial release. The project pages on Ravelry are invaluable here, too — reading through notes left by other knitters who have already made the pattern can save you significant trouble and give you helpful modifications and tips.
Tips for Making the Most of Any Pattern From This Era
A few practical notes if you’re returning to or discovering 2017 knitting patterns for the first time.
Gauge swatching remains as important as ever. Many of the oversized sweaters from this period were designed with specific ease measurements in mind, and achieving the correct gauge ensures that your finished garment matches the designer’s intent rather than ending up dramatically larger or smaller than expected. Even if you’ve knit with a particular yarn and needle combination before, always swatch for a new pattern.
Yarn substitution is usually straightforward for patterns of this age, since the original yarns recommended are often still available — but when substituting, focus on matching both the weight category and the fiber content as closely as possible. A pattern designed for a wool-dominant yarn will behave differently if knit in a cotton blend, regardless of whether the gauge numbers match.
Finally, don’t be afraid to modify. Many of the patterns that became beloved community favorites did so partly because knitters felt empowered to adjust length, add pockets, change colorways, or simplify embellishments. The best patterns are the ones that invite you to make them your own.
Final Thoughts
Looking back at the best knit patterns of 2017 is a reminder of just how vibrant and creative the knitting community was — and continues to be. The designs from that year spanned an extraordinary range of styles, skill levels, and intentions, from quick-and-cozy weekend accessories to ambitious colorwork garments that required weeks of focused attention. They reflected a community that was deeply engaged, generously sharing, and genuinely invested in the craft as both an artistic practice and a source of everyday pleasure.
If your knitting queue is looking for some fresh inspiration, there’s never been a better time to revisit these classics. Cast on, find your rhythm, and enjoy every stitch.
