Have you ever found yourself wondering whether your designs look just like everyone else’s? This is a fear that many knitting pattern designers have when they’re in the midst of figuring out their personal design style.

It’s true: there are tons of sweater designers out there. It can get to the point that many knitting pattern designs start to look alike. So, how do you stand out?

Ever since I worked as a swatch designer in the commercial knitwear industry, I have believed that it is the small, special details in your sweaters that set you apart; the ones that some knitting pattern designers forget about. A beautiful finishing detail, an unexpected trim, a clever stitch placement... These are the things that make a simple, wearable design stand out.

If you’re stuck on how to start incorporating special details into your sweater designs, you’re in luck! Today, I’m sharing seven of my favourite knitwear details I’ve been inspired by recently, all from my Knitwear Detailing Pinterest board. Let’s jump in.

1. This neckband detail is so simple, yet so unexpected. It’s almost like they’ve popped the collar, but the layers are overlapped. Densely knitted 1x1 rib would work really well in a detail like this. It would work at a lot of yarn weights, but the fine gauge fabric does give it a very elegant look.

2. This detail is essentially fisherman’s rib flanking a central section with eyelet mesh. It would work in so many places, whether you’re highlighting the shaping in a raglan sweater or placing a panel where the side seams would traditionally be. At most gauges, the mesh is so small that would only show a little peek of what’s underneath.

3. I love Toast knitwear and this gansey-inspired knit is no different. There are so many things I would love to draw your attention to. Look how they’ve incorporated short rows at either side of the neck so that they can keep that line of garter stitch flowing across the neck and shoulders! I also love the placement of garter stitch and garter rib at the armholes and top of the sleeve. Finally, I love the combination of ribbing and garter stitch at the hem. This is exactly what I’m talking about when I say that simple designs, such as a drop-shoulder stockinette sweater, can be elevated by your choice of detailing. Stunning!

4. You’ve seen plenty of split hems, but what about split cuffs? I love this detail because it draws attention to the gorgeous shaping that they’ve done at the ribbing, too. I can see this sort of thing working beautifully on a funnel neck.

5. These chunky exposed seams are just wonderful. I love designs that show off garment construction as an art form! I know I’m one of the few knitters who love seaming, so you don’t have to do exposed seams. You could experiment with lateral braids, slipped stitches, i-cord edges that you pick up stitches from… Think about how your garment is constructed and explore ways to draw attention to it in a beautiful way.

6. Here I go with the “collaged” trims again. I just love trims that use multiple textures! It feels so unexpected. It’s nice to see this worked at a bulkier gauge as you more often see it in fine-gauge garments. The rolled edge is lovely too because it gives the sweater more of a relaxed feel.

7. I adore the simplicity of this detail. In fact, one of my Sweater Design School students, Jane Hoogewerf, explored a similar detail to create volume at the sleeve cap of her set-in sleeve sweater. This kind of detail would require a bit of hand-finishing to catch the pleat in place, but wow! What a great way to create nipped in cuffs on voluminous sleeves.

I hope you enjoyed getting inspired by the small details in this blog post, and that it gave you a few ideas that you could use in your own sweater designs.

Once you start thinking about special details, it will open the floodgates of creativity. There is so much that you can explore!

Time to Share

Which detail was your favourite in the examples I shared?

Will you explore special details in your own design work?

Tell me in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you.