Whether you just finished a large sweater and have empty needles, or you want to start knitting for the first time, picking a project can be challenging. Finding your next project is about balancing time, skill level, and what you will actually wear and use.
A Norwegian version of this page is available on Strikketips.no
What should I knit now?
To help you decide, we have organized our recommendations based on what kind of project you're looking for:
For Babies & Kids
Baby garments knit up fast and make amazing gifts. Try a bonnet, bloomers, or warm trousers.
Quick & Easy
Need a quick break or a last-minute gift? Knit a beautiful cowl or a trendy headband.
Selfish Knitting
Spoil yourself with a gorgeous, soft sweater. Perfect for cozy evenings on the couch.
What is popular to knit now?
Knitting fashion evolves constantly. These are the directions we keep seeing in yarn shops and knitting circles right now — observations, not a measurement:
1. Minimalist Scandinavian Designs
Clean lines and a focus on fit are key. Seamless top-down construction, raglan increases, and contiguous shoulders allow for easy fitting as you go.
2. Fluffy textures and mohair blends
Holding a strand of wool or alpaca together with a strand of lace-weight silk mohair remains highly popular. It yields lightweight yet incredibly warm and soft garments with a luxurious halo.
3. Earth tones and bold contrast borders
The color palette is dominated by deep forest green, burnt terracotta, and calm neutrals. Many knitters are adding pop colors (like deep cobalt blue or neon) on cuffs or collars to give classic patterns a modern spin.
Want to explore this year's palette and yarn combinations in depth?
Read our sourced roundup of 2026 knitting trendsWhat can you knit that is easy?
If you are a beginner or just want a relaxing knit where you don't need to count stitches constantly, choose patterns that use simple garter stitch (all knit) or basic ribbing (knit and purl).
Here are the best easy projects to start with:
- Dishcloths: The ultimate beginner project. Knit with 100% cotton yarn. Perfect for practicing tension without worrying about size.
- Simple Cowl / Neck warmer: Great circular needle project. Knit in the round until it's tall enough. Very cozy in merino wool or alpaca.
- Headbands: Knit flat and seamed with a twist, or knit in the round as a tube. A fast project on thick needles!
- Garter stitch scarf: Knit back and forth until you run out of yarn. Use a thick, chunky yarn for a cozy, modern look.
Where can I find free knitting patterns?
There are thousands of free knitting patterns online, both in English and Scandinavian languages. You don't have to spend a lot of money to start your first project!
1. Knittingtips.net Pattern Gallery
We have curated popular knitting patterns from around the web. You can easily filter by "Free" to find no-cost designs.
2. DROPS Design (Garnstudio)
One of the largest databases of free knitting patterns in the world. They support multiple languages, including English. They write patterns using their own yarns, which you can easily swap using our yarn substitute calculator.
3. Ravelry
A global community site for knitters. Use the advanced search filters to check "Free" and search thousands of independent designer patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is popular to knit now?
Currently, minimalist Scandinavian patterns, top-down garments, mohair blends, and thick, textured weights dominate. In terms of colors, we see lots of cobalt blue, burnt terracotta, and muted greens.
Where can I find free knitting patterns?
You can find a great collection of free knitting patterns right here on Knittingtips.net in our patterns section. Additionally, Ravelry hosts the largest searchable pattern database in the craft, and yarn companies such as DROPS Design (Garnstudio), Lion Brand and Purl Soho publish thousands of free designs on their own sites.
What can you knit that is easy?
For absolute beginners, the easiest things to knit are cotton dishcloths, simple garter or rib stitch headbands, a cozy neck warmer, or a basic scarf. These require only learning how to cast on, knit, and bind off.
What should I knit now?
It depends on your skill level and season! If you're a beginner, try a simple cowl or dishcloth. If you are intermediate, try a top-down sweater or a pair of cozy socks. In summer, knit a lightweight cotton/linen tee; in winter, go for a warm wool sweater.