Knit Like Sari Nordlund: Free Pattern Roundup

If you've been on the Knit-ernet for more than a minute, you've surely seen Sari Nordlund's designs. It seems everyone has a Book Club Cardigan on the go, and the Poet and Kuutar collections have a combined 7,000-something projects on Ravelry.

 

Sari is known for blending cables and lace in a style that feels feminine and sophisticated. While she does have some simple stockinette in her catalog of over 450 designs, (I’m looking at you, Keiko), the majority of her patterns are complex and elegant.

 

Fortunately for those of us on a tight budget, several of Sari's own patterns are available for free, courtesy of Novita, Hobbii, and Sari’s Luna Knit blog.  

 

 

Image © Sari Nordlund

 

The Louise Pullover is quintessential Sari – cables, lace, and a relaxed fit. This sweater is worked with fingering weight yarn at a loose gauge, making it a luxuriously soft, drapey piece. The pattern is free to download from Hobbii.com. 

 

 

Image © Taikatuuli Elorinne

 

Also released in partnership between Sari and Hobbii is the brand new Lavender Field Tee. Like the popular Kuutar Tee, this is a sport-weight, circular yoke tee with lace detailing at the top and stockinette below the bust. Pattern download is available here. 

 

 

Image © Novita

 

Anyone interested in an expert-mode knit might choose to tackle Sari's Juurakko Cardigan, a monster project with cables-in-cables, worked in pieces and seamed together at the end. Alternatively, you can download the charts from Novita's website and apply them to the sweater of your choice.

 

Now let's look at some Sari-style patterns from other designers.

 

Image © Audrey Borrego

If you like the undulating diamond motif of the original Poet Sweater, consider the Oleander by Audrey Borrego. Worked at a slightly tighter gauge than the Poet, the Oleander offers long sleeves, drop shoulders, and a V-neck. Unlike many free patterns, Audrey's designs have been tech edited and typically include a schematic.

 

Image © Lydia Gluck

Another Audrey-ala-Sari pattern is the Atlantica. Like Sari's Pax Pullover, Audrey's Atlantica  features allover cables punctuated with bobbles. Although it was published before the Pax, the Atlantica features drop shoulders and wide ribbing that I'm told are all the rage in fashion these days.

 

Image © Oliver James Brooks

If you're a fan of Sari's Summer Knits collection, you may be inspired to cast on a Saila tank top by Sachiko Burgin. Available in nine sizes, this tank inverts Sari's typical designs by placing the Art Deco lace motif at the bottom and working plain stockinette at the top. Brace yourself, though -- the lace instructions are written out rather than charted.

 

Image © Pierrot Yarns / Gosyo Co., Ltd.

Speaking of charts, the one included in Pierrot Yarns' Rocco Puff Sleeve Sweater is a kindred spirit to Sari's Turtle Dove Shawl and Pullover. While the instructions for the Rocco are less of a pattern and more of a puzzle, the 60-stitch chart is clear and could easily be dropped into a pattern you've already vetted. 

 

Image © Patons

Sari's Book Club Cardigan and PetiteKnit's Dagmar Jacket have taken the knitting world by storm, but chunky knits with diamond cables are nothing new. The Paton's Must-Have Cardigan shares the neckline, moss stitch, and diamond motif we love in the Book Club and makes it available in a free download. This pattern is written to be worked flat, so prepare to modify the construction if seams are a deal-breaker for you. 

 

Image © DROPS Design

For a seamless option in Aran weight, Drops' Stone Veil Cardigan fits the bill. While it lacks the V-neck of the original Book Club Cardigan, it features the same behind-the-shoulder shoulder construction. A men's version of the pattern is also available with wider sleeves and narrower hips than the women's version.

 

You know I'm a sucker for socks, so I couldn't skip them in this roundup. While I could certainly send you down the gargantuan rabbit hole that is cabled socks, several of Sari's most popular sock patterns feature a ruffled cuff, which is a significantly smaller rabbit hole.

 

Image © Tanja Steinbach 

Unlike the other ruffle sock patterns I explored, the Summer Sneaker Socks by Tanja Steinbach do not require you to start by casting on 100+ stitches.  Instead, you work the ruffle first, place it on hold, then attach it after constructing the picot cuff. The rest of the sock is worked in a simple broken rib stitch.

 

Image © Novita

If ruffles aren't quite your style but you still like the idea of a decorative cuff, Sari's Kuohu Socks are available for free on the Novita website. The lace is a 15-stitch repeat, allowing you to work either a 60-stitch cuff or a 75-stitch cuff and then add or subtract stitches when you reach the leg. 
PSA: Wear white socks to the river at your own risk.

I would be remiss if we dedicated an entire post to Sari Nordlund and didn't mention the Lumme. While there are zillions of colorwork sweater patterns available, the Lumme stands out for its two-color floral (rather than geometric or snowflake) motifs. The most similar design I found was a Sandnes Garn children's pattern for a sweater inspired by a milk carton. A slightly more practical option for those of us who don't speak Swedish, aren't child-sized, and don't particularly want to wear dairy-based clothing is the Summer Cardigan 2025 designed by Maja Karlsson for Jarbo:

Image © Maja Karlsson

It would be very easy to adapt this cardigan into a pullover -- simply cast on in the round, skip the step where you add 7 steek stitches, and follow the rest of the stitch counts as given. The chart is designed for two contrast colors, but only the main color and one contrast color are used in each row, so you could easily make this with anywhere from one to six contrast colors. I think Lovisa's (@lovvekastickar) cream and black version is especially Sari-coded.

 

Image © Marie Amelie Designs

Last but not least, I wanted to talk about the Kudzo Cardigan by Marie Amelie Designs. While it isn't a direct double for any of Sari's pieces, I kept coming back to it as an example of sophisticated, delicate design. Worked seamlessly at a loose DK gauge, this sweater would be a wonderful layer in a handknit wardrobe.

 

Who are your knitting style icons? Is there another designer you'd like to see me feature next? Let me know!