All-Time Favorite Stranded Colorwork Menswear Patterns

✓Let the Interweave Knits Winter 2024 issue transport you to a winter wonderland of cozy knits! This remarkable edition features 14 extraordinary projects to immerse yourself in the uniqueness of specially crafted yarns.

For those of you who love getting lost in the beauty and creativity of stranded colorwork, we rounded up some of our all-time favorite colorwork sweater patterns designed for men—though these designs could be worn by people of any gender. From classic Fair Isle designs to updated takes on the classics, from allover patterns to projects that give you just a taste of stranded knitting, the Interweave Favorites: Men’s Colorwork Sweaters pattern collection has something for every knitter! Each pattern is available on its own, or as part of the collection.

Saddleback Mountain Knit Cardigan, by Kyle Kunnecke — Saddleback Mountain Cardigan by Kyle Kunnecke

Saddleback Mountain Cardigan

Kyle Kunnecke’s Saddleback Mountain Cardigan features a DK-weight felted tweed yarn in a blend of Merino wool, alpaca, and rayon/viscose. This yarn allows the texture to pop while also making for a soft and warm cardigan. The sweater is worked flat in pieces—no steeks required. Construction isn’t the only update to classic design—the pine tree-inspired colorwork pattern is somehow both vintage and modern!

Arkansas River Knit Pullover, by Irina Anikeeva — Arkansas River Pullover by Irina Anikeeva

Arkansas River Pullover

Colorwork projects don’t need to have lots of colors in order to be them exciting. The Arkansas River Pullover, designed by Irina Anikeeva, uses just two colors of worsted-weight yarn. Irina found inspiration in the rapids and calm of the Arkansas River for the sweater’s colorwork pattern, which appears only in bands to break up the color blocking. The pullover is worked in the round from the bottom up, with a gorgeous, sporty shawl collar.

Dublin Knit Pullover, by Varian Brandon — Dublin Pullover by Varian Brandon

Dublin Pullover

Put your colorwork skills to the test with Varian Brandon’s stunning Dublin Pullover. This is a stunning, modern take on the classic Fair Isle sweater, made with seven different colors of yarn. To ensure that the colors do not overtake the sweater’s pattern, choose shades within a similar color family and incorporate a neutral shade. This Shetland wool sweater features steeks for a classic construction, as well as corrugated ribbing to tie everything together.

Gunnislake Knit Pullover, by Meghan Babin — Gunnislake Pullover by Meghan Babin

Gunnislake Pullover

For a sweater that elevates any casual outfit, throw on the Gunnislake Pullover made by Meghan Babin. The sweater is warm and cozy, knitted with 100% wool yarn. This seamless pullover is worked in the round from the top down, with contiguous sleeves and a steeked Henley-style neckline with buttons. Bold motifs form a wide stripe across chest and upper back, highlighted by colorwork accents along the sleeve cuffs and hem.

Azure Lake Knit Sweater, by Anne Podlesak — Azure Lake Sweater by Anne Podlesak

Azure Lake Sweater

A light touch of colorwork adds interest to a simple sweater in Anne Podlesak’s Azure Lake Sweater. This bottom-up ciruclar yoke sweater features beautiful motifs at the circular yoke and wrists. Diamonds and zigzags frame a leaf-inspired motif at the yoke, and the seed stitch cuffs and hems provide a neat finish. This sweater is ideal for cool days, knitted with 100% Shetland wool yarn to keep the wearer nice and warm.

Expand your stranded colorwork skills with the Men’s Colorwork Sweaters pattern collection. Whether you choose to knit a project with two different colors of yarn or a project with seven, the final product will be a showstopper. We hope you enjoy these projects! With a variety of yarn weights, difficulty levels, and construction methods, there’s something for every knitter.