Why Hayfield patterns suit new knitters
Hayfield built its reputation on practical family knitting: yarns that go in the washing machine, patterns that do not assume you have knitted for twenty years, and instructions written in the plain British style with a clear tension square, needle sizes and ball quantities up front. That combination makes this collection a sensible place to knit your first cardigan or your first baby set. Patterns download instantly as PDFs, and many are graded across a run of sizes from newborn up to adult.
What the collection covers
- Baby and pram sets – matinee coats, cardigans, bonnets, booties and blankets in DK and 4 ply.
- Children's jumpers and cardigans, often in machine-washable DK with simple textures.
- Everyday adult knits – round-neck jumpers, boxy cardigans, waistcoats and tabards.
- Accessories such as hats, scarves and mittens, useful for using up single balls.
- Chunky and aran quick makes for anyone who wants a finished garment in a fortnight.
Reading a Hayfield pattern
The layout is traditional and worth understanding. Sizes run across the top and appear in brackets throughout, so highlight your size before you start – it saves a great deal of counting back. Ball quantities are given per size, and the tension line tells you how many stitches and rows to 10cm over the stated stitch. Do the tension square. It takes twenty minutes and it is the only thing standing between you and a cardigan two sizes out. If you get more stitches than stated, your knitting is tight and you need a larger needle; fewer stitches means a smaller needle.
Yarn, washing and everyday wear
Most Hayfield patterns call for washable wool-nylon or acrylic-blend yarns, which is precisely what you want for children's clothes and baby knits. They keep their colour, survive repeated washing and dry quickly. The trade-off is that acrylic-heavy blends have less spring than pure wool, so ribbing can slacken over time; working the ribbing on a needle a size smaller than the body keeps cuffs and welts snug. If you want a softer result next to a baby's skin, a superwash merino at the same tension substitutes cleanly.
From cast-on to finished garment
Traditional Hayfield garments are usually knitted flat in pieces and seamed, which is a fair amount of sewing but does mean you can knit a sleeve on the bus without wrestling a whole jumper, which means the finishing is where the garment is won or lost. Block each piece to the measurements on the pattern schematic before you sew. Join side and sleeve seams with mattress stitch a full stitch in from the edge, and use backstitch across the shoulders where you want firmness rather than stretch. Set sleeves in by pinning the centre of the sleeve head to the shoulder seam first, then easing the rest evenly. Sew buttons on last, after the bands have been blocked, so the spacing is true. A garment that looks average on the needles very often looks entirely respectable once it has been blocked, seamed and buttoned properly, so do not judge your work until that stage.
Hayfield knitting questions
Are there free Hayfield knitting patterns? Yes, a number of patterns in this collection are free instant PDF downloads.
Can I use a different yarn? Yes, as long as you match the tension stated and check the yardage rather than the ball count.
Are these patterns good for beginners? Many are written with new knitters in mind, especially the simpler baby sets and accessories.
What needle sizes do I need? Most DK designs use 4mm and 3.25mm; aran and chunky patterns use larger needles. Check each pattern.
How do I know how much yarn to buy? Use the ball quantity for your size, buy a single dye lot and add a spare ball if you plan to lengthen sleeves or body.
