Lana Grossa Knitting Patterns

The Lana Grossa look

Lana Grossa designs tend towards clean, wearable European shapes: generous boxy jumpers, longline cardigans and jackets, simple raglans, and pieces that let an interesting yarn do the talking. There is a lot of texture — rice stitch, moss, wide ribs, cables set against reverse stocking stitch — and comparatively little fussy shaping, which makes many of the garments more approachable than they look on the page. Because the patterns are written for the brand's own yarns, the yarn character and the stitch pattern are matched deliberately rather than by accident.

What is in the collection

• Jumpers and cardigans: the bulk of the range, in everything from fine 4 ply to chunky.
• Jackets and coats: structured pieces in heavier yarns, often with straightforward set-in or drop shoulders.
• Accessories: hats, cowls, scarves and mitts, usually single-skein or two-skein makes.
• Seasonal collection pieces: designs pulled from the brand's magazine collections, sold individually as PDFs.
• Baby and children's knits: quick garments in soft, washable qualities.

Reading the pattern and choosing a size

Sizes are given as body or finished measurements in centimetres rather than as dress sizes, and this is the more reliable way to choose. Measure a jumper you already like across the chest, double the figure, and pick the size whose finished chest is nearest, allowing more for an oversized look and less for a fitted one. Some patterns are published in German; the numbers, chart symbols and needle sizes in millimetres carry across unchanged, and a short glossary of terms covers most of the rest. Do check whether measurements refer to the body or the finished garment before you cast on.

Substituting yarn sensibly

If the exact Lana Grossa quality is unavailable, substitute on three things in this order: tension, metres per 50g, and fibre behaviour. Meeting the stated tension is non-negotiable, because a half-stitch difference over 10cm becomes several centimetres across a body. Metreage matters because ball counts mislead — a lofty alpaca-wool blend and a dense cotton at the same weight can differ hugely. Fibre behaviour decides whether a design keeps its shape: a crisp textured stitch pattern designed for a springy wool goes limp in a drapey viscose blend, and a fluid cardigan in a heavy alpaca will hang longer than the schematic suggests.

Tension, needles and getting texture right

Knit a tension square at least 15cm across in the actual stitch pattern, not stocking stitch, since rice stitch and broken ribs pull in far more than plain knitting. Wash and dry it as you will treat the garment before measuring the middle. For textured stitch patterns, a needle with a moderate point and a smooth join handles the constant knit-purl transitions best, and a stitch marker at each repeat keeps a wide rib honest across a hundred-stitch row.

Blocking, seaming and care

Block the pieces before seaming and everything lines up more easily; wet blocking suits wool and wool blends, while steam is kinder to anything with a high synthetic content. Mattress stitch gives an almost invisible vertical seam when worked in the project yarn, and backstitch is firmer across shoulders. Weave in ends along the line of the stitches so they do not show on the right side. Wash finished garments by hand in lukewarm water unless the ball band says superwash, dry flat, and fold rather than hang so the shoulders keep their shape.

Lana Grossa pattern questions

Do I have to use Lana Grossa yarn? No. Match the stated tension and total metreage and any comparable yarn of the right weight will work.

Are the patterns in English? Both English and German editions appear here; the listing states the language of each PDF.

Are they suitable for beginners? The simpler drop-shoulder and accessory patterns are. Fitted jackets and multi-panel textures suit knitters with a garment or two behind them.

How do I know how much yarn to buy? The pattern lists the quantity per size; buy to the metreage, in a single dye lot, plus a spare ball if you plan to lengthen sleeves or body.

Are these instant downloads? Most are PDF patterns you can download and print at home.