Patons Knitting Patterns

A long-established pattern house

Patons has been writing knitting patterns for a very long time, and it shows in the way they are drafted: clear abbreviation lists, full size runs, tension given in the exact stitch pattern used, and no ambiguity about which yarn was in the designer's hands. That reliability is the reason so many knitters go looking for Patons knitting patterns as free PDF downloads in the first place — you can hand one to a knitter who has not picked up needles for a decade and they will get a wearable garment out of it.

What is in this collection

• Women's garments: the Sara, Chloe and Sophie sweaters, Julie and Leila cardigans, lace tops and vests, and jackets and wraps in Smoothie DK.
• Family and aran knits: crew and high-neck cardigans in Wool Blend Aran, sized across the household.
• Baby and children's: Cotton Bamboo jackets, hats and blankets, Fairytale Soft booties, a wrap cardigan, and a child's reindeer sweater.
• Accessories: beanies in Wool Blend Aran and Diploma Gold DK, Fair Isle mittens in Merino Extrafine DK.
• Seasonal: The Stag Christmas jumper and other festive knits.
• Summer knits: jumpers, wraps and jackets in Patons 100% Cotton DK and 4 Ply.

Choosing a pattern by yarn

Patons designs are written around specific Patons bases, and the base tells you a lot about the finished garment. Diploma Gold DK is a wool-blend workhorse: springy, hard-wearing, good for anything with rib or texture. Smoothie DK is a soft acrylic that washes easily and suits everyday cardigans and children's clothes. Wool Blend Aran gives you warmth and quick progress. 100% Cotton DK and 4 Ply are for summer tops and lace, where you want stitch definition and coolness but should expect the fabric to have no memory. Cotton Bamboo is the baby yarn with drape and a slight sheen. Merino Extrafine 120 and 170 are the colourwork and fine-knit options.

Reading an older pattern

If you are working from a leaflet written years ago, three things catch people out. Sizes were often given in inches and cut differently from modern ease, so always check the finished measurement rather than the size label. Yarn names change, so if a base is no longer available, match the metres per 50g and swatch. And older patterns sometimes assume knowledge that modern ones spell out — a phrase like "shape shoulders in the usual way" means short rows or step decreases, and a quick search of the technique will save you a lot of guessing.

Tension, finishing and care

Knit the swatch. Patons patterns state tension precisely, and a garment knitted half a stitch out over 10cm will be several centimetres out across the chest. Block the pieces before seaming — it flattens rolling stocking stitch edges and makes mattress stitch far easier. Wash according to the ball band of the yarn you actually used, not the one printed in the pattern, and dry flat. Fair Isle mittens and colourwork yokes should be blocked while damp over a form so the floats relax and the pattern sits evenly.

Patons pattern questions

Are there free Patons knitting patterns to download as PDFs? Yes, a number of the designs in this collection are free downloads; others are paid PDFs or printed leaflets.

Can I use a different yarn? Yes, if you match the tension and metreage. Substituting fibre changes drape, so swatch and wash before committing.

Which Patons patterns are good for beginners? The beanies, baby hats and simple blankets. They use basic stitches and forgive small errors.

What does DK mean in these patterns? Double knitting, the standard mid-weight yarn worked on roughly 4mm needles.

Do the patterns come in multiple sizes? Most garment patterns give a full run of sizes with finished chest measurements listed for each.