English Knitting Patterns

Looking for English knitting patterns to buy and download?

This collection gathers English-language knitting patterns written out in full instructions rather than charts-only, covering cardigans, jumpers, baby garments, toys and a run of seasonal characters. Every design here is a PDF you buy once and download, so there's no waiting for anything to arrive in the post.

The library spans independent designers and long-running yarn-brand leaflets, so you'll find both contemporary shapes and classic patterns that have been knitted many times over. Below is a practical run-through of how to pick well, so the finished piece actually looks like the photo.

Choosing a design: garment, toy or seasonal piece

Start by deciding what you actually want to finish. For wearables, Stash buster patchwork cardigan is a good shout if your stash is overflowing with oddments, since it's built around mixing colours rather than matching one dye lot throughout. If you want something sleeker, The Downtown Cardigan gives a more tailored silhouette for everyday wear. For toys and gifting, Bear (Knit a Teddy) and Elderberry Bunny are both small enough to finish in a weekend or two, and seasonal characters like Christmas Elf work well if you're building up a set of festive decorations over time; browse Christmas decoration patterns for more of that type.

Yarn weight, fibre and reading a British pattern

English patterns from UK yarn houses almost always specify weight by name rather than just a number, so you'll see 4 ply, double knitting (DK), aran and chunky used throughout this collection, for example in Cardigans in Sirdar Snuggly Double Knitting and Round Neck and V Neck Sweaters in Sirdar Click Chunky. Baby and children's patterns frequently call for washable yarns so the finished garment copes with repeated machine washing, which is why Sirdar's Snuggly and Supersoft ranges turn up often in this age bracket. If you want to substitute yarn, match the ball band gauge (tension) rather than the fibre content alone, and buy an extra ball of your main colour where you can, since dye lots do vary between batches.

Needle sizes and getting gauge right

Needle size is always printed on the pattern and tied to the stated tension square, usually measured over 10cm. Don't skip the tension swatch, especially on fitted garments like Norwegian Fir Top Down Cardigan, where even a small difference in stitches per centimetre can shift a finished cardigan out of size. Toys are more forgiving on tension since fit doesn't matter, but a tighter gauge than suggested will stop stuffing showing through the fabric, which matters more on something like CANDY Bear than it does on a jumper.

Sizing, skill level and timing a project

Baby and child sizing varies most between designers, so always check the finished chest measurement in the schematic rather than relying on the age label alone, particularly with multi-size leaflets such as Cardigans and Sweater in Sirdar Supersoft Baby DK. If you're newer to knitting, look for patterns that stick to garter and stocking stitch with simple shaping rather than cables or colourwork, and keep adult cardigans for once you're confident with sleeve setting. A small toy or a baby cardigan is realistically an evening-to-weekend project; a fitted adult cardigan with set-in sleeves takes longer, especially if you're working it alongside other things. For patterns that bundle yarn and pattern together, have a look through Made With Love by Tom Daley Knitting Kits, which can suit a more guided first project.

• Check the finished measurements, not just the stated size, before casting on
• Buy slightly more yarn than the pattern states if you're a looser knitter
• Keep dye lot numbers on the ball band in case you need to order more mid-project
• Swatch in the actual stitch pattern used in the body of the garment, not just stocking stitch

Frequently asked questions

Are these English knitting patterns free to download? Not every pattern on this page is free; most are paid PDF downloads delivered after purchase. If you specifically want no-cost options, look for patterns marked free elsewhere on the site rather than assuming everything in this collection is complimentary.

What's the difference between "English" and "British" knitting patterns? Here, "English" refers to the language the pattern is written in (full written instructions rather than symbol charts), not the designer's nationality, so you'll find patterns from UK and international designers all written in English.

Is this the same pattern library I used before? This is the current home for this style of knitting pattern shopping, with independent designer patterns sitting alongside familiar yarn-brand leaflets like those from Sirdar and Debbie Bliss.