Patterns

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Find inspiration for your next knitting project

Mayflower's knitting universe is an oasis of inspiration. You probably know the feeling - you love to knit and crochet, but you're missing the right pattern. We understand. We're crazy about yarn ourselves and love knitting and crocheting as much as you do – because who can imagine a whole day without having had yarn in their hands, right?

Quality crochet and knitting patterns

You can explore both free knitting patterns and crochet patterns by clicking the link.

Our selection of patterns is broad, covering designs from the latest trends, through the more classic style, and back to retro. Regardless of whether it's a knitting pattern or a crochet pattern, we aim to provide ones that are easy to understand and of the highest quality.

Many associate knitted and crocheted sweaters with autumn and winter, but that's often due to choosing the wrong yarn. Therefore, we have designs for all seasons – both knitting and crochet patterns for summer and winter.

Find crochet and knitting patterns by skill level and category

Whether you have a little or a lot of experience in the creative yarn world, we have patterns tailored to your level. For beginners in knitting and crochet, we have free beginner-level crochet and knitting patterns that warmly welcome you to this new world.

Experienced and more advanced knitters can find challenging patterns with cable stitches, brioche knitting, mosaic knitting, fair isle, and much more. If you crochet, there's also plenty to choose from, including small stuffed animals and larger creations with many elements.

Regardless of your level, you'll surely find a pattern that suits you.

In the following overview, you can sort through all our knitting and crochet patterns. Do you already have a project in mind?
Find inspiration on our subpages for: accessories, baby knits, children's knits, women's knits, and men's knits.

Choose the right crochet or knitting pattern

With over 500 modern knitting patterns and nearly 100 free crochet patterns, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Which pattern should you choose? What should you pay attention to?

What do you want to make?

First and foremost, decide what you want to make. That, of course, involves deciding whether you want to crochet or knit.

We have many free patterns for knitted clothing, so here you also need to decide whether you want to knit a sweater, a top, a hat, or perhaps something entirely different.

Another consideration is the recipient. We also have a large collection of free knitting patterns for children, so it's also possible that your next project is for the little ones in the family.

It's always more enjoyable to knit when you have a clear vision of what you want to knit and who you want to knit it for.

Choose the right difficulty level

Crafting should be both fun and cozy, so it's important to find the right pattern that matches your skill level.

Our range includes both challenging and beginner-friendly crochet and knitting patterns, so read through the pattern before starting to ensure it's not too difficult.

Techniques and approach

In addition to difficulty level, it's also a good idea to consider if there are specific techniques or methods you're eager to try.

Do you love crocheting double crochets, or would you like to try knitting a sweater with raglan increases?

A project is always more fun when you enjoy the process, so find a pattern with the right approach.

Tips for yarn substitutions for crochet and knitting patterns

You've found the perfect pattern, and now you're ready to start your next project. The knitting pattern or crochet pattern is printed and ready, but the yarn choice in the pattern gives you pause. Perhaps it's a wool sweater, but you're allergic to wool – or maybe the yarn is simply no longer available.

If you haven't been in this situation before, it's easy to think you'll have to give up the project and find a new pattern. But fortunately, it's not that bad. You have the option to substitute the original yarn with an alternative.

The guide below primarily applies to knitted or crocheted clothing where it's important to achieve a precise size. If you're making blankets, crocheted stuffed animals, or similar items, it's not as critical to match the exact size, making it even easier to substitute for a different yarn quality.

Keep an eye on gauge

First and foremost, check the gauge of the original yarn for the pattern. Gauge is crucial when choosing alternative yarn.

If you're making clothing and don't match the gauge of the original yarn, you'll find that the garment either ends up too small or too large.

Gauge is always stated as x stitches = approximately 10 centimeters, making it easy to compare across different yarn qualities.

In some patterns, it's also important to ensure the number of stitches per 10 centimeters matches. This is especially true if the length of, for example, a sweater is determined by a specific number of increases.

Consider fiber type

Our Mayflower Easy Care and Mayflower Cotton 8/4 yarns have nearly the same gauge, so it's tempting to think they can freely replace each other. They can in some patterns, but you should be aware of the differences in fiber types.

All types of fibers have different properties. For example, wool yarn is lightweight and elastic, while cotton yarn is more dense and does not stretch. Therefore, knitted or crocheted items will have very different characteristics depending on the fiber type.

To ensure a good result, it's a good idea to choose a yarn quality where the fiber type is similar to the original yarn. Ideally, you substitute, for example, one type of wool yarn with another type of wool yarn.

If you're unsure, it's always a good idea to read more about the specific yarn you're considering. We often advise on which projects the yarn is best suited for.

Calculate yarn length

When substituting one yarn quality with another, ensure you still have enough yarn. Yarn skeins can have different yardage, and if the substitute has a shorter yardage, you'll need more skeins – otherwise, you risk not having enough yarn for the entire project.

Always make a gauge swatch

You should always make a gauge swatch before starting a project, and it's especially important if you're not using the original yarn.

When making a gauge swatch, knit a small square in the yarn to check that the gauge matches. Remember to wash the swatch to ensure the gauge remains correct after washing.

Yarn substitution in practice

We've discussed how to find a yarn substitution, but that's been mostly theoretical. So perhaps it's relevant to look at a practical example. What do you do, for example, if you find an easy knitting pattern for a sweater in our Easy Care Classic wool yarn and you can't tolerate wool?

First and foremost, you should check the gauge of the original yarn. Here, Easy Care Classic has a gauge of 22 stitches = 10 centimeters on needle size 4.

In theory, Mayflower Cotton 8/8 is close to this gauge with 20 stitches = 10 centimeters on needle size 4, but cotton is not elastic, and therefore, the finished sweater may have a very different look that might not match your expectation. So let's look for other alternatives.

The best bet is likely Mayflower Amalfi, which consists of 52% cotton and 48% viscose. Here, the viscose contributes lightness and helps maintain shape, resulting in a finish more similar to the original yarn. The gauge is also quite good, as it's 21 stitches = 10 centimeters.

But we're not done yet; we also need to consider the yardage. Let's assume you needed 10 skeins of Easy Care Classic for the original pattern. Our Easy Care Classic has a yardage of 106 meters per skein, so a total of 1060 meters of yarn is needed for the pattern.

In comparison, Amalfi only has a yardage of 95 meters per skein, so we need to check if there's enough yarn. We do this by dividing 1060 meters by 95 meters per skein = 11.16 skeins. That means you'll need 11.6 skeins of Amalfi to knit the pattern, which, for safety, is rounded up to 12 skeins.

And now, all that's left is to make a gauge swatch. There was a difference of one stitch in their gauge, so you may need to adjust with half a needle size. It's also possible you can make it work without adjustment, so it's time to get started on your knitting project.

If you're having trouble with a crochet or knitting pattern

Even the most experienced crafting enthusiast can run into issues with an otherwise simple knitting pattern. When this happens, there are some good tips that can help you along the way.

Read through the entire pattern again

You should always read through the entire pattern again before starting a project. This way, you'll get an overview and can see where the most challenging elements of the pattern are.

If there are problems with a pattern, it's a good idea to reread the entire pattern from start to finish. It may be that you misunderstood something when you first read through the pattern.

Make a small test

Often, it's just one element that can be tricky in a knitting pattern. Perhaps it's a lace pattern that doesn't look right or you're struggling with some increases.

It can be frustrating to start over again and again, so make it easier on yourself by making a small swatch to test the technique. Then, you can resume work when you have it sorted out.

Get help from someone you know

It can be invaluable to get help from an experienced knitter or crocheter – and it's especially good if you can sit down together in person.

It can be both a learning experience and a fun time, which can end up being quality time. Even if you're experienced, looking at the pattern with someone else can be very helpful.

Ask for help online

Many people use Mayflower's free patterns, so there are likely others who can help you with a specific pattern.

On Mig & Mayflower on Facebook, you can ask questions to others about Mayflower's patterns. Often, you can connect with others who have followed the same pattern.

Send us a message

If you've tried other options without success, send us a message. We're happy to help you succeed with your pattern – and at the same time, we can double-check if adjustments are needed and if any elements need clarification.