Unspun yarn pattern recommendations – beginner's guide, Part 3

If you've worked through Part 1 and Part 2, you know what unspun yarn is and how to handle it. The question that follows is the obvious one: what do I knit first?

This is my answer – six patterns arranged roughly in order of complexity, so you can match the project to where you are with unspun right now. They're all designs I've knit myself, but the principles apply to any pattern. If you have a favourite designer whose work you'd like to adapt for unspun, the same logic holds.

Start where you are. Build from there.

Start simple – stockinette.

Get used to the yarn before anything else

For a first unspun project, nothing beats stockinette. It lets you focus entirely on the yarn – the feel, the weight, the way the fibres behave on the needle – without the distraction of pattern.

Two of my designs were built specifically for this introduction: the Wayfarer Raglan (top-down) and the Lo·ki Raglan (bottom-up). Both use simple, easily managed techniques – mostly stockinette, with a bit of purling for ribbing and a few German short rows to shape the shoulders and neck.

Start with stockinette, and let the yarn teach you. By the time you cast off, you'll have a confident sense of how unspun behaves – and the rest of this list will feel less daunting.

Add colour – stranded.

Two colours, short repeats, big payoff

Once you've finished a stockinette sweater (or if you've decided you'd rather not start with a basic one), try a simple stranded colourwork project. Begin manageable: two colours at a time, alternated frequently, no long floats.

The Barren Land Sweater is a great entry point. Top-down, two-colour stranded with 1–3 stitch repeats. The increases are placed cleverly on single-colour rows, and the German short rows shape the neck and shoulders.

"Two colours, short repeats, no long floats."

The recipe for a first colourwork sweater

The pattern is written for two colours, but feel free to alternate the contrast on different colourwork sections – check Ravelry project pages and Instagram for endless inspiration. If you're using Nutiden from Höner och Eir – the original yarn for Barren Land – this is also a chance to explore how different blends and colourways behave.

For more on the techniques themselves – tension, dominance, catching floats – see my Five essential tips for stranded colourwork.

Try texture.

Cables, slip-stitches, and the rustic feel

Texture might feel intimidating with unspun – especially if you've only just mastered the basic knit stitch without breakage. Don't let that put you off. Unspun is gorgeous in texture, from simple slip-stitch patterns to full cables to lace. The key, as with colour, is to start simple.

My Fisherman's Raglan Sweater is the one I recommend most. It features a relaxing stitch pattern that appears every second round and works only on the front – a great balance between calming stockinette and a brief departure into texture. The pattern was designed with Wooldreamers using their Manchelopi unspun – soft, spongy, squishy, with that "just one more row" quality.

If you're not ready to commit to a whole sweater, try the Tåkesti Shawl – a large rustic shawl with an easy, repeatable slip-stitch pattern. I designed and knit mine in Brunte, an older Nutiden colourway with high lanolin – truly a remarkable sensory experience.

Both at once – colour and texture.

For the slightly more ambitious

Once you've tried colourwork and texture separately, the Bjørk Raglan combines both. Designed with two strands of Nutiden held with two strands of Plötulopi for contrast, it features a simple blend of stranded colourwork and slip-stitch. The result is incredibly cosy, lightweight, and forgiving to knit.

It's also a great chance to play with colour – alternating shades through the rows, or using one of the variegated Nutiden colourways for natural visual interest.

Go single-strand.

The airier, more ethereal version of unspun

Most knitters reach for unspun double-stranded. It's easier, more forgiving, and produces a sturdier fabric. But there's a whole different garment hiding in single-strand unspun – airy, ethereal, surprisingly warm. There's truly nothing else quite like it.

"Easier than you'd think. Worth it for the result."

On single-strand unspun

For a first try, the Fernlys Sweater is the right place to start. Designed for a single strand of Nutiden, knit top-down, it features manageable colourwork and slip-stitch texture. The short colour-change distances mean less strain on individual strands, which prevents breakage. The Estonian braid at the edge is a satisfying finishing detail.

Fernlys is also unusually versatile – it works just as comfortably double-stranded as single-stranded, by simply switching the needle size. If you've done a few unspun projects already, this is a great way to test the single-strand approach without commitment.

Cut into it – steeking.

Why unspun is the best yarn for your first steek

Counterintuitive as it sounds, unspun is the best yarn for a first steek. After all the talk of treating it gently and avoiding breakage, taking scissors to your sweater might feel ridiculous. But unspun is exceptionally forgiving here – the natural stickiness of the fibres, especially in high-lanolin yarns, keeps the cut edges from fraying.

The Lo·ki Cardigan is the pattern I'd send you to. It's the cardigan counterpart to the Lo·ki Raglan – same simple stockinette body, with a steek down the front. The pattern includes guidance on reinforcement, buttonholes, bands, optional patch pockets, and collar options. With unspun, you can skip the backstitch or crochet reinforcement entirely – felting the edges is enough.

A final word: this is your journey.

Experiment. Find what works for you.

There's no right way to explore unspun yarn. Try different techniques, different patterns, push your boundaries or stay comfortably within them. The aim is to enjoy the process.

And a quick note on adapting other patterns: unspun's adaptability means you can use it in many patterns originally written for spun yarn. Knit a gauge swatch first – pay particular attention to row gauge – and adjust your needle size accordingly. The reverse works too: any DK, Aran, or worsted spun yarn that matches gauge can substitute for a pattern written for double-stranded unspun. For best results, use natural, woolen-spun yarns.

Whether you start with the Wayfarer Raglan or dive headfirst into steeking with the Lo·ki Cardigan, every stitch is a learning experience. Take it slow, and enjoy.