Welcome Fall! 10 Tips to Mix Your Knitted Layers

One autumn day, improbably blue skies with relentlessly hot sun might call for short sleeves, but the next day, swiftly falling acorns and crisp air might make you wish you had worn your warmest woollies. Figuring out how to dress at this time of year can be a daunting task! But the onset of chillier temps often brings a subtle reminder to take your handknits out of storage and let them see the light of day again.

Along with changing leaves and shorter days, fall usually has its share of unexpectedly warm afternoons and cool nights that can make any wardrobe choice tricky. To the rescue: layers. Happily, we knitters are often more prepared for this fickle weather than non-knitting folks are! Most of us have knitted plenty of cozy accessories such as scarves, gloves, vests, and socks. And if not, we can enjoy planning ahead by spending a couple of evenings with a treasured skein of yarn and our trusty needles.

Fall fashion is most easily characterized not just by the clothing you put on, but also by the clothing items you can remove if the temperature rises. Learn how to layer your knits strategically, so you’ll be comfortable and feel your best—no matter what the weather brings!

Deborah Newton’s jaunty Chill Chaser Poncho melds the best elements of the season—a cute layering piece with perfect-for-now cables and large eyelets.

5 Easy Pieces

1. Vests: Vests are a stylish yet easy and useful knit—no sleeves to worry about, and just the right amount of warmth to wear over a light tee in early fall or with a long-sleeved blouse or turtleneck as crisp air appears. You won’t feel too warm in a vest knitted in a year-round fiber such as cotton or merino. And as a bonus, a vest fits easily under outerwear.

2. Camisoles, tees, and tanks: These underlayers can lay the groundwork for your outfit. Consider layering a jacket or cardigan over a top knitted from next-to-the-skin soft yarn. A lightweight, sleeveless or short-sleeved wool or cashmere piece will keep you warm and will add textural interest to your ensemble—but will also work when the October sun blazes.

3. Ponchos: Fun, flirty, and fabulous, ponchos aren’t just for the back-to-school set. A poncho (or its close cousin, the cape) is exactly right for when you just don’t want to admit that coat weather is around the corner. Ponchos are excellent outdoor wear for most fall climates, and they’re also a stylish way to layer indoors. When the temperatures drop, try mixing a poncho with a scarf for even more texture, color, and warmth!

4. Shawls: Can enough ever really be said about the versatility of a shawl (or wrap or stole)? Toss one in your tote so it’s ready to grab to ward off a chill when the clouds come out, or to add a chic layer with a pullover or a jacket in the afternoon. A lace-edged shawl knitted from wool or cashmere is ideal for dressy occasions when a coat might be too informal but the weather calls for an extra layer.

5. Cardigans: From a Chanel-inspired jacket to a fluffy coatigan, a shawl collar cabled knit to a short-sleeved accent piece, cardigans shine in the fall. Knit one in year-round wool or cotton for gentle breezes and indoor wear. Heavier cardigans can serve dual duty as outerwear when the seasons change and as layering pieces when it starts to get really cold.

Talking Texture

Let an interplay of textures do the heavy lifting as you select layers to make your fall outfits both attractive and seasonally appropriate.

Knitting cables and twisted stitches is sure to put you in a savor-the-season fall mood! Photo by rocknwool on Unsplash

1. Stretch out the season for delicate lace. Lace can be a feminine focal point when mixed with solid-color pieces in simple stitches such as stockinette, garter stitch, or ribbing. A dainty sweater can be worn over a smooth tee or blouse for warmth, and a delicate pointelle tank looks luscious worn under a cashmere or mohair V-necked pullover or a soft cardigan.

2. Think chunky yarn and large-scale eyelets. This cool-weather combo isn’t too warm on sunny days, but it’s just warm enough when the sun goes down. Yarnover eyelets can add visual interest to a pattern knitted in natural colors.

3. Cables rule right now. Fall is the season when your woollens will be on display and are less likely to be hidden by a coat. Traditional Aran patterns, statement-making giant cables, and classic allover small-scale cables—this is the time to show off your cabling skills. Pick an undyed yarn or a fall-themed color to knit a seasonal showstopper!

4. Smooth is seasonless. A stockinette or subtly textured pattern such as moss stitch is a nice foil for fabrics like corduroy and flannel. Fine-gauge stockinette pieces are the ultimate for layering: they are easy to put one on top of another, and they look lovely in hand-dyed or overdyed natural yarns.

5. Twisted stitches for the win! Relatively smooth, but eye-catching in their near architectural geometry, twisted and traveling stitches allow you to layer pieces to add warmth without bulk and to show off your sophisticated style.

Head and Fingers, Knees and Toes

The Brooklyn Mitts by Olga Putano in seasonal fall shades leave your fingers free for texting or apple picking and will keep your hands nice and warm at the same time.

When the leaves start turning, it’s a sign that all the small accessories and clothing items you’ve knitted over the years can slowly make their way back into your everyday rotation. These knitted items are a wonderful way to show off your handiwork, and you’ll be ready no matter what the weather has in store. Headbands and ear warmers are especially great, because they’re fun to knit, they can be made from almost any fiber, and they’re easily donned or doffed as the temperature changes. A headband that can do double duty as a cowl is even better!

Meg Swansen's Twisted Stitch Cowl is perfect for weekend crafting—learn a new technique and wind up with a beautiful and versatile accessory!

Handknitted gloves or mittens stowed inside the pockets of a cardigan—or a cotton or denim jacket—are invaluable this time of year. Fingerless mitts are also useful; make some for walks on chilly days, football games, apple picking, campfires, and unexpectedly cold steering wheels.

Layering knitwear for fall is about finding a perfect balance between comfort, style, and portability. Start with extra layers—you can subtract or re-add them as needed throughout the day or night. Fall gives us a chance to pull out our treasured woollens that have been waiting for cooler weather, so they can become useful again. And best of all, fall gives us the opportunity to grab our needles and cast on a fun new layering piece to enjoy making and wearing before the dreaded w* season appears.

*Winter, for those who might not dread it!

The sun is setting earlier, and knitting with yarn in a fall-inspired color can make relaxing at home even more enjoyable. Photo by Oksana Maselko on Unsplash

Farm & Fiber Knits is full of layering pieces to knit that will be wonderful for fall and beyond.