Knitting Cozy Fall 2025 Sweaters (Plus Sewing, Books & Baking Updates!)

Hello friends! It feels so good to be back with you this week after a little unexpected break. If you’re new here, welcome to YoungFolk Knits. I’m Kaci, and around here we talk about all things fiber arts. That means plenty of knitting, sewing, spinning, and whatever creative projects my hands happen to land on. And if you’ve been around for a while, you know I also share little bits of life on our small farm in Arkansas.

I usually keep a steady rhythm of posting, but last week I ended up sidelined with a kidney infection (10/10 do not recommend). I’m feeling much better now, and I so appreciate all the kind messages checking in. Now that I’m back, I have quite a few projects and updates to share: knitting in progress, new cast-ons, finished sewing pieces, and even a couple of books and recipes I’ve been loving. So, grab a cup of tea and let’s dive in.

Summer Slowing, Fall Knitting Energy Rising

We’ve hit mid-August, which feels wild to say out loud. School is back in session here (I homeschool, so school never really ends, but we did take a short summer pause). Between lessons and the heat, it’s been a full season.

The garden is officially done for the year. I finally waved the white flag against the relentless heat and humidity. But I’m still counting the season a win: we had wonderful tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peppers, and even some sweet watermelons. I was able to put up jars of tomato juice and stock the pantry, which always makes me happy. Now the focus can shift fully to fiber projects, which feels just right as fall starts to peek around the corner.

What I’m Wearing

Before we chat about what’s on my needles, let me share today’s outfit. I’m wearing a cozy wool hat from Degen that I picked up after Reinbeck a few years ago. It’s more of a fall/winter piece, but sometimes I break the rules and wear it anyway in summer. https://degen.us

My dress is a Skyline Dress, the very first one I ever sewed, made out of washed linen. It’s flowy, soft, and comfortable. I love it layered with a cardigan, and I’ll probably wear it that way in the fall. It’s not the most bra-friendly dress, and the strap pattern didn’t turn out quite how I envisioned, but overall it’s still a favorite. https://sydgraham.com/products/skyline-dress-sewing-pattern

Knitting Projects on the Needles!

Take a look at the latest projects I have been working on.

PeatLands Sweater Test Knit

The first knitting project I’m excited about is the PeatLands Sweater, a test knit for Cheryl of Coco amour Knits. I’m knitting mine with Rowan Felted Tweed from Wool & Company. Buying a sweater’s quantity of yarn even came with a bulk discount, which made me happy.

• https://www.woolandcompany.com/collections/rowan-felted-tweed

This pattern has a circular yoke with colorwork that shifts between main and contrast colors. At first, I followed the instructions and switched colors at the yoke, but the brown shade I chose didn’t play well with the black. It ended up looking muddy instead of the rich, earthy look I was hoping for.

After checking with Cheryl, I decided to keep the main color black all the way through and just use the gray and brown shades as contrasts. I frogged back and re-knit, and now I’m so much happier. It finally matches the vision I had in my head. Sometimes that’s just what knitting requires: trial, error, and a little flexibility.

I’m knitting this on my Lantern Moon wooden needles, which helped me hit gauge when my metal ones didn’t. Switching needle material can make a surprising difference!

• https://www.lanternmoon.com

Prospect Pullover

Another test knit on my needles is the Prospect Pullover by Tori Yu. It’s a drop-shoulder design, and I’ve finished both the front and back and joined them together. Next up is the collar.

The collar calls for US 4 needles, which gave me a chance to try something new: Addi Rocket Squared needles. They’re shaped like a cube with a textured surface, and I’ve heard they can be easier on hands if you deal with fatigue or pain. I’ll report back once I’ve given them a real try. So far, the cords are my only concern. They tend to hold memory, unlike my beloved Chiaogoo cords, which behave exactly the way I want them to. If you’ve tried these needles, let me know what you think!

• https://geni.us/addirocket2needles

A New Cast-On: The Vair Sweater

Yes, I’ve started another project (no one is surprised). After chatting with my friend Gudrun Johnston and some other fiber friends, I couldn’t resist joining in on her knit-along for the Vair Sweater from The Shetland Trader: Heritage Book 3.

• https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vair

This pattern has a mix of lace and colorwork with a distinctly 70s vibe. I fell in love with the brown version pictured in the book and had already purchased the yarn years ago, so the timing felt perfect. I’m using Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool, which comes in handy 25g balls, perfect for colorwork. And let me just say, this wool spit-splices like a dream, which makes joining yarn nearly effortless.

I’m going with the plain body, fitted sleeves, and a turtleneck. It’s knit bottom-up with a steek for the sleeves, which is always a little thrilling. The lace repeat is only two rows, so it’s easy to memorize. Lace has always been my favorite thing to knit, possibly even more than cables or colorwork. So I’m really enjoying this one!

Fishy Makealong Coming Soon

Speaking of fun projects, I’m thrilled to announce that our Fishy Makealong is officially happening starting September 1st! This will be a relaxed, community-focused event where we create anything fish- or fisherman-inspired.

That could mean knitting patterns with fish motifs, fisherman’s rib, sewing something cozy, making fish-themed stitch markers, even weaving or beading. Whips are welcome, and it’s open to all kinds of makers, not just knitters. I’ll be sharing more details soon, but I’m already bubbling over with ideas.

Sewing Updates

I’ve also been busy at the sewing machine.

Skyline Dress #2

I made another version, this time in a bright gingham fabric from Merchant & Mills. The red, pink, orange, and aqua grid makes it cheerful and fun. I hacked it with a front tie (thanks to Sydney Graham’s tutorial), which makes the fit more adjustable and much easier to wear. I also added extra gathers in the tiers, which gave it more flow without drowning my frame.

Nova Jumpsuit

I finally made the Nova Jumpsuit from True Bias in a deep pine green jersey tencel fabric. The fabric is buttery soft, almost like modal, and it feels like wearing secret pajamas. The tapered legs with elastic at the ankles give it a polished touch. I sewed this mostly on my regular machine using a stretch stitch, and it worked beautifully. This might be one of my comfiest makes yet.

• https://truebias.com/products/nova-jumpsuit-size-0-18

I’ve got a couple more finished pieces waiting in the wings but I’ll save those for next time.

What I’ve Been Reading

Lately, I’ve been in the mood for good books, especially ones with nature or farm themes.

The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life by Helen Wybrow. This is my next read, about stewarding a 200-acre conserved farm in Vermont. It looks thoughtful, inspiring, and right up my alley (I’ve always dreamed of being a shepherdess).

• https://geni.us/thesaltstonesbook

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed – I finally picked this one up after feeling like the last person who hadn’t read it. I’m just getting into it, but I love books that combine adventure with personal transformation.

• https://geni.us/fromlosttofoundbook

Gluten-Free Baking Win

And because no week is complete without something sweet, I recently tried the gluten-free carrot cake recipe from The Loopy Whisk. As someone with celiac disease, I’m always hunting for good GF recipes, and this one was a home run. The cake was moist and flavorful, but the frosting stole the show—light, fluffy, and perfectly tangy. I think letting the cream cheese soften just right made all the difference. My kids devoured it, which is always the ultimate stamp of approval.

• https://theloopywhisk.com/2023/03/19/easy-gluten-free-carrot-cake/

Video!

Wrapping Up

So, that’s a peek at what’s been going on around here: knitting test projects, casting on new sweaters, sewing garments I can’t stop wearing, and sneaking in good reads and bakes when I can. I’m grateful to be back creating after being under the weather, and I’m extra excited about the Fishy Makealong coming soon.

If you’ve been working on any fun projects—knitting, sewing, or otherwise—I’d love to hear about them. And if you’re tempted by any of the sweaters I mentioned, maybe this is your sign to cast on something new.

Until next time, happy knitting, y’all!