Your days are full. It’s time to feel fulfilled.
Size-inclusive knitting & crochet patterns for your everyday life
Friend, you spend so much time caring for everyone else — it's time to reclaim a small pocket of that time for yourself.
Let go of the guilt that comes with picking up your needles.
At Kirsten Joel Designs, you'll find truly size-inclusive, coastal-inspired knitting patterns designed with thoughtful shaping — pieces that fit your changing body and slip right into your everyday life, stitch by stitch.
KNITS for your everyday.
Every pattern is graded with thoughtful shaping — not just more sizes — so it actually fits the body you have today.
Elevated, effortless, everyday knit & crochet patterns for your everyday, beautifully chaotic life.
Lace & cable stitches to fulfill you.
Restorative textured stitches to settle you.
Design Information
Sencillo is the Spanish word for “simple,” and this pullover & tee set is delightfully simple with the right amount of thoughtful details to nail that effortless fit. The easy shape, classic v-neck, and scoop neck options, and casual drop shoulders combine to create a perfect three-season pullover or tee. Knit in a dk-weight cotton & linen blend, you’ll find yourself reaching for the pullover or tee when you just want to look and feel good.
Sencillo is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up with side slits trimmed in garter stitch. Worked in Stockinette stitch, Sencillo features two neck opening options - a classic v-neck that is the perfect depth for summer and a flirty yet functional scoop neck.
Armhole shaping keeps the drop shoulder seam location consistent across the size range. The drop shoulders are shaped with a sloped bind off, and instructions are provided for optional cup shaping with short rows.
Once the pieces are completed, blocked, and seamed, stitches are picked up around the neckline to work the stockinette stitch neckband. There are cleverly placed decreases in the neckband to keep it from rolling.
The summer-friendly samples are knit with Knit Picks CotLin, a 70% cotton, and 30% linen blend dk-weight yarn perfect for spring, summer, and fall wear. Wear the pullover under a denim jacket for cool spring evening walks, or wear the tee over your favorite pair of jeans or shorts for a summer luncheon.
The Pirouette (Purple) sample features short sleeves, cup one bust shaping, and the scoop neck option. The Swan (White) sample features long sleeves, cup one bust shaping, and the v-neck option.
The fall-friendly samples are knit with Purl Soho Knitting Yarn, a 100% merino wool dk-weight yarn that is soft, sturdy, and delightfully springy. You’ll want to wear this sweater on your way to get your favorite latte. Or any day, really.
The North Sea (Navy Blue) sample features short sleeves and the scoop neck option. The Acorn Brown (Brown) sample features long sleeves and the v-neck option.
The Sencillo Pullover & Tee set will be a must-bring wherever you're headed. Please share your progress on Instagram by tagging me @kirstenjoel_designs and using the hashtags #sencillopulloverkjd and #sencilloteekjd. I love to see all of your works in progress and finished projects!
Design Information
The Molsa Cardigan is an ultra-cozy, bottom-up, seamed v-neck cardigan featuring an all-over textured rib pattern worked up quickly in an aran weight yarn. The all-over textured stitch pattern is easy to memorize and adds a lot of depth to what would otherwise be a basic cardigan.
Molsa offers a lot of opportunities for customization - hip or thigh length, optional afterthought pockets, vertical or horizontal button band - so you’re guaranteed to knit a version that fits perfectly into your wardrobe.
The cardigan is worked flat, back & forth in rows from the hem to the shoulders with set-in sleeve shaping for the armholes. Comfortable sleeves allow for easy winter layering. Once the cardigan pieces are completed and blocked, stitches are picked up around the front opening to work either a horizontal or attached vertical buttonband.
The cream hip-length version as shown is knit with Knit Picks Simply Wool Aran and the attached vertical buttonband. The grey thigh-length version as shown is knit with Quince & Co Osprey with afterthought pockets and the horizontal button band.
Wear Molsa at home snuggled in front of the fire or wear it on a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some hot cocoa mix for a fun afternoon treat with the kiddos. However you wear it, the Molsa Cardigan will be a delightful addition to your everyday handmade wardrobe.
Please share your progress on Instagram by tagging me @kirstenjoel_designs and using the hashtag #molsacardigankjd. I love to see all of your works in progress and finished projects!
Design Information
Your Slipover is a bottom-up, seamed vest featuring an allover mock cable pattern, split side seams, and classic 1x1 ribbing at the hem, armholes, and neckband. Your Slipover is worked flat, back and forth in rows from the hem to the shoulders. The classic armhole shaping leaves room for movement and the high crew neck is flattering while allowing for multiple layering options.
Once the slipover is completed and blocked, stitches are picked up around the neckline and armholes to work the 1x1 ribbing.
The sample is knit with Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted, a 100% Peruvian wool yarn that is perfect for all your cold weather layering needs. You’ll find yourself pairing this with high waisted jeans, pencil skirts, and chic trousers for office wear over a delicate blouse.
With its classic stitch pattern and comfortable fit, Your Slipover will be a thoughtful addition to your everyday handmade wardrobe.
Please share your progress on Instagram by tagging me @kirstenjoel_designs and using the hashtag #yourslipover. I love to see all of your works in progress and finished projects!
I’m so glad you’re here.
A note from Kirsten…
I restarted this brand in 2021 from Charleston, SC, as a new mom trying to figure out the right balance between family, work, and my needs. I struggled with mom guilt whenever I took time out for myself, figuring out my new personal style for a changed body, and making meaningful connections with other women.
After several missteps, I knew something needed to change. Through knitting, I started to let go of the mom guilt that came with taking “me-time.” Knitting enabled me to focus on myself in a way that aligned with my family & personal values.
Now, I’m building a community of women with beautifully chaotic lives, a shared desire to fit knitting into everyday life, and the support to give to themselves as much as they give to others.
This space is about so much more than knitting. It’s an invitation to fulfill a full life, curate a hand-knit wardrobe that embraces you, and connect with women like you.
Thank you for your support — this space truly would be nothing without you, and I am so honored when you cast on a Kirsten Joel Design.
I’m so thankful you’re here and ready to add fulfillment to your life.
make yourself at home
Find your next fulfilling knitting project.
Read honest yarn reviews and tutorials to maximize your time
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say hello to your next cast on
FAQs
what makes Kirsten Joel Designs Size-inclusive?
1
Kirsten Joel Designs offers garment patterns ranging from 26” - 70” actual chest measurement with consistent ease across the size range. All garment patterns include armhole shaping, shoulder shaping, back neck shaping, and optional cup shaping for the optimal fit.
Who are Kirsten Joel Designs Patterns for?
2
Intermediate to advanced knitters or crocheters, not total beginners, who enjoy lace, cable, or texture stitches.
What skill level do I need to knit a Kirsten Joel Designs Pattern?
3
Patterns are written for knitters and crocheters comfortable with basic stitches, increasing and decreasing, short-rows, picking up stitches, blocking, and seaming.
How Long does it take to knit a Kirsten Joel Designs Pattern?
4
Kirsten Joel Designs patterns are designed to be knit for the process of knitting. Each pattern is designed to be portable, to be worked on in short, real life sessions (10-60 minutes a day). It can take as long or as little time as you’d like.
what makes Kirsten Joel Designs patterns coastal-inspired?
5
Each Kirsten Joel Designs pattern reflects a coastal sensibility: relaxed yet refined, grounded in natural textures and neutral tones. These patterns are designed to move with you through your everyday, and to be lived in.
6
How Do I get in touch with you?
You can reach me anytime via our contact page or email. I aim to respond quickly—usually within one to two business days.
Tidal Creek was inspired by the many salt marshes sprinkled throughout Charleston, South Carolina. There is a magic that happens where the pluff mud creates tall, strong, vibrant green grasses that reach confidently into the bright blue sky.
A tidal creek is a part of the marsh that slowly winds its way to the vast ocean. These creeks are full of life - white egrets, crabs, dolphins, and even alligators.
This pullover is my homage to these beautiful marshes and the grass that borders the creek pathway. It starts with a simple eyelet lace stitch pattern at the hem that evokes the tall marsh grass and transitions to a more delicate lace pattern that represents how the grass eases into the sky and the clouds floating above.
Tidal Creek features an easy shape, wide casual boatneck and drop shoulders to create the perfect three-season pullover in your favorite sport weight yarn. You’ll find yourself reaching for the pullover on bright spring mornings and crisp winter afternoons, each time feeling transported to this magical marsh.
The body of Tidal Creek is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up and seamed. Armhole shaping is worked to keep the drop shoulder seam location consistent across the size range. The drop shoulders are shaped with a sloped bind off, and instructions are provided for an optional cup shaping with short rows.
Once the body pieces are completed and seamed, stitches are picked up around the armhole and worked from the bicep to the cuff in the round with a few short rows to create a gentle cap for an optimal fit and easy movement in the underarm.
Stitches are picked up around the neckline to work an i-cord bind-off for a simple yet elegant neckline trim.
The two samples are knit with Little Skein Harvest Sport in Blue Christmas (blue-green) and Camellia Fiber Co Merino Sport in Camellia (pink).
Harvest Sport is a 100% non-superwash Merino-Rambouillet wool that’s perfect for wearing against the skin all year round. Harvest Sport wool is fully grown and spun in the US, next-to-skin soft thanks to its 21-micron count, and the 3-ply construction is bouncy, elastic, and squishy. The tight twist makes for a long-lasting piece that resists pilling longer than traditional merino wool yarns.
CFC Merino Sport is 100% Merino wool yarn that delivers blissful warmth without overheating. It is beautifully spun, with a firm twist and round shape, making it ideal for rendering crisp stitch definition and lace knitting. The yarn also has an extraordinary amount of spring and bounce, which makes for an incredible "smoosh factor" in the finished project.
Tidal Creek will be an essential and versatile pullover in your closet. Please share your progress on Instagram by tagging me @kirstenjoel_designs and using the hashtags #tidalcreekkjd. I love to see all of your works in progress and finished projects!