Knitwear is arguably one of the only articles of clothing that can transcend decades, seasons, styles and the Claremont Colleges. From cozy cardigans to crochet tank tops, the stitched style options are endless and, thankfully, largely embraced by 5C students from every subsect.
Setting aside the obvious fact that knitwear is fashionable in too many ways to describe, part of what makes this category so enticing is the craft that is put into the art of knitting. From my grandmother to the girl sitting three seats down in my 8 a.m. class, the process of weaving intricate patterns with yarn withstands the test of time and is perhaps the true definition of a hobby.
Speaking with some knitters from across a range of backgrounds and ages, I can boil it all down to one thing: Knitting is fun! The expert needle-wielders that I spoke with tell me that there is great satisfaction in making something from scratch, especially an item that can be worn time and time again.
“I knit for a lot of reasons: One, because I love nice sweaters; two, because I love the process; three, honestly it’s so gratifying in this digital age when you can say you made something tangible and wearable instead of just a Word document of academic arguments,” Nichola Monroe SC ’27 shares.
My closet is stuffed to the brim with hand-knit sweaters that were gifted to me by my grandmother. A large part of her motivation for knitting came from the joy others feel when given a product made with love and care. So much so that the entire pile of sweaters from her comes tumbling down like an avalanche, burying me when I try to reach for one.
Beyond the simple sweater, recently I’ve been spotting a plethora of fun cardigans in a variety of colors, my favorite being a bright cherry red. I love seeing them styled in unique ways, such as only clasping the top button or rearranging the buttons to create an off-shoulder situation or reversing it for an interesting buttoned back.
“From my grandmother to the girl sitting three seats down in my 8 a.m. class, the process of weaving intricate patterns with yarn withstands the test of time and is perhaps the true definition of a hobby.“
Big chunky sweaters are all the rage across the schools and, as we all know, I am a fan of an oversized silhouette. Why not wear a comfy outfit to class that is far more stylish than the Minecraft flannel pajama pants some of y’all have been rocking up to afternoon classes in?
From a chunky Fisherman cable knit to a tight ribbed to a looser lace knitting to a bow tie, there are a plethora of patterns to try out. Like playing a fun game of Where’s Waldo, I’ve spotted possibly every type of knitwear in the 5C bubble. Cardigans, turtlenecks, wrap sweaters, scarves, hats, bags, sweater vests, pants, tank tops and more only begin to unravel the yarn ball of options.
My eyes have been delighted to take in a myriad of loosely crocheted sweaters, a trend that I think will continue to take these campuses and the world by storm. A wide stitch is perfect for layering on top of simpler tops and adapts beautifully to the transitional weather we are starting to experience. Keep it up kids — the 5C knitwear game is strong and most definitely worthy of my stamp of approval.
For springtime, may I suggest you mimic the wildflowers and indulge yourself in a colorful pastel cardigan from Free People or Sèzane? I love a butter yellow or light pink to spice up a simple jeans and white tee look.
I’m peering into my glass orb of future fashion trends and predicting a resurgence of sweater vests for springtime. The classic and nerdy look is perfect for when the weather gets warmer and paired with a t-shirt and loose jeans, creates the ultimate casual but sophisticated outfit.
Winter has given us a plethora of triangular scarves tied more for accessories’ sake than in an attempt to combat cold weather, a look that I love and will gladly carry with me into this new season. That being said, a chunky scarf is a practical purchase, adding some heat to any outfit, both literally and figuratively. I also look forward to spotting more crocheted headbands and other such yarned outfit accouterments.
According to my extensive research, namely browsing Pinterest, Vogue and every store’s website during class, a growing trend in knitwear revolves around tops with a built-in scarf or bow detail. Following this thread, I have noted that many sweaters feature interesting necklines such as collars or one-shoulder silhouettes. Reformation, for one, is killing it in this department with its twist front sweater and variety of sweater tank tops.
Stores are keeping the cozy coming with knitted sets featuring a matching top and bottom. My favorites are from Gap, Alo, Aerie and Free People. Although I’m not entirely certain of my stance on this, there have been a lot of knitted shorts cropping up all over my feeds. I think a knit skirt could also be an interesting look for this new season, and I encourage those feeling brave to strut their knitted bottoms across these colleges. After all, with the semester halfway over, there is only so much time left to stun your classmates with your stylings.
I look forward to beholding even more unique and cozy knitted masterpieces from all of y’all when I’m trotting to class. And hey, you knitters may even inspire me to one day pick up the needles and create a masterpiece — or more likely a knotted mess that resembles the ball of yarn I started with. So, I encourage my dear readers to try the craft for themselves, pull out their best knitwear, thank those who have hand-knit them something and, most importantly, create an ensemble that knits together confidence and style!
Ellen Chapman SC ’27 was born in Germany and currently calls Swarthmore, Pennsylvania home … GO BIRDS!! She loves skiing, traveling, chocolate, reading, procrastinating and quad-shot almond milk lattes!
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