16 Irresistible, Free Knitting Patterns for Sports Fans

Fans of sports are all around. Give them perfect gifts from this collection

Do you know anyone who is a big fan of at least one sport?

If you’re like me, well over half the people in your life love sports. Also if you’re like me, you can count yourself among that number as well. (Tennis has been my favorite sport all my life, but I enjoy many others.)

The Olympic Games, just by existing in its vastness and spectacle, prove how important and vital sports can be.

The great thing about having a friend or loved one who is a sports fan is that you may well have an easy way to knit gifts for that person for the rest of their lives. If you know that person’s favorite sports team, you can look up that team’s colors and boom — you’re virtually assured of knitting a gift they’ll love.

And if you love charity knitting, the vastness of sports fandom means that you’re likely to find big fans of sports amongst your recipients.

The easiest way to incorporate those colors into a knitting project.

But if you want to add some pizzazz, this vast collection of knitting projects will be a delight to knit and perfect for sports fans, too. (I’ll even show you the project I created to celebrate my favorite tennis player.)

Sporty Scarves & Cowls

Color Block Scarf

• What you’ll need to make it: 392 yards worsted weight yarn (divided: 294 of main color and 98 of second color); US Size 9 needles

• Why you’ll love it: This scarf provides a classic look with alternating wide and narrower stripes. It’s one of five different free patterns available on the Sports Fan Knitting website. I encourage you to check out the other scarf patterns, the hat, and the sports pillow as well. To download any of these patterns, click “Free Downloads” on the left and then select the pattern of your choice.

Sports Team Striped Scarf

• What you’ll need to make it: 525 yards aran weight yarn divided evenly into 2 or 3 colors to match team; US Size 8 needles

• Why you’ll want to: This is a very simple striped scarf with one key quirk: it’s knit on the bias, so the stripes are angled. A really sharp look!

Scoreboard

• What you’ll need to make it: 600 yards DK weight yarn (though you could honestly use any weight you wish), divided into at least 2 colors to match team; US Size 7 needles

• Why you’ll want to: This is more a concept than a pattern. The idea is simple: take your favorite team’s colors and create a cowl that reflects one complete season. The design includes an explanation of how to vary the stripes based upon points scored. It was designed for football teams, but the concept can easily be altered for baseball, hockey, soccer, and other teams.

As promised, here’s a link to the hat I created based on this concept to celebrate my favorite tennis player’s best season. (And the photo is to the right!)

Sideline to Hashmarks – the Football Field Scarf

• What you’ll need to make it: 300 to 350 yards aran weight yarn (mostly green, with a little bit of white); US Size 13 needles

• Why you’ll want to: The name of this scarf says it all, really; it’s designed to resemble an American football field. This is the perfect project for a diehard football fan.

Hats for Diehard Fans

Sports Team Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: About 130 yards DK weight yarn, divided into 2 colors to match team; US Size 8 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: I love the classic look of this hat. One single stripe, outlined in white (or black, or whatever color you want) neatly bisects the otherwise single color.

Sport Traum No. 2

• What you’ll need to make it: 131 to 164 yards DK weight yarn, divided into 2 colors to match team; US Size 6 and 7 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: Available in both French and English, this pattern creates a solid-colored hat with one stripe just above the brim and another stripe running from one side of the hat across the top to the other side. A cute bobble at the very top completes the look. This is a lovely and unique way to knit a hat in team colors.

Knitted Cleveland Browns Stocking Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: About 1,000 yards worsted weight yarn (divided into 2 or 3 colors to match team); US Size 7 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan (yes, I accept condolences), I love this hat. It can, of course, be altered with different colors to be suitable for any team — American football, European football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.

A Headband for a Sport Lover

Sports Headband

• What you’ll need to make it: 12 to 16 yards aran weight yarn (divided into colors to match team); US Size 8 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: For a quick and fun gift project, knit this ribbed headband in your sports fan’s favorite team colors. This is an especially great gift for a sports fan who enjoys playing sports him/herself.
  
  This pattern is a little unique as it’s in the video above. For written instructions, hit “Watch on YouTube,” open the video’s description, and scroll down till you see “Show Transcript.”

Perfect for Sporty Parents

Baby Sports Fan Pullover

• What you’ll need to make it: 488 to 732 yards worsted weight yarn (divided into colors to match team); US Size 7 and 8 needles; stitch markers; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: Here’s an adorable gift to knit for a new parent who’s crazy about a sports team. I guarantee new mom and/or dad will smile every time they see their little one wearing this sweater!

Game Day Knit Sweater

• What you’ll need to make it: 488 to 732 yards worsted weight yarn (divided into colors to match team); US Size 8 and 7 needles; stitch markers; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: Much like the pattern above, this is a simple striped sweater for kids who love cheering on their favorite team.

Socks for Sports Nuts

Jaywalker

• What you’ll need to make them: 465 yards fingering weight yarn (divided into colors to match team); US Size 1 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: This is one of my all-time favorite sock knitting patterns. I love striped socks, but sometimes knitting those stripes can get a little tedious. Enter Grumperina’s brilliant pattern that creates a delightful zigzag pattern. Use the colors from a favorite sports team, and you’ll have a pair of socks that your sports fan won’t want to stop wearing.

Get Your Dog in the Game

The Sports Nut Dog Sweater Pattern

• What you’ll need to make it: 243 yards super bulky yarn (divided into 162 yards one color and 81 yards second color); US Size 13 needles (you’ll be knitting both in the round and flat, so choose your needles depending on your preferences); stitch markers; stitch holder or spare DPN or scrap yarn; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: Why should humans have all the fun? Let a sports fan’s pup get in on the action with this adorable doggie sweater.

Tailor-Made for Optimal Sports-Watching

Sports Fan

• What you’ll need to make it: 2500 to 3600 yards of aran weight yarn (divided into colors to match team); US Size 11 and 10 circular needles; large stitch holder or long piece of scrap yarn; stitch markers

• Why you’ll want to: This gorgeous afghan pattern has a twist: it has sleeves! That makes this snuggly project perfect for, say, a football or hockey fan that needs something warm to wear to cold games.
  
  (The pattern download link will actually give you an ebook full of 11 patterns, most of which are crochet. For this pattern, you’ll need to scroll to page 27. Schematics are at the back of the book.)

Knit Stadium Lapghan

• What you’ll need to make it: 1220 yards worsted weight yarn (divided into 2 colors to match team); US Size 8 circular needle (at least 32 inches); tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: Here’s another afghan designed to be taken to the game and huddled under for warmth. It’s not so large that it’ll be cumbersome, but it’ll be greatly appreciated by your chilly sports fan.

Knit Stadium Seat Cover

• What you’ll need to make it: 244 yards worsted weight yarn (divided into 2 colors to match team); US Size 8 needles; 13 x 13-inch foam stadium seat; stitch holders, spare DPNs, or scrap yarn; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: Speaking of heading to the game, here’s a great way to help your sports fan get comfy on those uncomfortable bleacher seats.

Sports Beer Guernsey

• What you’ll need to make it: 77 to 82 yards DK weight yarn (divided into 2 colors to match team); US Size 6 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; 4 stitch markers; scrap yarn and/or stitch holder

• Why you’ll want to: I saved the cutest (okay, also the funniest) for last. Beer and sports just go hand in hand. And now, your sports fan won’t get their hands cold while they’re drinking their beer, thanks to this handy (I’ll stop now) beer sweater!

Thanks to this collection of free knitting patterns, I think you’ll never again have trouble finding a great gift idea for any sports fan!