Free knitting projects for students and teachers going back to school or college. Updated 8/24/25
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Composition Cardigan
Inspired by the classic school composition notebook, this shawl collared cardigan is knit with marled colors and an optional nameplate. Sizes To fit child ages 4 to 12. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Holly Klein. One of the patterns in Back to School Knits.
The Pen Is Mightier
A fountain pen shaped toy softie that would be a fun gift for teacher, student, graduate, or writer you know. I think I'd put a magnet in it to create a refrigerator magnet or something heavy to make it a small paperweight. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Morgan Ineson.
Varsity Stripe Hat And Scarf
Easy matching ribbed hat and scarf to knit in your school colors. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand Yarn.
Notebook Jumper
Knitted cover for an A6 size notebook or journal with optional button flap. Makes good use of leftover variegated sock yarn. Designed by Frankie Brown.
Striped Student Sweater
Child sized pullover with contrasting yoke, hem, and cuffs, as well as bright stripe. Sizes 2 to 10 years. Bulky weight yarn. Big Boy Sweater designed by Julie Farmer.
Riverdale Scarf
Scarf inspired by school letter sweaters, knit in a tube with cuffs like a sweater sleeve and with intarsia letter of your choice. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Katherine Poole-Fournier.
Study Hall Shawl
Triangular shawl with geometric pattern inspired by stacks of books and supplies. Knit in slipped stitch mosaic (one color per row) it's a perfect project for school colors. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sarah Schira for Knitty.
Ombre Backpack
Backpack with flap knit flat in a stranded gradient design. An inventive way to show school colors! Size 11.25" (28.6 cm) high (flap closed). DK weight yarn. Designed by Kristina Kittelson.
Letterman Lineup Jacket
Cardigan with classic varsity silhouette with pockets and high rib collar, knit in your school colors. Sizes To Fit Bust: 81cm to 107cm / 32" to 42". Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Paintbox Yarns.
Bunny Pencil Box
Pouch knitted flat with the ears and paws and tail are knitted separately in the round and sewn on. Finished size: Pencil box is 8” (21cm) wide and 4 ½” (12cm) tall. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Stana D. Sortor.
School Jersey Sweaters
Cardigans, pullovers, and vest sweaters / jumpers perfect for dressing up a school uniform. Options for v-neck or round-neck. Sizes 6 years to 14 years. DK weight yarn. Designed by Elle.
Library Books Hat
Book lover hat features a book motif worked in 4-stranded colorwork. Perfect for the writers, readers, librarians, teachers, and students in your life. DK weight yarn. Designed by Sarah Sinclair. May only be free for a limited time.
Needs Sharpening Pencil Socks
Fun socks designed to look like pencils. Great gift for students, writers, teachers, and more. Instructions for both Toe-Up and Cuff-Down constructions. Length sized to fit. 3 sizes Foot Circumference: 7.5 (9.0, 10.5)". Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Heather M. Wright. May only be free for a limited time.
Everyday School Sweaters
Pullover and slipover sweaters / jumpers for school days with options for v-neck or round-neck. Sizes To Fit Age: 2 Years to 11 Years. DK weight yarn. Designed by Paintbox Yarns.
Notebook Scarf
Notebook paper striped tube scarf knit in the round. Sizes 9” long. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Christopher Lizama.
Lunch Bag
Reusable small "brown bag" for lunches, snacks, and more, with apple tree applique. Size About 10 1/2 x 6 in. (26.5 x 15 cm). Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Lion Brand.
Owl Sharpie Case
Pencil or marker case with a cabled owl knit flat. Great gift for students, writers, teachers, and more. One size: 6" (height) x 4" (width). Uses one skein 50 - 75 yards (46 - 69 m) of Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Chelsey Clammer. May only be free for a limited time.
More Free Patterns
Animal Friends Pencil Case
Adorable pencil case or small bag with cat face, ears, and little i-cord legs. Sizes Approx 9" x 4" [23 x 10 cm]. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Yarnspirations.
Pretty Pots
Six different sized baskets useful for holding pens or all sorts of desk or craft supplies. The pots are lined with plastic canvas to make them sturdy. Sizes height 2" to 4¾". Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Frankie Brown.
Math Hat
Hat featuring mathematic equations for your favorite teacher, student, or math lover. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Deborah Tomasello.
Pencil Washcloth
Pencil shaped dishcloth are perfect for students, teachers, writers, and more. Sizes 9” long. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Kailee Erlandsen.
Pen Case
A roll up sleeve with pockets for pens, knitting needles, crochet hooks, and more. Knit with a daisy stitch on the outside and lattice stitch on the inside to to accentuate variegated yarn. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Erin Salthouse.
We've Got Chemistry Socks
Test tube socks perfect for your favorite chemist or to inspire a chemistry student! These stranded socks are knit cuff down using either two or three colors with an afterthought heel(but you can substitute your favorite heel). Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Emma Kerian.
Reading Kids Sign
Perfect for libraries, schools, or a child's room, to remind everyone to respect the readers...and never interrupt them! Reversible because it's doubleknit. Size 8inch / 20cm side length. DK weight yarn. Designed by Lina Wolf. Available in English and German
Snack and Lunch Bag
Treat bag inspired by traditional lunch bags with knitted-in folds on the sides so that it closes neatly. When opened there’s lots of room for whatever treats you choose to fill it with. By using different weights of yarn the bag can be made in three different sizes: 16cm / 6½" in Aran, 14cm / 5½" in DK, and 11cm / 4½" in Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Frankie Brown.
Back to School Wash Cloths
7 different textured washcloths with "Study" to be stitched on 6 of the cloths, and "Party" on the 7th. Stitch textures include Basketweave, Plaid, Lace Chevrons, Seed Stitch Diamonds, Lace Mesh, Bramble, and Mini Horseshoe Lace. Other Ravelerers have substituted names or other words. Great gift for grads! Designed by Star Athena for Knitty. Worsted weight yarn.
Eraser
Make your own chalkboard or whiteboard eraser by knitting a cover over a sponge. Great stash buster and quick knit – designer says it takes much less than skein of cotton yarn. Designed by Amanda M. Williams. Pictured project by dustyrose1973
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get chalkboards and dry erase boards on Amazon
- See more Scrap Yarn Knitting Patterns
Rallying Reversible Scarves
Support your team with either the Go Team! slogan scarf or a checker board design, customized with your team's colors! Scarves are double knit so they're reversible. Designed by Paintbox Yarns. DK weight yarn.
Programmer's Headgear
Beanie for your favorite student coder with the "head" tag in stranded colorwork. Sizes XS(S, M, L, XL). Designed by Merri Fromm for Knitty. Worsted weight yarn.
Do Not Disturb Door Hanger Sign
Intarsia sign that's great for getting some privacy to knit, sleep, or other activities. Bring one with you when you travel, too, because they're easy to pack. Designed by Clara Parkes for Knitty. Many Ravelrers have substituted names or other words to the door hangers.
Fruit Cozies
Make cozies to protect your tasty fruit to pack for lunches or snacks. It makes a great gift for hikers, campers and kids - or, take it to work with you. 2 Sizes Approx 2½" (3½)" [6 (9) cm] in diameter. Designed by Bernat. Worsted weight yarn.
Journal Band with Pen Pocket
Laura Crowley designed this easy, quick-to-knit band with a built-in pen pocket. Great stash buster or quick gift!
Patterns for Purchase
Back to School Kids Jacket
Inspired by Varsity jackets also known as Letterman Jackets, this baby, child, and teen sized cardigan can be knit seamed or seamless. Knit in your child's school colors or your favorite sports team! Sizes: 0-3 months / 3-6 months / 6-12 months / 12-24 months / 2 years / 3-4 years / 5-6 years / 7-8 years / 9-10 years / 11-12 years / 13-14 years. Designed by Sandra Magalhães for Agasalhos e Bugalhos who allows you to sell your finished items. Aran weight yarn.
Bobby Satchel, Pencil Case and Hat
Matching child's seed stitch satchel with matching pencil case and bobble hat make a super smart set of accessories for going back to school. Sizes Satchel: 20cm x 25cm, Pencil Case: 21cm x 9cm, Hat: 0 - 6 Years. DK weight yarn. Designed by Debbie Bliss
Back to School Hats
Three hat knitting patterns including paintbrush with paint brim hat, notebook paper and pencil hat, and the graph paper and ruler hat. Sizes 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2T+. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Cassie at Little Red Window.
Monster Pencil Toppers
These monster pencil toppers make great gifts and are super quick to knit up! This pattern only involves knitting flat and is suitable for a beginner knitter who doesn’t mind a tiny bit of embroidery. Clear step by step instructions to make your own little scary friends. Designed by ButterflyLove. Worsted weight yarn.
Brain Cozy
Perfect for the graduates, academics, and smart people in your life! A knit mortar board hat to keep their brains cozy. Designed by ButterflyLove. DK weight yarn.
Pencil Case
Pencil shaped storage to hold school supplies, knitting needles, and more. 32x7cm (12½x2¾in). Designed by Amanda Berry. DK weight yarn.
Book Lover Bag
This reversible tote bag is surrounded by rows and rows of bookshelves. On both sides are an open book and the word “READ” in large letters. Double knit, the purse is fully reversible, Designed by Lisa Hannan Fox for NiftyKnitterDesigns. Worsted weight yarn.
Monsterli Pouch or Phone Cozy
This colorful monster pouch is perfect for carrying mobile, a packet of tissues, or a pack of pills, or whatever threatens to vanish in the depths of a bag or pocket. Great stashbuster! 3 sizes. Available in English and German. Designed by Bianka Schlang. DK weight yarn.
