5 international designers, 5 knitting patterns and 1 new hobby

Five International Woolmark Prize alumni have released a series of exclusive knitting, crochet and cut-and-sew patterns, which can all be created from the comfort of your own home, curtesy The Woolmark Company.

Known for innovative and extraordinary designs, Seoul-based fashion label KYEdelivers fun, humour, wit and a sense of optimism through bold colours and patterns. Designer Kathleen Kye offers a free knitting pattern for the label's best-selling signature item: a retro-style ribbed beanie.

Kye says, "It's fairly simple to make so it could be a great gateway knitting project to start during a time like now. Try personalising the front with your own initials too."

Melbourne-based label Strateas Carlucci has a long-standing history using Merino wool. As part of the At-Home Knitting Series, Carlucci delivers free knitting pattern for its Python Scarf. Measuring 4.3 metres in length, this Merino wool super scarf uses an open-coarse knit and is great for social distancing.

"We love how it wraps and stacks around your neck," say Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci. "We also love it because it's knitted from Australian Merino wool, which is temperature regulating and really soft on your skin, its a great natural fibre. It keeps you nice and warm as well."

With more and more cities banning single-use plastic items, such as the dreaded plastic bag, Swedish-based fashion label CMMN SWDN offers a free knitting pattern to help you live your best plastic-free life, using Merino wool, naturally.

"As designers we have long been champions for a sustainable fashion industry," says Bakir and Hedlund. "During this unprecedented time, it's more evident than ever that we all must adapt to a more sustainable way of life. For the Woolmark Knitting Series we wanted to create a sustainable option to the single-use plastic bag. The tote is easy to knit in the comfort of your own home, using Merino wool which is 100% natural and biodegradable."

Reminiscent of a swimming cap from the Bauhaus period, i-am-chen's modern interpretation is part cap, part beanie and crocheted using 100 percent ultrafine Merino wool yarn. "The reason why I chose Merino wool is because it's warm, healthy and a gift from nature," says designer Zhi Chen.

London-based womenswear label Teatum Jonesis renowned for creating fashion from human stories. By following this simple step-by-step guide, you too can create a Teatum Jones-designed cushion cover that stitches together your own personal story. Choose either a cut-and-sew pattern or patchwork pattern.

"Zero-waste is a really important part of our business; it's part of our mission," says 2016 International Woolmark Prize-winning duo Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones. "We have a motto that is 'no scrap is too big or too small'. Everything we create gets used and nothing gets thrown away."