The Untold Truth About Crochet Menswear—and How to Make It Better
Crochet has been everywhere these past few years. From TikTok to Paris runways, it feels like yarn finally got its fashion moment—and it’s not slowing down. But as much as I love seeing crochet pieces thrive in mainstream fashion, there’s one corner of the craft that still feels a little neglected: menswear.
When you compare the flood of crochet patterns, tutorials, and ready-to-wear options for women to the relatively slim pickings for men, it becomes clear that crochet menswear hasn’t gotten the love it deserves. In this post, I want to break down what’s going on with crochet menswear, the biggest issues holding it back, and how we can fix it. Plus, I’ll share some resources and fresh ideas for the future.
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The Current Popularity of Crochet in Fashion
Crochet has absolutely exploded in fashion over the past decade. Social media has played a massive role—Gen Z found crochet through TikTok “cottagecore” vibes, festival-ready tops, and colorful cardigans, and they ran with it. At the same time, luxury designers like Valentino, Dior, and JW Anderson started sending crochet down the runway. Suddenly, what had been seen as grandma’s pastime became a legit fashion statement.
Womenswear Leads the Way
The crochet wave has been especially strong in womenswear. We see everything from bralettes and crop tops to sundresses, pants, and coats made in crochet. Pattern support has also boomed—thousands of indie designers and big brands alike have stepped up with beginner-friendly patterns tailored for women’s bodies and style trends.
Menswear’s Slower Growth
Menswear, though? Not so much. Sure, there’s been some iconic crochet moments—Harry Styles’ “patchwork” cardigan practically broke the internet, and fast fashion chains like Zara and ASOS have put out crochet-inspired polos, tanks, and shirts. But when it comes to actual crochet patterns for men, the options feel thin. A lot of what’s out there is dated, boxy, or uninspired.
Fast Fashion’s Influence
Fast fashion has definitely dipped into the crochet trend, offering mass-produced crochet-look pieces for men. But because these are often machine-knitted to mimic crochet, they don’t inspire actual makers or support the growth of handmade menswear design. It leaves us with a frustrating gap: crochet looks popular on men, but the pattern resources and thoughtful design work aren’t there yet.
The 6 Biggest Problems With Crochet Menswear
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—why does crochet menswear lag behind?
- Outdated Designs
- Too many crochet menswear patterns look like they belong in a 1970s craft book. Boxy vests, shapeless sweaters, and stiff, bulky fabrics don’t resonate with modern men’s fashion.
- Crochet deserves better than being a punchline about “ugly Christmas sweaters.”
- Poor Fit & Lack of Shaping
- Many patterns don’t account for men’s sizing needs. They skip over shoulder shaping, sleeve fit, or length adjustments.
- A boxy fit can work for some styles, but it shouldn’t be the default for every piece.
- Limited Variety
- Women’s crochet fashion covers everything—from lingerie to winter coats. Men’s crochet patterns? Mostly vests, scarves, and beanies. Yawn.
- Without variety, makers can’t experiment or find projects that align with personal style.
- Stiff Yarn & Heavy Fabric
- Many menswear patterns recommend thick yarns that make garments feel heavy, hot, and uncomfortable.
- Crochet already tends to have less drape than knitting, so pairing it with chunky or even worsted yarn makes the problem worse.
- Over-Reliance on “Gender Neutral” = Bland
- While gender-neutral crochet design is important and valuable, too often it translates into boring, shapeless rectangles.
- Men deserve bold, stylish crochet that feels intentional, not like a watered-down afterthought.
- Representation & Visibility
- Flip through Instagram or Ravelry, and you’ll see a clear imbalance: tons of women modeling crochet fashion, far fewer men.
- Without visibility, it’s hard to inspire new makers or wearers to embrace crochet menswear.
How to Fix These Problems
The good news? Crochet can do better—it just takes thoughtful design, a willingness to experiment, and an understanding of what works in men’s wardrobes.
Things to Consider When Designing or Making Menswear
- Fit Matters. Take time with shaping. Think about shoulder width, sleeve taper, and garment length. A well-fitted sweater or shirt can accentuate his favorite features.
- Choose the Right Yarn. Swap out chunky acrylics for lighter fibers with drape—cotton, linen blends, bamboo, or soft wool. These make garments breathable and wearable.
- Lean Into Texture. Crochet shines in stitch variety. Use texture to elevate simple silhouettes—think waffle stitch, linen stitch, or subtle post-stitch patterns.
- Think Color, Not Just Neutrals. Don’t be afraid of bold hues. Color blocking, stripes, and even graphic motifs can modernize menswear without feeling over the top.
- Look to Modern Fashion. Instead of rehashing old craft books, study current menswear silhouettes and trends, then reinterpret them in crochet.
Eight Menswear Styles That Work Beautifully in Crochet
Not sure where to start when it comes to crochet menswear? These 8 tried-and-true styles should get the ball rolling:
1 // THE MODERN POLO SHIRT
Consider a slim fit for longer tops, or a boxier fit for cropped versions. Work with lightweight, breathable cotton yarns, then have fun with color blocking or bold stripes.
Image Credit: Banana Republic
2 // CREWNECK SWEATER
Use a lightweight wool or cotton to keep it cozy, then consider stitch patterns that add interest without too much bulk.
Image Credit: Mon Crochet
3 // RELAXED SUMMER TANK
Crochet shines in the summer, especially for the fellas. Work your tank top in open stitch patterns and lightweight yarns to make them perfect for layering over collared shirts.
Image Credit: ASOS
4 // HOODIE OR PULLOVER
Make this one in DK weight yarn for a combination of drape and warmth. Add subtle details like beaded ties or textured cuffs to make your sweater stand out from the rest.
Image Credit: Two Brothers Blankets
5 // BOMBER JACKET
Add a streetwear vibe to his wardrobe with a custom bomber jacket. Crocheted panels, ribbed cuffs, and a functional zipper combine for the ultimate unique layering piece.
Image Credit: ASOS
6 // CARDIGAN
Versatile and classic, you can let your creativity fly with this silhouette. Go minimalist or bold in your yarn and stitch choices, and don’t forget the perfect buttons!
Image Credit: MJ’s Off The Hook Designs
7 // SCARF + HAT SETS
Guys can get down with a few crochet accessories, too! Enjoy mixing color combinations and textured stitches for a retro, modern, or quirky design.
Image Credit: Katia
8 // CASUAL SHORTS
Summer sets are all the rage, so why not add a pair of shorts to your tank top? Lightweight cotton or linen shorts (bonus if they’re lined!) are perfect for the dapper gentleman in your life.
Image Credit: Amazon
Crochet has the tools—it just needs designers to push past the stale ideas and bring these concepts to life. Maybe that’s you!!
Current Resources for Crochet Menswear
If you’re ready to explore menswear in crochet, there are some resources to help:
- Designers Doing the Work
- Edwin of Unravel & – structured crochet meets sophisticated geometry
- Romi of Showme, Romi! – summer staples and cozy sweaters for the fellas.
- Taylor of Taylor Xavier Crochet – crochet menswear with a festival flair.
- Genie of Art of Genie – jaw-dropping wearable art inspired by album covers.
- Books
- Crochet Makes for Men by Michelle Ferguson – timeless and cozy, includes wearables and giftable accessories.
- Morrit Mag Issue 8 (Spring/Summer 2025) includes several surprisingly chic menswear designs.
- Websites & Platforms
- YouTube Tutorials
- Emma Warrender shares a tutorial for the viral men’s collared shirt.
- Omazingpaige – 50 easy crochet projects for Men or Father’s Day.
- Made in the Moment – 20+ trendy masculine crochet patterns.
The Future of Crochet Menswear
Crochet has proven itself as a fashion powerhouse, but crochet menswear is still in its awkward growing phase. Right now, it’s either stuck in the past or diluted into bland, “neutral” basics. But the potential is huge.
I’d love to see more designers experimenting with modern silhouettes, more variety in yarn choice, and more men proudly modeling crochet pieces. The reality is: men want crochet options. They just need designers willing to step up and offer them styles that feel intentional, fashionable, and wearable.
The future of crochet menswear can be bold, stylish, and inclusive—and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.
*I want to sincerely thank Edwin of Unraveled & for sharing his honest advice and insights on this topic. I am not a crochet menswear designer, just a curious maker. I truly value Edwin’s valuable perspective that greatly enriched this article.
What are your thoughts on the state of crochet menswear? Do we need more? What styles would you like to see? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Hi, I’m Toni!
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog! If you’re craving more TLYC goodness, learn more crochet right here, catch my tutorials and reviews on YouTube, and come hang with me over on Instagram.
Thank you for this. There is one male crochet designer on Instagram that I follow. I didn’t know there were more ,or I didn’t know them. It is nice to have some more options. Thanks.
this is SO HELPFUL!
Very helpful. I have a sister who likes to wear men’s garments and wants me to make her a polo type shirt. Thanks.
So happy to help! I hope you’re able to find a pattern or tutorial from the resources I shared 🙂
Yes yes yes! We do love to share the makes with those closest to us, but the lack of men’s patterns has been problematic. It is a big investment to make a garment so I do want a good pattern for men not adapt patterns for women. Then there is also different male body types which have to be accounted for. I hope there will be more designers taking up the challenge. The pattern resources are great and appreciate it Toni!
Hi Jeeva!! It really comes down to trusting the designer, and the lack of patterns makes it challenging to know if a menswear pattern will be of good quality. There’s so much to consider.
All the guys are looking good in their crochet items.
I have been wanting to make hubs a nice “henley” type or shawl collar sweater, and all the patterns I’m finding are worsted or bulky weight. Store bought sweaters do not use that!!!
Hi, the summer tank and the bomber jacket are not linking to ASOS. They are linked to MonCrochet.
Also, thanks for this article about menswear. Since I have a husband and a son (and no daughters), I was thrilled that you were writing about menswear.
Thanks so much for the heads up – I just updated the links 🙂 Glad I could share an article that relates. I’ve wanted to make something for my husband for ages, but I’m really wary of the crochet mens’ patterns that are out right now.
I love the idea of crocheting a summer mesh tank top for my son!
I can’t agree more, especially as a man who crochets, knits and does many other fiber arts work. I guess that it’s a challenge for pattern designers to design menswear patterns when it’s likely that the percentage of those wanting patterns for men is probably a lot less than patterns for women. Those designers needing to make a living on selling their patterns would probably prioritize based on demand and demographic of their audience.
I personally would rather see gender neutral designs than the alternative — outdated and often tacky designs that I see in magazines. Hopefully this will change.
Keith
Thanks for that insight. I find there are valid arguments for more mens’ and more gender neutral patterns. I’d love to hear your take on what the difference between those would be in a crochet pattern design. One of the concerns about menswear patterns is boxy shapes that don’t fit actual bodies. Would the gender neutral patterns be shaped for stereotypical men’s or women’s bodies? How would they be different from styles designed for a masculine physique? Would love to chat more!!
Toni, this article was right on point. I just can’t find good crochet patterns for men. Thank you for these resources.
I’m so nervous about trying to make wearables. I don’t like wearing anything that makes me hot. What are some good options of yarn that are on the cooler side? I started learning crochet to make blankets and now im so excited about all different things I can learn.
Great question! I mentioned this a bit in the article, but fibers like cotton, bamboo, and linen are lightweight and breathable, perfect if you get a little hot under the collar 🙂
This is the need of the Hour!! Thanks Toni for bringing up this article with some valuable resources. I’ve been on the hunt for crochet outfit patterns to create for my husband. It’s a task, store bought knit pieces are popular but authentic crochet, is rare! I hope we can see more manly patterns coming out and more makers diving into menswear! 🙏🏻
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that more makers will take up the task of designing menswear patterns. For now, the resources I shared are top notch 🙂
I enrolled in Crochet Academy hoping to become skilled enough to make the menswear designs in Moorit. My LYS owner told me that issue 8 will be the last.
To pick on your conversation with Keith about gender-neutral pattern designs, I imagine that measurements, shaping options, and sizing advice will take center stage, with patterns becoming longer and perhaps more complex. I also expect we might need multiple body shapes (inverted triangle, hourglass, circle, etc.) accommodated in schematics and shown in photos so that we know what shaping options and size to choose if we have muscular shoulders and chest versus narrow shoulders and breasts, a long versus a short torso, etc. I want to see patterns that are gender-neutral *and* size-inclusive *and* exciting to make and wear.
I am so happy to see this topic. I was looking to make a vest over a year ago and realized that menswear patterns are very limited. Thanks for explaining this topic in more detail and sharing these resources.
Toni, What a fantastic blog post!! I have an 18 yr old son who just went to college. He can definitely rep some items if they look great!
That’s awesome! I hope you can find some great patterns to make for him 🙂
Yes yes yes!!! I’m a man who has crocheted for 25yrs! I want to try making garment, but I’d like to actually make something for myself for once! Hahahaha. I’m bookmarking this. Thanks, I’ll be sure to share anything unwind up making!!!!
So glad you found this post, and I hope it helps in your research to find the perfect patterns. Happy hunting!!