Hi friends!
This post includes everything you need to know about my Sweet On You Sweater, an oversized trapezoidal drop-shoulder pullover featuring a relaxed, slouchy fit and bold horizontal stripes of hearts.
Get the Lion Brand Knit Kit here (in your desired colourway)!
Before we begin, here are some quick links for you:
- Find the PDF version on Ravelry, Etsy, and my website.
- Add your finished project to Ravelry here!
- Shop the recommended yarn, Lion Brand Wool-Ease, here!
- Shop the full Lion Brand knit kit here (comes with all yarn required in your chosen colourway + a FREE copy of the PDF pattern)!
- For any questions about this pattern, please email knitsnknotswpg@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you asap!
Shop my first book – Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs for Everyday Wear – here!
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About
The Sweet On You Sweater is an oversized drop-shoulder sweater. Featuring a relaxed, slouchy fit and bold horizontal stripes of hearts, this playful Valentine’s-inspired colorwork project is fun to knit and easy to wear.
I love to create patterns that accompany a holiday or a specific use; my Pride Yoke sweaters (both knit + crochet) and my Light It Up Yoke sweaters are two great examples!
Here’s another holiday-themed design to add to the pattern line-up, this time celebrating Valentine’s Day!
Materials
Yarn: Worsted—Lion Brand Wool-Ease in colorways “Stillwater” (MC) and “Fisherman” (CC)
- 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool
- 197 yds (180 m) per 3 oz (85 g) skein
- Find this yarn on lionbrand.com or visit yarnsub.com to find comparable substitutes available in your region.
Yardage Required:
Main Color (MC)
- 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9) skeins
- 950 (1025, 1125, 1275, 1425, 1580) yds
- 869 (937, 1029, 1166, 1303, 1445) m
Contrasting Color (CC)
- 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins
- 325 (350, 375, 450, 475, 535) yds
- 297 (320, 343, 411, 434, 489) m
Yarn Substitution: Substitute Lion Brand Wool-Ease with any similar category 4, medium weight yarn that matches gauge. For a finished sweater similar to the one shown, choose a yarn with good stitch definition and bounce to support smooth, even colorwork. Always swatch before beginning to ensure you are happy with the resulting fabric.
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, 4 removable/locking stitch markers, 1 distinct fixed stitch marker to mark BOR, scrap yarn or stitch wire/holders for placing stitches on hold
Needles
Main Gauge Needle: Size U.S. 8 (5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Ribbing Needle: Size U.S. 7 (4.5 mm) or size that is approximately 0.5 mm smaller than Main Gauge Needle
with the following suggested cord lengths:
- 12-16” (30-40 cm) cord for parts of the front panel, sleeves and neckband
- 32-40” (80-100 cm) cord for yoke and body, or cord long enough to accommodate all body sts for your size
- 8-9” (20-23 cm) circulars, DPNs, or your preferred method of smaller circumference knitting (in your smaller ribbing needle size) for completing the sleeve cuffs. You can also use the magic loop method to complete the sleeves using a longer cord length, if preferred.
Gauge
4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) = 19 sts and 24 rows in stockinette using main gauge needle, blocked.
Tips:
- It is common for knitters’ tension to tighten when knitting in the round compared to knitting flat, and you may need to use a different needle size for each. Swatch both flat and in the round to ensure even tension throughout your sweater.
- It is best to swatch both the single-color stockinette and the heart motif to ensure your tension remains the same throughout both sections.
Pattern Notes
Skill Level: Intermediate (pattern uses stranded colorwork and German short-rows.)
Sizing: This sweater is written in six hybrid sizes as follows: XXS (XS/S, M/L, XL/2X, 3X/4X, 5X). Make sure to follow the numbers for your size only. View full sizing chart on next page.
Stitch Counts: Stitch counts are listed after each row/round in italics. If no stitch count is given, there has been no change since the previous row/round. If only one number is provided, it applies to all sizes.
Color Chart: A color chart for the heart motifs can be found at the end of this document.
Construction: The sweater is worked from the top down, beginning with the back panel knit flat using German short rows to shape the shoulders, followed by a section of stockinette. The front shoulders are then picked up directly from the back panel, shaped at the neckline, and joined after casting on stitches for the front neck opening. The body is then joined in the round while casting on stitches for the underarms and incorporating the heart motifs. The sleeves are knit directly onto the openings remaining on the body, and the folded neckline is finished in a 2×2 ribbing. The bottom hem and sleeve cuffs are completed with a 2×2 ribbing and tubular bind-off for a clean finish.
German Short Rows: This pattern uses short-row shaping in the back panel. The short rows create a trapezoidal shape of additional stitches within your back panel to help shape the shoulders. It is a way of working additional rows in a specific section of your knitting without affecting the total number of stitches on your needles. If it is your first time working German Short Rows, be sure to watch the video linked in the “Helpful Links” section.
Terms + Abbreviations Used
- BOR: beginning of round
- CC: contrasting color
- K: knit
- K2tog: knit 2 stitches together (right-slanting decrease)
- Insert your right needle into the next 2 stitches knitwise, treating them as 1, and knit them together.
- M1L: make 1 left
- Lift the strand between stitches from front to back and knit through the back loop.
- M1R: make 1 right
- Lift the strand between stitches from back to front and knit through the front loop.
- MC: main color
- P: purl
- rep: repeat
- rnd(s): round(s)
- RS: right side
- st(s): stitch(es)
- WS: wrong side
Special Stitch—Double Stitch
DS: double stitch (German Short Rows)
- Making a DS on the purl side: With the purl side facing you and with yarn in front, slip 1 stitch purlwise from your left needle to your right needle. Pull your yarn over top of your right needle to the back of your work. Your slipped stitch should now look like 2 stitches – or a double stitch. Bring yarn in between your two needles to the front of your work so you can purl your next stitch.
- Making a DS on the knit side: With the knit side facing you and with yarn in front, slip 1 stitch purlwise from your left needle to your right needle. Pull your yarn over top of your right needle to the back of your work. Your slipped stitch should now look like 2 stitches – or a double stitch. Keep yarn in the back of your work so you can knit your next stitch.
Techniques Used in the Pattern: Beginning the Back Panel
This pattern begins by casting on stitches for the full width of the back panel. You will then be instructed to break the yarn, and re-join part-way through your row. This is because you are going to begin your German Short-Rows starting from the back-neck (starting mid-row rather than at the edge) and working your way outwards to create the trapezoidal shape seen in the top yoke on the back panel. In the photo below, yarn has been cut and yarn will be re-joined at the point where the needles are touching.
Helpful Links
- M1L/M1R
- Long Tail Cast-On
- German Short–Rows
- Swatching in the Round
- Backwards Loop Cast-On
- Tubular Bind-Off: Photo Tutorial | Video Tutorial
Sizing Chart + Schematic
This image is taken straight from the pattern and included here for your convenience.
#SweetOnYouSweater
Thanks so much for reading!
Shop the full Sweet On You Sweater knit kit here (comes with all yarn required for your size in your chosen colorway + FREE copy of the PDF pattern)!
Find the pattern PDF in these places:
On Ravelry
On Etsy
On My website
For free in the Sweet On You Sweater knit kit here!
Happy making!
x
Janine
You can find my full print book, Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs For Everyday Wear on the shelves of all major retailers or see purchasing options here.
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