We finished the Cloud Sweater in this super pretty pink … and it might be the perfect three-season sweater (fall-winter-spring). We made it with Drops Air in a pretty light pink, which is great all year but maybe fits nicely with the early spring.
Construction
Cloud Sweater is worked from the top down. First the back yoke is worked back and forth while german short rows are worked to shape the shoulders. Then each shoulder is worked separately, back and forth and with short rows. The shoulders are then joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle. The sleeves are worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the armhole openings. The sleeves are worked in the round. At the end, the stockinette stitch funnel neckline is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neck opening.
Size
We made size XXS. It’s designed to be worn with extra ease, the smallest size starts at a 40″ bust.
Ease: Cloud Sweater is designed to have approx. 25 cm [9¾ inches] of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes.
We finished the adorable Holger Sweater by Petite Knit … thank you Erica, it’s amazing! It’s a super adorable knit, I love the graphic stripes and bold colour blocks – they’re lively and fun and inspire lots and lots of play and amusement. This particular version of the pattern is sized for toddlers and kids, we made the smallest size (1-2 yrs) and the chest is a generous 28″ in circumference and 13″ from top of shoulder to bottom edge. Be sure to take a look at the finished measurements when you’re choosing a size.
We used one of the suggested yarns, Sandnes Garn Double Sunday, because I love the texture of the pure merino wool and the bright colours.
For Size 1-2 we used:
Body Colours (Stripes): 1012 Whipped Cream & 1099 Black (2 balls each, but lots left over)
Right Sleeve: 5846 Royal Blue (1 ball)
Left Sleeve: 9080 Urban Chic (1 ball)
Neck: 3819 The Orange Feeling (1 ball)
Bottom Hem: 7720 Blue Haze (1 ball)
If merino wool is a bit too much for you right now you can also substitute Berroco Vintage Baby or Berroco Vintage DK (see details below for all yardage requirements).
Construction
The Holger Sweater is worked from the top down. The body is worked in stockinette stitch with stripes, while the sleeves and neck edge are each worked in a different solid color. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth with the slope of the shoulders being shaped using short rows and in stripes, which are worked at the same time. Each shoulder is then worked back and forth on a circular needle, and then the shoulders are joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle with stripes. The sleeves are worked down from stitches that are picked up and knitted around the armholes. At the end, a folded neck edge is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neckline.
If merino wool is a bit over budget for you right now you can also substitute Berroco Vintage Baby or Berroco Vintage DK – both are a soft, machine washable blend of wool & synthetic and are perfect for projects for babies and kids. Vintage Baby has a slightly smoother texture and comes in smaller 50g balls, while Vintage DK has a little bit more texture and comes in 100g skeins. The colour range is a bit different, but the base yarns are very similar and can be used interchangeably.
The adorable Holger Sweater by Petite Knit is our next store project … thank you Erica! It’s a super adorable knit, I love the graphic stripes and bold colour blocks – they’re lively and fun and inspire lots and lots of play and amusement. This particular version of the pattern is sized for toddlers and kids, and the sweater sizing seems to be oversized and is designed to fit loosely. Be sure to take a look at the finished measurements when you’re choosing a size.
The Holger Sweater is worked from the top down. The body is worked in stockinette stitch with stripes, while the sleeves and neck edge are each worked in a different solid color. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth with the slope of the shoulders being shaped using short rows and in stripes, which are worked at the same time. Each shoulder is then worked back and forth on a circular needle, and then the shoulders are joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle with stripes. The sleeves are worked down from stitches that are picked up and knitted around the armholes. At the end, a folded neck edge is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neckline.
Strathcona is a simple, oversized, super-bulky weight sweater knits up VERY quickly and easily on 15mm/US19 needles! We used Cascade SPUNTANEOUS, and incredibly soft, single ply merino wool that plumps up to meet the needs of the big needles. You can find more great quick to knit super-bulky patterns by Tara-Lynn Morrison HERE. Strathcona is a great pullover for newer or less experienced knitters, since it is knit in the round in one piece from the top-down (no finishing), and it knits up FAST for instant gratification! The fit is loose and cozy.
If you want more colour at play in your sweater try Malabrigo RASTA. For something that looks like mohair without any of the itch try Drops MELODY (2 strands together), or for something with the aura of fuzz and the structure of a more normal yarn try Drops MELODY&Drops WISH held together (still zero itch). See below for quantities required.
Size
(XXS/XS), S/M, (L/XL), (XXL/XXXL)
Approx (48.5 cm / 19”) 53.5 cm / 21” (61cm / 23.75”) (67.5 cm / 26.5”) across chest
Approx (46 cm / 17” ) 48.5 cm / 19” (51 cm / 21”) (58.5cm / 23”) in body length
our sample is size S/M
Materials
For projects like this that require several lengths of circular needles (if you don’t already have the right sizes) we generally recommend INTERCHANGEABLE needles.
Turtle Dove II is a super pretty, simple and very popular free pullover pattern that’s great for fall! It’s made with super soft, like, airy and fluffy Drops AIR (keep it simple sister). It is a loose, raglan-style sweater with a turtleneck and a modern silhouette. Knit from the top-down with optional short-rows to raise the back of the neck slightly, the entire sweater is knit in the round so there is no seaming at all. There are two options for finishing the body – a simple rolled hem or a twisted rib split-hem. Turtle Dove II is nearly identical to the original Turtle Dove sweater except that it is knit at a tighter gauge.
Measurements above are given for the finished circumference measured at the end of the raglan increases (i.e. at underarms). This sweater is designed to be worn with 14 -18” / 35.5 – 45.75 cm of positive ease; however, this is just a guide. Some people prefer a closer fit; do not be afraid to select an option that provides somewhat less than the suggested ease according to your own preferences.
Materials
For projects like this that require several lengths of circular needles (if you don’t already have the right sizes) we generally recommend INTERCHANGEABLE needles.
The original Turtle Dove sweater is a bit thicker and knit on larger needles, so if you want to do that I suggest using one strand of Drops AIR held with a strand of Drops Kid-Silk on 6mm/US10 needles to get that light, airy look. If your sweater needs to be machine washable go for Berroco Vintage Chunky or Malabrigo Mecha.
Last year I made myself a Malou sweater with Berroco Wizard and it was my favourite new thing so fast that I made myself a second in another colour … except winter got really busy and I forgot to photograph it and share it with you! I wore both sweaters all winter, and I’m enjoying the early fall weather and am already wearing them again this year. Berroco put out some pretty new colourways this year (see below for pictures), so there’s even more choice now … maybe a third be in the works? I’m not sure if I’m feeling more like the malachite green, the turquoise, or the jasper red this season …
The yarn, Berroco Wizard, is super soft, light, airy, colourful, and easy to work with. It’s machine-washable merino wool in a chainette form (that means it’s already knitted in a tube, like an i-cord). There is also a little bit of nylon in the yarn that’s used to carry and bind the ultra fluffy & light merino and keep it in place (all you’ll feel is the merino, the two fibres aren’t blended together).
Malou is a simple pullover knit in the round from the bottom up, making it a great first (or fiftieth) sweater. The body and sleeves are knitted separately in the round, up to the underarms. The pieces are then joined and the yoke is worked in the round to the neck. There are some short-rows at the neck to bring the back of the neck higher, but if you find this intimidating you can skip this. There is no seaming, no picking up stitches – the only finishing is weaving in the ends and whatever type of blocking you prefer (I steam blocked)
Skill Level: advanced beginner. This is not a complicated sweater!
Skills: knitting in the round, W & T short rows for the back of the neck.
Choose at least two skeins of yarn that start at around the same place in the colorway – these will be for the sleeves.
Start your project with the sleeves. You can use them to check your tension, and you’ll be able to match their colour before you start into the body.
I got a different gauge than in the pattern (my sweater came out smaller than the size in the instructions) so be sure to check yours! That said, I still had lots of yarn left over (I used 2.6 balls for my sweater in the second size), and the sweater size is perfect for me, so it’s a win-win in my books! As always, check your tension ….
The colourways in this yarn seem to be more of a suggestion than an exact duplication in each ball. When you do your sleeves they probably aren’t going to be *exactly* the same, even if you try to meticulously match the skeins. If you try to get them to be you’ll probably drive yourself crazy, but treat it as an exercise in surrender and you’ll be smiling!
Berroco Wizard is a super soft, light & happy bulky weight yarn. It stripes by itself, with bold colors flowing. It has a chainette construction which makes it feel deliciously airy and weightless. The construction is also responsible for it’s very generous 240m yardage – the same amount of a typical bulky weight yarn would normally be about 100m to 125m. Wizard is also machine washable, so it’s great for all kinds of projects including blankets, sweaters, hats, scarves, mitts – even a cozy pair of -slipper-socks!
The Stripe Hype Sweater is a great stash busting project where you can use up scrap yarns or combine your favourite colors in just the way you want. Also, knitting stripes makes this one a really quick project to complete because the curiosity of seeing how every next stripe will affect the overall look is highly addictive, and a lot of fun.The work begins by working the back flat, then stitches are picked up for the left and right front separately and worked flat. The back and front are then joined together and the body is worked in the round. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves and worked in the round and lastly stitches are picked up around the neckline and the collar is worked in a twisted rib stitch.
Length from back neck (excluding collar) to hem: 59 cm / 23.25” all sizes.
Sweater is designed to have 20-30 cm / 8-12” of positive ease. Choose a size that is 20-30 cm / 8-12” bigger than your bust circumference for a relaxed and slightly oversized look.
Sample in size M, model has a bust of approx. 87 cm / 34.25” and is 171 cm/ 5’6” tall.
If you’re between two sizes, I recommend choosing the bigger size.
The Stripe Hype dress is a relaxed dress that is the absolute perfect “just-throw-it-on” garment for any season. The dress has a dropped shoulder and a boxy fit which makes it modern and easy to knit.
You can customize it to your exact preferences by choosing your favourite colours: go all in and use multiple colours for a really fun and playful vibe (a great option for using up scrap yarns in your stash), or choose just a few colours in a more toned down colour palette for a more classical look. You can also knit it all in one colour.
The dress is worked top down. The work begins by working the back flat, then stitches are picked up for the left and right front separately and worked flat. The back and front are then joined together and the body is worked in the round while increasing stitches along both side seams around the waist and hips for a slight A-line shape. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves and worked in the round and lastly stitches are picked up around the neckline and the collar is worked in a rib stitch.
The Stripe Hype Sweater is a great stash busting project where you can use up scrap yarns or combine your favourite colors in just the way you want. Also, knitting stripes makes this one a really quick project to complete because the curiosity of seeing how every next stripe will affect the overall look is highly addictive, and a lot of fun.The work begins by working the back flat, then stitches are picked up for the left and right front separately and worked flat. The back and front are then joined together and the body is worked in the round. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves and worked in the round and lastly stitches are picked up around the neckline and the collar is worked in a twisted rib stitch.
Length from back neck (excluding collar) to hem: 59 cm / 23.25” all sizes.
Sweater is designed to have 20-30 cm / 8-12” of positive ease. Choose a size that is 20-30 cm / 8-12” bigger than your bust circumference for a relaxed and slightly oversized look.
Sample in size M, model has a bust of approx. 87 cm / 34.25” and is 171 cm/ 5’6” tall.
If you’re between two sizes, I recommend choosing the bigger size.
The Stripe Hype dress is a relaxed dress that is the absolute perfect “just-throw-it-on” garment for any season. The dress has a dropped shoulder and a boxy fit which makes it modern and easy to knit.
You can customize it to your exact preferences by choosing your favourite colours: go all in and use multiple colours for a really fun and playful vibe (a great option for using up scrap yarns in your stash), or choose just a few colours in a more toned down colour palette for a more classical look. You can also knit it all in one colour.
The dress is worked top down. The work begins by working the back flat, then stitches are picked up for the left and right front separately and worked flat. The back and front are then joined together and the body is worked in the round while increasing stitches along both side seams around the waist and hips for a slight A-line shape. Stitches are picked up for the sleeves and worked in the round and lastly stitches are picked up around the neckline and the collar is worked in a rib stitch.
Just to recap, I made the smallest size (which I talk about in the video), and I used Drops Air (colour 34) & Drops Kid-Silk (colour 41) on 6.5mm/US10.5 needles.
Since the last update, I knit the body and the sleeves. I followed the pattern instructions for the sleeves and did the grafted underarm, because I figured maybe I’d learn something new. What I learned was that I still prefer a picked-up underarm, and that I’m not into armpit grafting (that sounds gross, but ‘m sticking with it). Here’s a really good video from someone more proficient than me on how to pick up the underarm stitches when you’re ready to pick-up and knit your sleeves. (That said, I left a note on the Cocoknits youtube video and they very kindly got back to me saying that Julie’s Toni KAL playlist shows her cleaning up the outside edges. …. still, too many hoops for me to jump through).
I also knit the body a bit longer because the size was smaller than I expected, and I didn’t bother picking up for the neckline, when I tried it on it seemed to be just right, so I stuck with it. FYI I steam blocked it with a hand steamer… quick & easy!
Conclusions
Overall, it was a satisfying knit! I’m nearing the end of my first day wearing it and it’s cozy, comfortable, pretty, and it hasn’t been itching me. I learned a new technique, and I would definitely make another sweater from Cocoknits. I’m still nodling it aroun, but I think my next might be Emma Version A from the Cocoknits Sweater Workshop book (I think I figured out that I can get the right tension with Quince & Co Kestrel and 6.5mm/US10.5 needles, but I’m smacking my head because of course I didn’t make any notes for myself in my Ravelry account so I have to go back and double check that. And I need to order more of the yarn too!
P.S.
In the video I mention perfectionism and the Knitsana workshop
Mabel
Mabel is a loose-fitting, comfortable pullover that fits the bill. She is also infinitely adaptable … try knitting the neck ribbing into a cowl or extra long fold-over turtleneck. Add cables, split the hem, knit it knee length, add stripes … the sky’s the limit. It is written in 10 sizes from 36 to 72” bust, so you have options for fit, as well!
This sweater is worked using the Cocoknits Method, a commonsense system for knitting seamless, tailored sweaters from the top down. The Cocoknits Method is explained in detail in Cocoknits Sweater Workshop by Julie Weisenberger.
FYI, if you hadn’t already heard, Cocoknits is hosting a KAL starting this February, and I thought it might be a nice diversion, as well as a neat way to learn something new and unique. Cocoknits designer, Julie Weisberger, is known for her own sweater construction style, which is laid out in her book Cocoknits Sweater Workshop.
I’m going to give it a shot and make Mabel, so reach out and give me a shout if you’d like to join me! It knits up on 7mm/US10.75 needles at 12 sts/4″, so it won’t be a huge commitment. I’d like to make mine light and airy, and I still have to swatch to figure out my yarn, but I’m thinking of using one of the following combinations:
If you’re allergic to wool I think you can also get away with using the Rico So Cool So Soft Cotton we have on sale (I managed to restock more of the navy, black and cream).
KALDetails
Knit whatever Cocoknits Method Patternyou want, whenever you want, however, you want. That’s the philosophy behind Cocoknits knit-a-long.
It’s a “choose your own adventure” of sorts. But the best part? They don’t have an end date…and they don’t plan on setting one, so you can join over and over again. That’s why they’re calling this the Cocoknits Method Everlasting KAL.
Still, the Cocoknits team enjoys the tradition of starting off the new year by working on a shared pattern together. For 2023 they have decided on a fan favorite: Mabel.
