How to Knit the Cozyest Wool Sweater – From Yarn to Design

Hey y’all! 👋

We’re living through some challenging times right now, aren’t we? With this pesky virus going around, it feels like we’re all facing some big tests in life. And as if things weren’t tough enough, my orchestra concerts, classes, and even my overseas travel plans got canceled. Looks like we’ve got a long stretch of time ahead of us. But hey, let’s stay calm, take the necessary precautions, and just wait it out. There’s really not much else we can do. Here’s to healthier days ahead, y’all!

Now, enough with the heavy talk! Let’s dive into the real reason I’m here: the cozy, soft, and totally adorable wool sweater I just finished knitting (well, almost finished – thanks to my sweet mama, that is!).

The Yarn Inspiration:

I had this beautiful wool yarn I found that was calling my name. It was calling me to make a sweater, y’all. But as much as I wanted to dive in, I just couldn’t find the time to work on it with all the other things going on in my life. My mom, being the talented lady she is, saw me struggling and said, “Why don’t you let me help? I’ll knit it for you!” And boy, am I glad she did because, thanks to her skills, I now have the sweater of my dreams.

Now, I gotta admit, all the credit for the knitting part goes to her – I’m just here for the writing, the photography, and all that fun stuff! 😉

A Quick Side Note on Blogging (Whoops!):

So, I kinda betrayed my own blog a little bit, y’all. Here's why: Over the past 5 days, I’ve been sharing pictures of the sweater on Instagram, and well, I kinda neglected my dear blog. To make it up to her, I’m giving y’all the full story here – with all the juicy details and plenty of pictures to go with it. Hope she forgives me!

Since I’ve spent a lot of time around magazines, one thing I’ve learned is that giving a project a name is super important. Now, I’m not exactly the most creative when it comes to naming things, so my mom and I decided to just call our project “The Sweater.” Simple, right?

Alright, y’all, enough rambling. Here’s everything you need to know to make your very own cozy wool sweater:

Materials:

• 250g Etrofil İpekyolu (90% wool, 10% silk, 100g)
• 4.00mm Knitting Needles
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle

Note: This sweater is designed to fit a size L, but it could fit anyone smaller or bigger too, thanks to the loose fit and dropped shoulders. You can adjust the length if you prefer a longer sweater.

And remember, the measurements in this pattern are tailored to the yarn I used, so if you choose a different yarn, you might need to adjust accordingly. This yarn is thin and almost feels like angora – it’s so soft!

Instructions:

Back Part:

1. Cast on 152 stitches.
2. Knit 20 rows of a 1x1 rib (about 7cm in height).
3. On the 21st row, switch to stockinette stitch and continue until the piece measures 51cm (you can make it longer if you like).
4. When it reaches the right length, mark the 76th stitch (the middle of the piece).
5. From here on out, we’ll be knitting both sides separately.
6. Start shaping the neckline by decreasing stitches:
   • First row: decrease 4 stitches
   • Second row: decrease 2 stitches
   • Last row: decrease 1 stitch
7. Continue knitting until it reaches 55cm, then bind off all stitches.
8. Repeat the same steps for the other side.

Front Part:

1. Cast on 152 stitches.
2. Repeat the same process as the back, knitting 20 rows of 1x1 ribbing.
3. Switch to stockinette stitch and knit until you reach 43cm.
4. Mark the 76th stitch again.
5. Begin shaping the neckline by decreasing stitches:
   • First row: decrease 4 stitches
   • Second row: decrease 3 stitches
   • Third row: decrease 2 stitches
   • Fourth row: decrease 1 stitch
   • Last row: decrease 1 stitch
6. Continue knitting until you reach 55cm, then bind off stitches.
7. Repeat for the other side.

Sleeves (Make 2):

1. Cast on 54 stitches.
2. Knit 20 rows of 1x1 ribbing.
3. After finishing the ribbing, on the first row, increase 10 stitches evenly spaced. You’ll have 64 stitches.
4. Every 6th row, increase 1 stitch on both sides until you have 100 stitches.
5. Continue until the sleeve reaches 48cm.
6. Repeat for the second sleeve.

Assembly:

1. Sew one shoulder seam and leave the other one open.
2. Pick up 100 stitches from the neck opening using the circular needles, knit 20 rows of 1x1 ribbing, and bind off.
3. Sew up the other shoulder seam and fold the neckline inwards, securing it to the inside of the sweater.
4. Attach the sleeves to the body at the shoulders and sew up the sides.

Final Thoughts:

I just love how this sweater turned out! It's so cozy, and having my mom help me make it made it even more special. I hope this blog post has inspired y’all to try knitting your own sweater. It's a simple yet rewarding project, and there’s something so satisfying about wearing something you made with your own hands (or your mama’s hands in my case 😉).

Take care, stay healthy, and happy knitting, y’all!

Love and hugs,