Patterns, projects and techniques
I love long, roomy sweaters, and pretty much live in them this time of year. I feel like I need to add the Big Comfy Sweater from Red Heart to my knit list right away.
This simple boxy sweater uses mostly Stockinette Stitch, along with ribbing at the split hem and a ridge stitch pattern at the top and across the sleeves.
It’s worked in two pieces in a lightweight yarn so the big size won’t weigh you down. The pattern is free from Yarnspirations and comes in six sizes.
[Photo: Yarnspirations.]
I love a good stash busting project, and that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the Brilliant Brickwork Wrap by Amy Crumpton.
It’s actually designed to use mini skeins of fingering weight yarn, but I feel like you could use scrap yarns in harmonious colors to get the same kind of effect.
The pattern was written to use 24 colors of 10 gram skeins, as well as a 100 gram/400 yard skein of yarn. But there’s a design modifications section in the pattern that talks you through using 12 colors in 20 gram increments, 10 gram scrap balls or even three full skeins of yarn if you’ve got bigger amounts of pretties you want to use.
The wrap is worked in garter stitch and it’s sort of a log cabin style, where stitches are picked up from the edges of previous sections to build the next piece. It is worked in two sections that are joined in the middle with no seaming required. The pattern includes row by row written instructions and end of row stitch counts so you can keep your place easily.
The designer rates the skill level as for adventurous beginners and beyond. You’ll need to know how to knit, slip stitches and pick up stitches from a slipped stitch edge.
I do love the look that minis give you in this project because they are designed to work well together. (Check out more patterns great for mini skeins and advent calendar yarn.) But being me I’m always thinking about ways to use your yarn stash, and I think with proper planning this would be a great project for getting rid of some of those odd balls. You could also work the wrap in a different weight of yarn for a different look depending on what yarn you have that you need to use.
As written is measures about 14 by 60 inches, or 35.5 by 152.5 cm, but you can adjust the length without too much trouble.
Check it out and grab your copy from Ravelry.
[Photo: Amy Crumpton]
I made this sweater and was very pleased. Since I am only 5’4″ I think I will make it again only shorter, this one was a little longer than I wanted. I should have followed my instinct and made it shorter than the directions said but I can do that with my next one. All in all it is a great pattern!
Thanks for the comment! I’m 5’6″ so it looks like a great length for me.
I am 5’3”, wondering where the sweater length hit you, Roseann? Longer than in the photo? I think I’d like it about that length.