Knit a Lightweight Striped Sweater

One thing to know about me is that I love heavier weight yarns. It was only a couple of years ago I had never knit a sweater using yarn lighter that worsted weight (unless maybe it was for a baby or a little kid). I’ve knit a couple of DK weight sweaters since them, and I do really like them as something I can wear more in the spring and fall (and even in the summer because I’m always cold in southern US air conditioning).

Could it follow that I would also enjoy knitting and wearing a sweater made with even finer yarn? Technically I guess I’ve done this, too, because I knit a Sea Glass Tee (Ravelry link) and that’s sock yarn, but it’s also short sleeves so it doesn’t really feel like it “counts” as a sweater. Am I the only one who makes these silly distinctions?

In any case, the Milo Jumper by Line Pedersen. This sweet little striped sweater gives henley vibes, which you might know by now is one of my favorite sweater types. (Aside: I looked it up and technically a henley has a round neck, and this is a V-neck, so technically not a henley but I’ll allow it.)

It’s worked in light fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover stripes except on the yoke and the bottoms of the sleeves, which are each one of the two main colors. The color change happens at the center front from the look of things, so it’s a great time to practice your jogless stripe techniques.

The pattern comes in nine sizes with a bust circumference ranging from 31.5 to 63 inches, or 80 to 160 cm. It’s meant to have 1 to 3 inches/2 to 8 cm of positive ease.

The designer notes that the pattern has been tech edited but was not test knit, so do with that information what you will.

You can grab a copy of the pattern for free on Ravelry.

[Photo: Line Pedersen]

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When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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