Knit a Simple Looking Sweater Full of Fun Techniques

At first glance, the Doppio Sweater by Seunghee Hong looks like a pretty classic, straightforward, mostly stockinette stitch sweater. But as you div e into it, you’ll see there’s more going on that makes it more interesting to knit.

For example, it’s a top down raglan sweater, but the raglan lines are curved rather then being straight diagonals. That means you’re adding stitches at a different rate on the sleeves versus the body, which should give you a better fit.

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The neckline is shaped with German short rows (though there are also instructions for using wrap and turn) and stitches are picked up from the neckline or a crochet chain worked in for that purpose. The neckband is folded over and seamed, and there are purl stitches at the sides of the body and back of the sleeves to serve as faux seams.

In addition to all that, the original sweater was worked with a couple of super fine and a sport weight yarn held together to make more of a bulky weight, but you can also use a DK or worsted weight yarn held with a lace weight, or even a bulky weight yarn on its own if you want.

There are lots of tutorials and videos in the pattern to help you with the techniques, but this probably isn’t a great first sweater pattern. If you’re worked regular raglans before, and you’re familiar with short rows, you’ll probably be fine with all the techniques used here. If you’re feeling up for a knit adventure that will get you a classic sweater, this one is a great choice.

The pattern includes nine sizes, with a finished bust measurement ranging from 35 to 67.5 inches, or 89 to 171 cm. It’s meant to be worn with 2 to 5 inches, or 5 to 13 centimeters of positive ease.

You can find more information about the pattern and get your own copy on Ravelry.

[Photo: Seunghee Hong]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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