Knit a Sweater Inspired by Fast Fashion

I love a design with a good origin story. This one goes like this: Berroco released a rectangular shawl/wide scarf pattern called Ludlow, and a lot of knitters wanted to know about the sweater the model was wearing. It turned out the original was from Target, but designer Alison Green got on the case to re-create the sweater for knitters.

The result is Sydney, a scoop-neck, drop shoulder design with a pretty allover seeded rib pattern.

The design is worked flat in pieces that are sewn together at the end, and the shoulders are shaped using short rows. That makes it more of an intermediate pattern, but if you’re comfortable with short rows its otherwise a pretty straightforward project.

The pattern is available in 12 sizes, with bust measurements ranging from 35.5 to 77 inches (or 90 to 195.5 centimeters). The sweater is meant to be worn with around 4 to 6 inches (or 10 to 15 centimeters) of positive ease.

Sydney uses the same yarn as the original scarf pattern, called Berroco Renew. It’s a combination of viscose, wool, nylon and cashmere that’s a DK weight and comes in 18 colors. If you don’t have access to this yarn, I’m sure this sweater would be lovely in a range of different fibers.

You can get the pattern free from Berroco. (Ludlow, linked above, is also free; it’s a charted cabled pattern they call a scarf but it’s really wide so I’m calling it a shawl. Whatever.)

Want to play with more ribbing patterns? I’ve got a collection of easy ribbed knitting patterns you can try, which includes everything from a scarf and a hat to socks and a tank top. And while we’re talking about ribbing tricks, I can’t help but remind you of cartridge belt rib, which is a special kind of ribbing pattern that doesn’t use any purls (you slip the stitches that would be purled with the yarn in front instead).

[Photo: Berroco]

Bluebell Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Knit the Perfect Argyle Cardigan

Next Pattern:

Using your yarn stash is important to me throughout the year, but as I start to feel the end of the year coming on I get more excited about using things I already have in the house. Maybe that’s because I don’t want to go to a store in the thick of holiday shopping times, or I like the idea of having a little space in my stash when the new year rolls around.

It’s super satisfying to use up all the little odd balls you’ve made over the year (or years), and I have several stash busting blankets I work on when it’s cold and will maybe finish someday.

If you’d like to start a stash busting project that’s perfect for using up odd balls, check out the Soukish pattern from Neisha Abdulla. This pattern is made for fingering weight/sock yarn, and it’s worked in a tube with allover color work.

This is great for a couple of reasons. You don’t really have to weave in your ends when you can hide them in a tube (this is one time you might even get by just tying a knot when you change colors!) and you can change colors whenever you run out of yarn and it will look good.

Of course the pattern is made with blocks where the designer changed colors, but you can change yours more or less often as you need to make it work for your stash. You can use blank charts to design your own color combinations, or even your own stitch patterns if you like. You can also adjust the length of the scarf as needed or turn it into a cowl based on the amount of yarn you have.

This project looks like a lot of fun and would be a great thing to have on hand to stitch up and then to wear during the cold, gloomy months.

You can get a copy of the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Neisha Abdulla]

Another Way to Use Up All Your Sock Yarn Scraps

Gather Your Scraps for a Fun Wrap

A Scrappy Shawl Knitting Pattern to Use All Your Odd Balls

Use All Your Yarn Scraps on This Great Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply