Take it Easy with a Bulky, Textured Sweater

If you’re looking for a sweater that embodies afternoons sitting by the fire, reading and knitting with a favorite warm beverage at hand, it might just be the Easy-Going Sweater from Bernat.

It’s worked in chunky roving yarn, with an ample funnel neck, boxy shaping and an allover texture pattern. I think you’d call it a variation of fisherman’s rib, as it’s worked by knitting in the row below on some stitches in one round of the four-round repeat.

The sweater is worked from the bottom up in pieces, starting with twisted ribbing. The shoulder seams are sewn together, then you pick up stitches around the neckline and work the collar piece in the round before finishing sewing the rest of the project together.

It comes in six sizes and is meant to have a lot of positive ease. The actual size of the sweater ranges from 41 to 64 inches at the bust, or 104 to 157.5 cm. But the smallest size is meant to fit an actual chest measurement ranging from 28 to 34 inches, or 71 to 86.5 cm. If you’re in the middle of the sizing you may be able to choose a size that would give you less ease if you prefer, but it is meant to be a super cozy, oversized design.

The pattern page includes a video tutorial that walks you through how to do your swatch and demos a tiny version of the sweater in case you need any help working any of the stitches or putting it together. I would have said this wasn’t ideal as a first sweater because of the textured stitch pattern and because roving can be a little tricky to work with, but the video definitely helps if you have any questions.

The pattern has a skill level rating of easy and is available for free on the Yarnspirations website.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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Sashiko is a traditional Japanese embroidery technique that uses running stitches to make lines (straight or otherwise) that reinforce and insulate fabric. It can be used as a mending technique or for decorative purposes, and it has become popular in recent years as a visible mending technique.

It’s also the inspiration behind the Sashiko Tee by Elenor Mortensen. This top down, circular yoke top is worked in the round with allover stranded knitting designs reminiscent of intricate sashiko stitching.

You’ll find floral patterns, starbursts, straight lines and individual colorwork stitches in this design.

The pattern is offered in six sizes and two different gauges (both use fingering weight yarn) making a dozen different size options. The finished bust circumference of the sweater ranges from 33.8 to 57 inches, or 86 to 145 cm.

The project calls for two colors, and I love the traditional blue and white of the designer’s sample, but some of the projects shown on Ravelry use more than two or use a multicolored yarn as one of the options, which gives it a different look that’s even more interesting. There are also some projects that show longer sleeves, repeating the patterns from the body on the sleeves, which is a great move if you need a sweater for the fall.

I know I say this a lot but it’s worth your time to look at the different ways people have approached this sweater by clicking on the projects tab on Ravelry. You’ll find different colors and sleeves, different ribbing treatments, added beads, a bit of mohair, different lengths, subtle colors and bolder choices…so many fun options.

The pattern is available in English, French and German, and you can grab a copy of Ravelry. I think this one would be a fun way to get into colorwork knitting without having to deal with a bunch of colors, and you get a cool result and lots of practice following a chart.

[Photo: Elenor Mortensen]

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