Body Language by Janine Myska

Body Language

Crochet
February 2020
Aran (8 wpi) ?
16 stitches and 9 rows = 4 inches
in hdcBLO
3.75 mm (F)
4.5 mm
900 - 1875 yards (823 - 1715 m)
XS (S, M, L, XL)(2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
US
English
This pattern is available for C$9.50 CAD buy it now

About
The Body Language Sweater is a simple, drop-shoulder sweater using basic stitches - just the single crochet and half-double crochet stitch! - perfect for a beginner. It’s got a boxy fit with basic shaping around the front + back neckline and a cinching effect at the bottom and on the sleeve cuffs from using a smaller hook for the ribbing which lends to a really modern, flattering fit on all shapes and sizes.

Construction
This sweater is worked in 4 pieces that get seamed together:

  • 1 front panel worked flat
  • 1 back panel worked flat
  • 2 sleeves worked in the round You will need a hook to match gauge, as well as a hook that is 0.5mm smaller than your gauge hook to do the ribbing.

Sizing
This is a #sizeinclusive pattern, written for 9 sizes:
XS (S, M, L, XL)(2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) to fit bust sizes 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) (48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62)“ based on the CYC sizing standards.

When choosing a size, choose a garment bust size that is 2-8” larger than your actual bust measurement, depending on how much positive ease you would like in your sweater.
Model has 34” bust and is wearing a size small with a garment bust measurement of 40”.

Yardage Info
Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Butta (100% polyester)
5 (5, 6, 6, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) skeins for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

note: regular sized skeins, not the Bonus Bundles.

Or 900 (990, 1100, 1215, 1310) (1520, 1635, 1775, 1875) yds of any similar category 4, medium weight yarn that matches gauge.

Yardage is for cropped version; keep in mind that additional yardage may be needed for full-length or longer sweaters. However, this yardage is conservative, and many testers worked additional length to make it a full-length sweater without going over the listed yardage.

Feels Like Butta is 100% polyester, but any material will work. Testers used cotton, acrylic, wool, polyester, blends, and they all turned out great.

Modifications
If cropped sweaters aren’t for you, this pattern makes it very clear where to add length in the body as well as the sleeves. I also added instructions on how to shorten the sleeves to fit your arm length, if needed, and where to do so. Easily modify this pattern to make a slightly longer cropped sweater, a full-length sweater, a long sweater to wear with tights, or whatever your sweater preference is.

A few of my testers actually used a weight # 3 yarn rather than the suggested # 4, and they all turned out amazing. If you’d like to use a # 3 weight, I’d suggest simply finding the hook size that gives you the proper stitch gauge, and following the pattern as written because it’s easy to add/subtract rows as you’re working, if needed.

I wrote a book! It’s called Modern Crochet Sweaters: 20 Chic Designs for Everyday Wear, and it comes out this November. It includes 20 size-inclusive sweater patterns ranging from sizes XS-5X. You can pre-order it here!