This is a sweater “recipe”, as opposed to a pattern. While I’ve written out what I did to create a women’s large (42 inch bust), I’ve also included instructions on how to make my approach work for you.

Garment construction can be straightforward and simple. Top-down construction lets you try on your work and make adjustments as you go. If you have the wearer’s measurements, a good gauge swatch, and a simple yoke “recipe”, you are halfway there!

I chose to double up laceweight yarn on this project as I wanted to blend colors and use up some lovely Malabrigo Merino lace I had in my stash. You can use a fingering weight if that’s what you have, just remember you will need about 3 skeins of 400 yards or so instead of six, and you will have plenty left over.

I used interchangeable circular needles in 3.5 and 4.0 mm along with my favorite set of 3.5 double pointed needles (for the sleeve band). The sweater is fairly plain, with a little mock cable stitch on the bands and around the neck. This is a good pattern for featuring variegated yarn or solid color mixing.

The 4 mm needle is used mostly so it knits up fairly quickly. The lighter weight yarn used means you have a supple, lightweight fabric that is warm, but versatile.

This sweater is customizable. If you choose to lengthen the sleeves, or opt for more positive ease in your garment, yarn estimates will need to be increased.

I’d be remiss if I did not give a a big shout out to Holly Chayes, whose work on shawl geometry opened up a whole knew approach to my knitting. I look at garments differently now and am far less intimidated by their construction.

My goal is to encourage knitters to experiment and find ways to work with the yarn you have/or want to use, to create practical, beautiful garments for yourselves and your loved ones.