• French Press Sweater - The French Press Sweater is a perfect project for anyone looking to expand their knitting skills or begin their second or third sweater. This pattern, suitable for advanced beginners, features a beautiful feather and fan lace stitch. Knit with some basic stitches and a couple of new techniques, it includes 1x1 ribbing, easy garter stitch, yarn overs, and simple decreases. The right neck/shoulder decreases are the most challenging part, but they are completely doable. Settle in with your needles and get ready to knit—this pattern will have you amazed at what you can do!

The pattern begins with knitting flat. Once the front, back and two sleeves have been knit, the sweater will be seamed together. The neck is finished off in the round.

If you have never knit the Feather & Fan lace stitch before, I recommend starting with the back piece to familiarize yourself with the pattern. The most challenging part of this project is knitting the right neck/shoulder decreases for the front, but I assure you it is achievable, and the end result is very gratifying.

I wrote this pattern for the sleeves to have a bracelet length. If you prefer longer sleeves, add two to four additional rows of garter stitch before binding off. Two rows = added length of .47” (1.1cm). Four rows = added length of .94” (2.3cm).

You can use circular or straight needles to make most of this sweater. The body and sleeves are knit flat, however the neck is knit in the round, so you will need circular needles for that part of the pattern. You can also use DPNs for the neck.

Bust:
XS: For bust: 28”-31” (71cm-78.7cm) giving approximately 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
S: For bust: 32”-35” (81.2cm-88.9cm) giving approximately 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
M: For bust: 36”-39” (91.4cm-99cm) giving approximately 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
L: For bust: 40”-43” (101.6cm-109.2cm) giving approximately 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease. XL: For bust: 44”-47” (111.7cm-119.3cm) giving approx 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
2XL: For bust: 48”-51” (121.9cm-129.5cm) giving approx 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
3XL: For bust: 52”-55” (132cm-139.7cm) giving approx 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
4XL: For bust: 56”-59” (142.2cm-149.8cm) giving approx 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.
5XL: For bust: 60”-63” (152.4cm-160cm) giving approx 5.5”-8.5” (13.9-21.5cm) of positive ease.