This sweater can be knit in any weight and type of yarn and any needle size without a gauge calculation being required. I’ve listed a few yarns - but really you can use anything that pleases you. Testers used cotton, wool, acrylic and even cashmere yarns in yarn weights from super-bulky to sock. Yardages will of course vary dependent on the yarn selected - links to helpful estimating tools are included in the pattern.

Perfect for those who struggle to make accurate gauge measurements or for that unusual (handspun?) yarn that never seems to meet a required gauge, or if you want to combine yarns in creative ways - or of course simply for the joy of the thing!

How? Its all down to a fun and novel construction. Worked top down, it is virtually seamless (with just a tiny hole at the underarm to close up). All you need to do is measure your knitting in inches or cms throughout the pattern according to the size you want to create. The knitting starts flat in one piece, including the tops of the sleeves, and is then joined in the round.There is no picking up of stitches or joining in of sleeves: live stitches for the sleeve are left hanging and are worked later by being joined in the round and continued.

Follow the pattern exactly and the garment magically appears as shown. Or use some of the suggested variations (or your own imagination) to free your knitting even further - this pattern is a great starting point for those who want to start to make their own decisions and customizations. The way that this sweater grows also makes for really interesting effects when using stripes or self-striping yarn as you can see in the plain stockinette version by Brncow. Full standard sizing information is provided, but, as with most top-down sweaters, you can create a custom-fit sweater simply by trying on as you go.

And of course because it is gaugeless this makes the pattern incredibly useful and flexible for different season knits. Need a winter garment like my sample? Just choose a heavy weight yarn. Want a summer T-shirt? Then look at the version by KNITnGLO with an open work pattern on the sleeves worked in a finer cotton yarn with short sleeves.

Sizes:
This sweater is sized for 0 ease on the chest and then worked straight to the hem. If you want it fitted on the waist it is simple to change down a needle or work some decreases at this point. Alternatively, choose a size with some negative ease on the chest.

sizes
chest cm 71 76 81 86 91 96 101 106 112 116
chest in 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46