For his birthday, my son asked for a thick, warm sweater that would help him get through our tough Canadian winters. The challenge? To strike a balance between a sweater that would be interesting enough to keep me knitting, but not so interesting that it would draw attention to itself—the classic problem when knitting for most men. The solution? A top-down textured pullover with customizable bands of gansey stitches. The result is a recipe-style design, which knitters can adapt to suit their own tastes and needs. The construction, while not traditional, means that with the exception of the first few rows, the patterns are worked with the right side facing, making them easy to knit. Best of all, the garment can be tried on during the knitting process to ensure a perfect fit. Some experience with knitting top-down sweaters, reading charts, and centring pattern stitches is recommended. Instructions for a cropped, high neck feminine version are included.
The men’s version takes at least 2 (3, 3, 3, 3) skeins of the Eco+. The women’s takes approximately 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) skeins of Osprey. Yardage need will vary according to desired length. I recommend going up a size for the women’s version for a loose, oversized look.