November 29, 2019

I bought the yarn to try to make this. I decided on Blue Moon Fiber Arts Targhee Worsted because I want it to be not as threadbare.

December 3, 2019

Changed (k1tbl, p1) ribbing to (k1tbl, p1tbl) because duh we’re working flat instead of in the round.

Plowing ahead because who’s going to notice some wonky ribbing on the sleeve? No one.

December 4, 2019

I’m working on revising some of the charts I’ve provided. I’m using a program called Stitch Fiddle, which has worked for me in the past. I had to fix a cable on Panel A and I’ve added legends for Panels A, B and C. Panels D and E have the same cables as in Panel B, I’m just splitting panel B on either side of the sleeve seams.

I’ve added increase/setup rows for the back, front and sleeves to the google doc. Debating if I want to rip out my first attempt for wonky stitching offenses. :P

Also hi, new Twitter friends! If you feel intimidated by this sweater, just know that you can do it and I believe in you!

December 6, 2019

I’ve revised the increase row for the sleeves, and I’ll probably get around to testing it today. I’ve also been trying to finish this sweater for Christmas. It’s the greater priority at this point, sorry.

Update: I tested the increase row for the sleeves and it checked out for the charts I had. I’m making major revisions to the cable charts because I’m not happy with them.

Here’s a story from The Daily Dot about the knitwear in Knives Out. It mentions this attempt to reverse-engineer the sweater.

December 9, 2019

Today I’m working on revising the charts for panels A and C, and re-mathing the increase rows from the sleeve cuffs. Panel A is now 14 stitches wide and panel C is now 24 stitches wide.

December 10, 2019

The sleeves now work in theory.

December 15, 2019

A helpful sleuth sent me a link to a sold-out version of the sweater at Nordstrom. I will not be knitting holes into my version. It will be knit whole and, I’m hoping, distressed over time as it ages!

December 18, 2019

Two things:

1.) SLEEVES FIRST: This part of the pattern is done, so if it is before December 26, 2019 and you’re just itching to make this pattern, make the sleeves. I will not have the chance to work on the pattern until after Christmas.

2.) Use DK weight yarn and smaller needles if you want to make this any smaller than a men’s L/XL. This is a BIG sweater.

December 30, 2019

Ok, I’m back at it. Hope you all had a good holiday!

I’ve recently begun documenting the audiobooks I listen to while I knit. Right now I’m listening to “A Conjuring of Light” by VE Schwab while I work on the sleeves.

Also, I’m working on a Le Pouf sweater for myself and a Huge D20 for my favorite dungeon master, Robert.

January 4, 2020

So I think I’m going to increase one stitch on either side of the sleeves every 12 rows. So whenever you start a new repeat of Panel C, your stitch count will go up by 2!

January 21, 2020

Annette (poodlecar) finished a sleeve. It has an 11” cuff width, 20” length, 16” upper arm width. Yes, it is a big sweater!

If y’all have pictures or project pages you’d like to share with me, I’d love to see them!

February 4, 2020

The beginning of the front and back pieces is complete. You’ll start with 194 stitches and increase to 204. I’ve updated the pattern with a new cast on and setup/increase row for the cables on the front and back.

February 16, 2020

I’ve added approximate widths for each cable panel, so you can decide if you want to add or subtract cable panels in the body or sleeves. The measurements are unblocked, so take that into account. I don’t know how much my yarn is going to stretch or bloom after I’ve washed it, and your mileage may vary as well!

Oh! I’ve definitely slowed down the number of books I’ve been reading, but right now I’m listening to Libba Bray’s Diviners saga. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books!

March 31, 2020

Ah, hello there! It’s been a while! Some personal news: Because of the coronavirus, I’ve been furloughed from my job. So I’ll have some time to pick this sweater back up during my mild funemployment.

The pattern is technically completely correct, though I’m going to knit it myself to be sure! I wouldn’t subject a test knitter to my nonsense. If you’d like to support this project, consider buying me a Ko-fi. I appreciate it!

April 1, 2020

There’s been a little renewed interest in this project since the quarantine, so that’s neat! I hope we can all knit Knives Out sweaters in the era of social distancing!

I updated the pattern to include some new sizing information if you’d like to make a sweater that is not so enormous! Also, I re-uploaded chart C because it didn’t include instructions for knitting and purling tbl.

April 16, 2020

Ko-fi supporter Elizabeth asked for written instructions, so I added some below each cable chart. Hope this helps!

Also, I’m still working on this while trying to make 1,000 pairs of socks for my friend for his birthday. It’s going well, I think!

Audiobooks!: I just finished Sam Sykes’ “Seven Blades in Black” (SASSY!) and started “The Queen of the Tearling” by Erika Johansen (NOT AS SASSY!)

April 18, 2020

My prototype has been claimed by someone who wanted to buy it on Etsy. I have so many incentives to KNIT FASTER

April 22, 2020

I finished “The Queen of the Tearling” the other day and started on the Wheel of Time series! I wonder if I can finish this sweater before I finish all 14 30-hour audiobooks?

April 23, 2020

I’m a little more than halfway through “Eye of the World” and cast on 194 stitches for the back to have a “mindless knitting” project while I complete the ribbing on the hem. This sweater is going to blanket an entire square acre, I swear.

April 25, 2020

Today I completed the first sleeve. It is 9.5 inches wide at the wrist, 17 inches wide at the upper arm and 22 inches long unblocked. Full instructions for the sleeves are complete! Also, I finished “Eye of the World” by Robert Jordan and started “The Great Hunt.”

April 29, 2020

I’m halfway through “The Great Hunt.” While I’m knitting this, I’ve also been working on some spring-colored socks. What can I say? I take a break from knitting one project by picking up another project!

I’m about 1.5 rows away from doing the setup/increase row for the back and starting on the cable pattern. The bottom hem is 194 stitches across, about 25” wide, in very tedious k1tbl, p1tbl ribbing.

I got a question today about the length of the drop on the drop sleeve. I estimate about a 3” drop, so plan your sleeve lengths accordingly. My victim, err-- subject has a 25” arm length from shoulder to wrist, so I knit the sleeve to be 22” long to accommodate 3” of help from the shoulder width.

The past couple days I’ve been thinking I might need to get some more yarn for this project. 2400 yards is a lot, but it might not be enough.

May 21, 2020

I’ve finished “The Great Hunt” and “The Dragon Reborn” and I’m just starting “A Shadow Rising.” I’m 8 inches into the back of the sweater, with 19 inches to go. Also, I got a new job! The good news is that I’m not a sad, furloughed journalist anymore. The bad news is I’ll actually be working 40 hours a week again and will probably have less time to work on the sweater! However, I will persist!

July 31, 2020

Last week I was able to pick this project back up. I’m settled in my new state with a new job and ready to get back to a routine!

I completed “The Shadow Rising” during my (bumpy and very stressful) move, and started “Fires of Heaven!”

August 1, 2020

I worked all day to finish the pattern for 5 different sizes. You can now make the Knives Out sweater in a 36-52” chest circumference, with instructions on how to make larger, smaller, or in-between sizes.

August 4, 2020

Reddit user u/rockybeatsapollo completed their own replica. You can see a picture and read more about their modifications here.

They used more than 2,500 yards of Knit Picks bare Wool of the Andes sport weight.

August 24, 2020

I’m still plugging away at the body of this sweater. I’m the slowest knitter EVER.

Does anyone around here bullet journal your knitting projects? Right now I have 6 active knitting projects because we’re getting to be close to the end of the year and I’m thinking about Christmas presents at this point. I created bullet journal knitting project trackers that help me be realistic about how much knitting I’m accomplishing every day and adjust my schedule accordingly.

Audiobook-wise, I’ve finished “Fires of Heaven” and started “Lord of Chaos.”

October 29, 2020

I’m still getting a row or two in amid ALL OF THE HOLIDAY KNITTING right now. If you’ve decided to make a Knives Out sweater, drop me a link to your project page! I love seeing everyone’s sweaters!

I’m currently listening to Path of Daggers in the Wheel of Time series!

November 9, 2020

I’ve added Handsome Chris to the Ravelry pattern database in an effort to connect those knitting the pattern. If you’ve made this pattern, please link it to the pattern page.

My reluctance to add this pattern was connected directly with Ravelry’s insistence that their site was accessible when it was not. I’d like to note that Ravelry still has a lot to work on regarding accessibility.

November 27, 2020

u/calendula on Reddit finished her sweater. I am so impressed.

Question about ease: This is meant to be a baggier sweater, so keep ease on the more positive side, about 3-4 inches. How wide it is also plays into how much the sleeve seam drops down the arm. I anticipated about a 3” drop from the shoulder joint to mid-bicep. Make sure you measure your person to decide which size is right for you.

Question about making sizes above XL: If you want to make a XXL or 3XL sweater, continue to alternate A and B or D/E panels on either side of the center C panel to achieve your desired width. I might math this out in time, but it won’t be until January or February 2021 at the earliest.

December 29, 2020

u/onibaba89 on Reddit made one in yellow! I’m very happy to see all of the different colors people are choosing.

Thank you all very much for your support of this pattern. My own has been in hibernation for the past few months, but now that the holidays are over, I’m going to pick it up again. It’s been a tough year and I’m glad this sweater has brought so many people joy.

January 22, 2021

I spoke to Hannah Wise at the New York Times about this sweater and reverse-engineering knitwear in general. You can read her story here.

February 4, 2021

The Knives Out sweater is included in this timeline of reverse-engineered knitted pieces by The Daily Dot!

March 12, 2021

Raveler erieliknits is making her own pattern for the Knives Out sweater for 10 sizes, all tech edited and tested, to be released later this year. I am sure it will be a much improved version and I look forward to purchasing it!

April 7, 2021

I’ve added instructions for 2XL and 3XL.

August 19, 2021

WHICH WHEEL OF TIME BOOK ARE YOU ON?

Winter’s Heart

WILL YOU EVER FINISH THIS SWEATER?

Yes, eventually. I have some other commissions standing in my way right now.

CAN I BORROW YOUR CABLES TO MAKE MY OWN KNIVES OUT SHORTS/TSHIRT/THONG/SCARF/HAT/MITTENS???

Yes, absolutely. I already did socks, tho. They’re here.

January 10, 2022

I’ve finished Winter’s Heart! I’ve finished the back! Onto the second sleeve and Crossroads of Twilight…

August 1, 2022

I’ve completed my sweater!

Did I finish the Wheel of Time series on audiobook before I finished my sweater? No! I’m still listening to “Crossroads of Twilight!”

I seriously powered through the rest of this sweater when I went on vacation earlier in July and through the rest of the month. It’s going to the fair, and then it’s going to live in my Etsy store.

Now that I’ve completed this, I can say with confidence that the men’s XL size uses almost 3,000 yards of yarn. I used 4 full skeins, plus most of a 5th of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Targhee Worsted, which is ~600 yards per skein.