FOREVER APRIL SWEATER

 

I’m in love with spring. And this off-the-shoulder sweater was born when I decided to share my passion in the shape of a knitted garment. It is soft, stylish, and oh-so-cozy, ideal for long spring walks and romantic evenings.

Sweater is knitted from top down in the round using raglan construction. Both neck and waist shaping guarantees the comfortable fit. Ribbing at the neckline gives several ways to wear the sweater. Wide sleeves add a touch of extra coziness.

This pattern will work great with any sport weight yarn. It can be adjusted to other thread thickness as well.

 
 
 

YARN

  • 10 (10, 11) skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% merino, 33% microfiber, 12% cashmere, 137yds/125m, 1.75oz/50g) in color 600 Light Pink

  • Any other sport weight yarn will work fine.

NEEDLES

  • US 1 - 2.25 mm
  • US 3 - 3.25 mm
  • For the body: circular needles on 32”(80cm) cable
  • For the sleeves: circular needles on 32”(80cm) cable for magic loop method,  or a set of dpns

NOTIONS

  • Stitch markers
  • Stitch holders (optional)
  • Tapestry needle

GAUGE

  • 23 sts and 34 rows in 4”/10cm in Stockinette Stitch, blocked

FINISHED SIZE: S (M, L):

  • Bust 32.5”/82cm (36”/92cm, 40”/101cm)
  • Waist 27.5”/70cm (31”/79cm, 34.7”/88cm)
  • Hips 33.2”/84cm (36.7”/94cm, 40.7”/103cm)
  • Body length on the back 21”/53cm (23.5”/60cm, 25.4”/64.5cm), can be adjusted to any desired
  • Sleeve length 19.5”/50cm, can be adjusted to any desired
  • Sleeve width 11”/28cm (12.5”/32cm, 14”/35cm)
  • Shown size: M. For the fit as on pictures, choose the size that matches your bust measurement with a little bit of positive ease.
 
 

Notes

  • The sweater is knitted from the top down. In this case you can adjust the length of the body and sleeves trying the garment on while the knitting process is not finished yet.
  • The neck shaping is made using short rows technique. This part of a sweater is knitted back and forth, knitting stitches on RS and purling on WS. Raglan increases in these rows are made on WS.
  • The waist shaping can be adjusted for more comfortable fit. You can add/subtract equal number of decreasing and increasing rounds to make the waist more/less emphasized.
  • I used magic loop method for knitting 2 sleeves at a time, but you can knit them one by one as well. Use magic loop, a set of dpns, or any other desired method for knitting small circles.
 

Pattern

 

SET UP

With the smaller needles, CO 172(188, 204) sts. Combine them in a round. PM to mark the BOR.
R1-14: (k2, p2) to BOR.
R15: k1, replace the BOR marker here; k28 (32, 36), pm (right sleeve); k60 (64, 68), pm (front); k28 (32, 36), pm (left sleeve); k56 (60, 64) until BOR marker (back).

NECK SHAPING

Switch to the larger needles. Prepare several stitch markers.
The next 6 rows are knitted back and forth using only a part of stitches on the needles. This will make the back of a sweater a bit higher for more comfortable fit.

 R1 (RS): k1, m1L, k1, w&t, mark this place with a stitch marker.
R2 (WS): p4, m1R (making a purl stitch), p until 1 stitch before M, m1L (making a purl stitch), p2, m1R (making a purl stitch), p1, w&t, mark this place.
R3 (RS): k to BOR; k1, m1L, k until the marked place, pick up the wrapped loop and k2tog with the stitch it was wrapped around; k6, w&t, mark this place.
R4 (WS): p to BOR; p1, m1R (making a purl stitch), p until 1 stitch before M, m1L (making a purl stitch), p2, m1R (making a purl stitch), p until the marked place, pick up the wrapped loop and p2tog with the stitch it was wrapped around; p6, w&t, mark this place.
R5 (RS): as R3.
R6 (WS): as R4.

The next rows are knitted in the round again.

R7 (RS): k to BOR; k1, m1L, k until the marked place, pick up the wrapped loop and k2tog with the stitch it was wrapped around; (k until 1 stitch before M, m1R, k2, m1L)x 2 times total; k until the marked place, pick up the wrapped loop and ssk with the stitch it was wrapped around; k until 1 stitch before M, m1R, k2, m1L; k until 1 stitch to BOR, m1R, k1.

Current stitch distribution: BOR, 33 (37, 41)sts - right sleeve, M, 62 (66, 70)sts - front, M, 33 (37, 41) sts - left sleeve, M, 64 (68, 72)sts - back. Total number of stitches: 192 (208, 224).

RAGLAN PART

Next R: k all sts.
Incr.R: k1, (m1L, k until 1 stitch before M, m1R), k2, (m1L, k until 1 stitch before M, m1R), k2, (m1L, k until 1 stitch before M, m1R), k2, (m1L, k until 1 stitch before M, m1R), k1.

Repeat these two rows for 15 (18, 20) times total. Complete one more “k all sts” row.
Current stitch distribution: BOR, 63 (73, 81)sts - right sleeve, M, 92 (102, 110)sts - front, M, 63 (73, 81) sts - left sleeve, M, 94 (104, 112)sts - back. Total number of stitches: 312 (352, 384).

SEPARATING THE SLEEVES

Prepare two pieces of waste yarn appr. 16”/40cm long each.
Take off the BOR marker. Replace the first 63 (73, 81)sts on a piece of waste yarn (right sleeve).
CO 1 (1, 2)sts, place the BOR marker, CO 1 (2, 2) more sts, k92 (102, 110)sts (front).
Replace the next 63 (73, 81)sts on a piece of waste yarn (left sleeve).
CO 2 (3, 4)sts, k94 (104, 112)sts (back).

Current stitch distribution: 63 (73, 81)sts - both right and left sleeve; 190 (212, 230)sts - body.

BODY

Knit plain in the round for 12 (14, 20) rows.
Start the waist shaping.

DECREASES

Set-up: k24 (27, 29), pm, k47 (52, 57), pm, k45 (51, 55), pm, k53 (58, 63), pm, k21 (24, 26) to BOR.
Dec.R: (k to M, slip M, ssk, k until 2sts to M, k2tog, slip M)x 2 times, k to BOR.
Knit 4 rows.
Complete these 5 rows for 6 (7, 6) times total. Then make one more Dec.R. Current number of stitches: 162 (180, 202).

WAIST

Knit plain for 11 (13, 19) rows.

INCREASES

Inc.R: (k to M, slip M, m1L, k to M, m1R, slip M)x 2 times, k to BOR.
Knit 4 rows.
Complete these 5 rows for 7 (8, 7) times total. Then make one more Inc.R. Current number of stitches: 194 (216, 234).

Knit plain in the round for 18 (20, 30) rows or until 2”/5cm to the desired length.

RIBBING

Switch to the smaller needles.

Size M:
R1: knit all sts = 216sts

Sizes S (L):
R1: m1L, k97 (117), m1R, k97 (117) to BOR = 196 (236)sts.

All sizes:
R2-19: (k2, p2) to BOR.
R20 (Bind Off): k2, pass these 2sts back to the left needle, k2tog tbl; [(p1, pass the last st from the right needle over)x 2 times, (k1, pass the last st back on the left needle, k2tog tbl)x 2 times] x repeat until the end of the round.

Cut the yarn leaving an appr. 6”/15cm tail. Pass it through the last loop and tighten.

SLEEVES

I used magic loop method for knitting 2 sleeves at a time, but you can knit them one by one as well using a set of dpns or magic loop.
Use directions below to knit each of the sleeves.

Transfer 63 (73, 81)sts to the needles.
Pick up 4 (5, 6)sts under arm: 2 (3, 4)sts that were casted on for the body + 1st from each side to avoid the holes.
Distribute sts on the needles as follows:

FOR MAGIC LOOP:

  • size S: 2 casted on sts + 32sts; 31sts + 2 casted on sts; BOR marker.
  • size M: 3 casted on sts + 36sts; 37sts + 2 casted on sts; BOR marker.
  • size L: 3 casted on sts + 41sts; 40sts + 3 casted on sts; BOR marker.

FOR DPNS:

  • size S: 2 casted on sts + 15sts; 17sts; 17sts; 14sts + 2 casted on sts; BOR marker.
  • size M: 3 casted on sts + 17sts; 19sts; 20sts; 17sts + 2 casted on sts; BOR marker.
  • size L: 3 casted on sts + 19sts; 22sts; 22sts; 18sts + 3 casted on sts; BOR marker.

R1: k1 (2, 2), k2tog, k until last 3 (3, 4) sts, ssk, k1 (1, 2).
R2: k all 65 (76, 85) sts.
Knit all sts in the round until sleeves reach appr. 2”/5cm shorter than the desired length from the underarm. The sweater shown on pictures has the sleeves 19.5”/50cm long.

RIBBING

Switch to the smaller needles.
R1: knit all sts.
R2: size S: [k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, k2tog]x 5 times total = 40sts left.
size M: [k1, (k2tog)x3, k1, (k2tog)x2, k1, (k2tog)x3]x 4 times total = 44sts left.
size L: [k1, (k2tog)x3, k1, (k2tog)x4, k1, (k2tog)x3]x 3 times total, k1, (k2tog)x3, k1, (k2tog)x4 = 48sts left.
R3-20: (k2, p2) to BOR.
R21 (Bind Off): k2, pass these 2sts back to the left needle, k2tog tbl; [(p1, pass the last st from the right needle over)x 2 times, (k1, pass the last st back on the left needle, k2tog tbl)x 2 times] x repeat until the end of the round.

Cut the yarn leaving an appr. 6”/15cm tail. Pass it through the last loop and tighten.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Wash the sweater in lukewarm water. Block it, laying flat to dry.

 
 

This pattern has a page on Ravelry where you can get more inspiration and share your finished knits: