Yes, this is a crocheted sweater! I've been trying to think more outside the box lately - challenging myself to make garments that look like something you could buy from a store. The lower body portion is created with the Camel Stitch, which creates a knit-like texture that really gives it a professional look. And then, just for fun I added a pop of color contrast to the sleeve cuffs and collar. I don't think my current obsession with puff sleeves is going away any time soon...just sayin'.
Level:
Intermediate (It’s easier than it looks!)
Sizing:
Sweater is slightly oversized with drop shoulders, and designed with 3” of positive ease. Sleeves are balloon-style, and are approx. 8” wide when laid flat.
Approx. width at underarms when laid flat: S (18”) M (20”) L (22”) XL (24”)
Sizes will be listed as such (S, M, L, XL)
Sweater pictured is approx. 18” in length, and is size Small
Sizing is easy to customize in width and in length.
Materials:
2 Colors of worsted weight yarn - I used:
Color A Yarn – Yarn Bee Warm & Cozy in Blush – 3 balls for size Small
Color B Yarn - Yarn Bee Warm & Cozy in Mustard – 1 ball
K/6.5 mm Crochet Hook
J/6 mm Crochet Hook
I/5.5 mm Crochet Hook
Stitches used:
Sc - Single crochet
Dc - Double crochet
Fdc - foundation double crochet. You can find a good tutorial here https://hearthookhome.com/foundation-double-crochet-tutorial/ (just begin with step 6 for this project)
Chainless dc - Used as first dc in each row where indicated. Turn work without turning chain, sc loosely in first stitch, then sc again in left side 2 loops of the sc just created - you're just "stacking" 2 single crochets on top of each other.
Scblo - Single crochet in the back loop only
Hdc - Half double crochet
Camel Stitch – Half double crochets worked in alternating rows of in the back loop and in the front loop. You can find a good tutorial here
Floret Stitch – One row of dc, next row is dc in indicated stitch, slip stitch in next stitch
Overview of Construction:
Step 1) Sleeves - the folded width of sleeves determines the length of upper front and back panels.
Step 2) Upper Back/Front - Worked from the top down.
Step 3) Lower Body Panels - Worked side-to side incorporating the waistband ribbing at the end of each row!
Step 4) Upper and Lower body panels are seamed together, then you stitch up the shoulders, and then the sleeves are sewn to sides of body, and finally the underarm and sides of body are stitched together! It’s a lot of sewing, I know, but I find this type of construction involves less counting, which I dislike more!
Guage:
Using K hook: 11 stitches in Floret stitch pattern = 4”
Sleeve: (Make 1 for now)
Cuff: Using J Hook and Color B Yarn
R1- Chain 8, turn, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (7 sc)
R2- Ch 1, scblo in each stitch across row.
Rows 3-25 Repeat row 2.
Main part of Sleeve - Using K hook
R1- Turn cuff and work 2 dc’s (first one will be a chainless dc) at each end of row of cuff (50 dc) This will create a 16” wide sleeve panel, if you would like to make it wider, just evenly add more dc’s to this row, as long as you end up with an even number.
R2- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, slip stitch in next stitch. Continue alternating dc’s and slip stitches across row, ending with a slip stitch.
R3- Turn, chainless dc in first slip stitch, and then dc in each stitch across row.
Rows 4-8 Repeat rows 2 and 3 (Floret stitch pattern), ending with a row 2.
Change to Color A Yarn
Rows 9-38 (or to desired length) continue with a row 3, and then keep repeating rows 2 and 3, ending with a row 2. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
Fold sleeve in half lengthwise and measure width. It probably measures about 8 inches (or your custom measurement) folded in half. Set sleeve aside, you may want to adjust length later.
Upper Back:
Continue with Color A
R1- Ch (54, 60, 66, 72) chainless dc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each chain across (53, 59, 65, 71 dc)
R2- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, sl st in next st. Continue alternating dc’s and slip stitches across row, ending with a dc in last stitch.
R3- Turn, chainless dc in first st, dc in each stitch across row.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until piece length equals your folded sleeve measurement, ending with a row 2. Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing to bottom portion later.
Upper Front:
First Shoulder
Ch (16, 19, 22, 25), turn, chainless dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc again in same st, dc in remaining 14 chains (16, 19, 22, 25 dc)
Turn, *chainless dc in first st, sl st in next. Continue alternating dc’s and slip stitches across row. Fasten off.
Second Shoulder
R1- Ch (16, 19, 22, 25), chainless dc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each ch across, ending with 2 dc's in last chain (16, 19, 22, 25 dc)
R2- Ch 1, turn, sl st in first st, dc in next st, continue alternating slip stitches and dc’s across row.
R3- Turn, dc in each st, then work 21 fdc *see tip below, continue dc along wrong side of first shoulder (53, 59, 65, 71 dc)
*Tip: the last dc before the foundation dc’s is also worked like a foundation crochet. It looks better this way – it gives the extra chain length you need to create the next fdc.)
R4- Turn, chainless dc in first stitch, sl st in next st. Continue alternating dc’s and slip stitches across row, ending with a dc in last stitch.
R5- Turn, chainless dc in first st, dc in each stitch across row.
Repeat Rows 4 and 5 until piece reaches the same measurement as back. Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Lower Body: Using K hook and color A yarn (Make 2)
The following panel is created with the Camel Stitch for the upper portion, and single crochet ribbing at the waistband – all within each row. Make note the hdc’s will alternate between front loops and back loops for each row, but the single crochet stitches will always be in the back loop. The instructions below will create a panel approx. 11” in length. You may start with more chains to create a longer garment, keep in mind the fabric you create will have vertical stretch. Every 5 chains will add about 2” in length.
R1- Ch 38, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 5 ch's. Hdc in remaining 31 chains.
R2- Ch 1, turn, scblo in the first 6 sc's. Hdc in the back loop only (the 3rd loop) in each hdc across.
R3- Ch 1, turn hdc in the front loop only (the loop closest to you) of each hdc, and scblo in remaining 6 sc's.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until piece measures the same width as upper body pieces.
Assembly:
Sew lower body panels to upper body panels.
Sew front to back at shoulders, try on and check sleeve length. If you need to add/subtract rows to sleeve, make sure you end with a dc/slst row.
Make second sleeve – repeat instructions as for first sleeve
Open front and back and lay flat with shoulder seam in front of you. Sew sleeve to side of sweater, centering middle of sleeve to shoulder seam. Repeat with other sleeve.
Fold sleeve and sew underarm and side seams.
Collar: (Use Yarn B)
R1- Using I hook, attach yarn to back of neck, ch 1 and hdc in each stitch around neck, joining with first hdc.
R2- Ch 1, hdc in first st, *fphdc in next st, bphdc in next stitch. Repeat from * around.
R3- Repeat row 2.
Fasten off, weave in all ends.
All photos and patterns are copyright of Fast Kitty Krochet. Items made with my patterns may be sold commercially, although credit to Fast Kitty Krochet would be appreciated! I’d love to see your finished project! Tag me @fast.kitty.krochet
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