Wonderwool Sweater
"This Wool and the Gang sweater, a collaboration with Good Housekeeping, is a real stand-out piece. Chunky and oversized, make it with our Crazy Sexy Wool and US17+US50 needles."
Knitting Needle Size17 or 12.75 mm, 50 or 25 mm
Yarn Weight(6) Super Bulky/Super Chunky (4-11 stitches for 4 inches)
Materials List
- 5x balls of Crazy Sexy Wool from Wool and the Gang
- 1x optional ball of Crazy Sexy Wool if you're making the funnel neck version
- 1x US17/12mm knitting needles
- 1x US50/25mm knitting needles
Instructions
WONDERWOOL SWEATER
1. With 25mm/US50 knitting needles, cast on 28 stitches using the cable cast on technique.
2. Slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit to the end of the row. (Slipping the first stitch of each row gives neat edges to the bottom vent of your sweater.)
3. Slip 1 stitch purl-wise, purl to the end of the row.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 a further 4 times. You have now worked 10 rows in total.
5. You will now continue working in stocking stitch, but without slipping the edge stitches. This is so that the edges of your knitting will be extra strong when you seam them together. Work in stocking stitch until your piece measures 55cm/21.5’’ from the cast on edge (approx. a further 22 rows). Your last row must be a wrong-side row.
6. Increase row: Change to 12mm/US17 knitting needles. Knit 5 stitches, increase 1 stitch, knit 6 stitches. Repeat the section inside the stars twice more. Increase 1 stitch, knit 5 stitches. (32 stitches.)
7. Work 7 rows in stocking stitch.
8. Cast off.
NOW, LET'S MAKE THE FRONT
1. Follow steps 1 to 6 as given for the back.
2. Work 3 rows in stocking stitch. Next, you will start shaping the neck.
3. Decrease row: Knit 10 stitches, cast off 12 stitches, knit to the end of the row. (20 stitches.) Next, you will be working across only half of your stitches – simply leave the rest of the stitches on the needle for now, you will come back to them later.
4. Purl 10 stitches - until you reach the cast-off section. Turn your piece around, ready to knit back across the stitches you just worked.
5. Decrease row: Cast off 2 stitches, knit to the end of the row. (8 stitches.)
6. Decrease row: Purl until you have 3 stitches left of your row, purl 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch. (7 stitches.)
7. Cast off. Re-join the yarn to the stitches that have been waiting on your needle.
8. Decrease row: Cast off 2 stitches, purl to the end of the row. (8 stitches.)
9. Knit 1 row.
10. Decrease row: Purl 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches together, purl to the end of the row. (7 stitches.)
11. Cast off.
GREAT! NOW LET'S MAKE THE SLEEVES
The sleeves have a cuff in half-twisted rib, and the rest of the sleeve can be worked either in stocking stitch or reverse stocking stitch - choose your favourite!
1. Using 12mm/US17 knitting needles, cast on 24 stitches using the long-tail cast on technique.
2. You will now work in half-twisted rib, starting with a wrong-side row. Work 6 rows if you want your sleeve in stocking stitch, 7 rows if you want it in reverse stocking stitch.
3. Change to 25mm/US50 knitting needles. Purl 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches together. Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the row. (18 stitches.)
4. Starting with a knit row, work 4 rows in stocking stitch.
5. Increase row: Knit 2 stitches, increase 1 stitch, knit WONDERWOOL SWEATER until you have 2 stitches left of your row, increase 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches. (20 stitches.)
6. Starting with a purl row, work 7 rows in stocking stitch.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 once more. (22 stitches.)
8. Repeat step 5. (24 stitches.)
9. Starting with a purl row, work 5 rows in stocking stitch.
10. Repeat step 5. (26 stitches.)
11. Purl 1 row.
12. Cast off.
ASSEMBLY AND FINISHING
To complete your sweater, you’ll start by making the first shoulder seam and then creating the neckline (choose between a simple crew neck or a funnel neck style). Next, join the second shoulder seam, attach the sleeves, and finish off by sewing up the sleeves and side edges.
1. Place your front and back panels on top of each other, with the wrong sides touching.
2. Thread your sewing needle with a length of yarn. Starting at the outside edge, use the horizontal invisible seam technique to sew up the left shoulder seam. Don’t sew up the second shoulder yet - you need it left open so you can pick up stitches for the neckline.
WONDERWOOL SWEATER FUNNEL NECK
1. With 12mm/US17 needles, and the right side of the fabric facing you, pick up and knit a total of 54 stitches along the cast-off neck: 22 along the back and 32 along the front.
2. Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch twisted, knit 2 stitches. Starting with a twisted purl stitch, work 26 stitches in half-twisted rib (following the instructions for a wrongside row). Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch twisted, knit 2 stitches. Starting with a twisted purl stitch, work 18 stitches in half-twisted rib. Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch twisted.
3. Knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 2 stitches. Starting with a twisted knit stitch, work 18 stitches in twisted rib (following the instructions for a right-side row). Purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 2 stitches. Work 26 stitches in half-twisted rib. Purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 1 stitch.
4. Repeat step 2.
5. Decrease row: Knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 2 stitches together. Work 16 stitches in half-twisted rib. Knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 2 stitches. Work 26 stitches in half-twisted rib, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 1 stitch. (52 stitches.)
6. Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch twisted, knit 2 stitches. Work 26 stitches in half-twisted rib, knit 1 stitch. Work 20 stitches in half-twisted rib, then purl 1 stitch twisted.
7. Work 21 stitches in half-twisted rib, purl 2 stitches, work 25 stitches in half-twisted rib. Purl 2 stitches, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 1 stitch.
8. Repeat step 6.
9. Decrease row: Work 21 stitches in half-twisted rib. Purl 2 stitches together, work 25 stitches in half-twisted rib. Purl 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch twisted, purl 1 stitch. (50 stitches.)
10. Starting with a wrong-side row, work 3 rows in halftwisted rib stitch.
11. Cast off in ribbing.
12. Using the horizontal invisible seam technique, sew the remaining shoulder seam. When you get to the neck edge, use the vertical invisible seam technique to sew up the side of the neck trim.
CREW NECK
1. With 12mm/US17 needles, and the right side of the fabric facing you, pick up and knit a total of 42 stitches along the cast-off neck edge: 18 along the back and 24 along the front.
2. Starting with a wrong-side row, work 3 rows in halftwisted rib stitch.
3. Cast off in ribbing.
4. Using the horizontal invisible seam technique, sew the remaining shoulder seam. When you get to the neck edge, use the vertical invisible seam technique to sew up the side of the neck trim.
SIDE SEAMS AND SLEEVES
1. With the right sides facing up, line your sleeves up with the sewn-together body of your sweater, so that the centre of the cast off edge on the sleeve meets the shoulder seam. Use the perpendicular invisible seam technique to attach the sleeves to the body, taking care not to pull the seam too tightly.
2. Repeat for the other sleeve.
3. With the right side facing outwards, fold your sweater along the shoulders and sleeves. Starting 15cm/6’’ above the cast on edge (leaving a little vent), use the vertical invisible seam technique to sew the side edges together all the way up to the underarm. Then start again at the sleeve hem, and sew the sleeve edges in the same way. Repeat for the other side.
4. Weave in the loose ends.