I call it this endearingly, since it turned out to be one of the best sweaters I ever made. I wore it immediately several times after it was completed.
The idea was simple, my first crochet sweater made with all of the leftover chunky yarns that have been in my stash for years. Since the move I’ve found far too many leftover yarns and I’ve made a promise to myself to use up all of the yarn in my stash before I buy new yarns. I have enough for a closet full of new sweaters and cardigans and pants in all weights before I run out.
There was really no method or strategy to the construction so it makes it hard to put into words how I made it, but this is the best recounting I can give.
Yarns
- Chateau – Stitch Studio by Nicole in angora(A), pebbles(B), and fawn(C)
- Wool Ease Thick and Quick by Lion Brand in charcoal(D), river run(E), eden(F), spiced apple(G), city lights(H), eggplant(I), sequoia(J), raisin(K) and barley(L)
- Eco-Cozy by Loops & Threads in sage green(M), lapis blue flecked(N), navy blue(O), and mustard(P)
- Caron One Pound in white(Q) and cream(R)
- Caron Simply Soft in berry blue(S), light country blue(T), and sage(U)
- Caron Lovely Layers Latte Cakes in butter cookie(V) and coconut cream(W)
- Red Heart Super Saver in painted desert(X)
- Bernat Velvet in shadow purple(Y)
Construction
I started by crocheting a ribbed edge with yarn A, which was done by slip stitching into the back loop of every stitch. The video I used for reference is below. I held it up around my hips, where I wanted the sweater to hang to, until I liked the fit and then crocheted the circle together.
I began to crochet sections in whatever pattern I pleased with whatever yarn I felt looked right. The sections are numbered in the pictures above to show the order I worked on them.
- Section 1 – yarn K
- Section 2 – yarn L
- Section 3 – yarn P and R held together
- Section 4 – yarn Y and V held together
- Section 5 – yarn G
- Section 6 – yarn B
- Section 7 – yarn N and X held together
- Section 8 – yarn G
- Section 9 – yarn E
- Section 10 – yarn J
- Section 11 – yarn C
- Section 12 – yarn A
- Section 13 – yarn P and R held together
- Section 14 – yarn D
- Section 15 – yarn I
- Section 16 – yarn M and U held together
- Section 17 – yarn O and X held together
- Section 18 – yarn L
- Section 19 – yarn Q, R, and V held together
- Seam the shoulders and crochet the collar piece. The collar is single crochet
- Section 20 – yarn G
- Section 21 – yarn F
- Section 22 – yarn H
- Section 23 – yarn L
Crochet the cuff in yarn A the same way the ribbed hem was done - Section 24 – yarn S, T, X, and W held together
- Section 25 – yarn B
- Crochet the cuff in yarn A the same way the ribbed hem was done
I ran into several misalignments in the seams with different gauges not matching up, but I did my best to compensate in other sections. The sleeves are not the same length and the hole above the left shoulder I simply couldn’t figure out how to close while crocheting the sleeve, so I made a design decision and turned it into a lace up hole. Sometimes you just have to make mistakes look like they were on purpose! The right side of the sweater came out a little longer than it was meant to, just long enough to be annoying and still look like an accident, so I cut a slit in it and laced it with black. There was also a significant bump in the back near one arm that I managed to mostly fix while working the sleeve. All in all, somehow, it worked out amazingly and I love the feel of it. It’s quite warm and cozy and fuzzy.
Another fun sweater for my closet. I hope to make some less loud pieces in the future.
