Where can I find a knitting pattern for this half-sweater?

May 1, 2016 12:34 PM

I am trying to find a knitting pattern for the sweater in this set of pictures. Does anyone have any pointers?

Alternatively, does anyone know what the right search keywords might be to increase my chances of finding it? It seems to be a hybrid cowlneck/wrap/poncho type... thing with one notch where the sleeve would go and with only enough vertical width to cover two-thirds of a person.

posted by tel3path to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

MeFite Orange Swan knows more about knitting patterns than anyone I know, so if she doesn't drop into this thread, send her a MeMail.
posted by essexjan at 12:39 PM on May 1, 2016

Likewise bitter-girl.com (Shannon) is a MeFite knowledgeable about these things.
posted by jessamyn at 2:17 PM on May 1, 2016

Best answer: I an excellent knitter and a an OK seamstress and I think I would try to sew this out of a heavy ribbed sweater knit before I tried to knit it. What's your most important consideration - time, accuracy, or "I actually knit this"?

(also, for what it's worth, I think it's mostly just a flat piece of ribbing joined up under the armhole and at the shoulder)
posted by mskyle at 2:55 PM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Accuracy.

I can't knit. A friend is theoretically willing to knit it for me, provided I can find a pattern.

I can design my own sewing patterns. I was not aware that this could be bought ready-knitted.

Thing is, there was a specific yarn I was interested in that would make it way more exciting. But... I'm basically asking for Mighty Roc eggs from the summit of Annapurna, poached lightly and sprinkled with crushed stars, then?
posted by tel3path at 3:03 PM on May 1, 2016

I'm a knitter, though not as experienced as those mentioned here *fangirlswoon*. The pictures look like this is a machine knit garment so the drape and stitching will look really different.

It also looks like endless ribbing with either a lot of decreases or increases or both. Something that long would take a long time to knit so this must be a very good friend you have.

I looked around ravelry and couldn't find anything close.

I'd either try to find a seamstress, as suggested above, or a machine knitter as opposed to a hand knitter to get the same kind of drape. But it'll likely cost some pretty pennies.
posted by zizzle at 3:20 PM on May 1, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I don't care about the ribbing; is it easier if it's not ribbed?
posted by tel3path at 3:23 PM on May 1, 2016

I wouldn't say ribbing is easier or harder than stockinette. I can knit both without paying much attention and at approximately the same speed. But the drape of stockinette and ribbed garments is very, very different. Stockinette curls like crazy, so the garment would have to be edged with a different stitch, lined with fabric, or the curl would have to be incorporated into the design of the garment. Ribbed fabric is more structural.
posted by xyzzy at 3:41 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'm actually not sure there's much here to write a pattern for. It looks like it's pretty much a straight piece of ribbed knitting with some holes left in it and other pieces joined in the round. Figuring out how to actually knit the pieces once you knew the gauge of what yarn you were knitting would be pretty trivial.

I think it might be the reverse side of a double-knit, rather than a simple rib stitch based on what I can see from the close-ups.

I searched Ravelry to see if anyone had recreated the pattern since that often happens with TV knit-wear, but didn't find it.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:13 PM on May 1, 2016

I'm not sure it's possible to really replicate with a hand knit, I'm not convinced the fabric is even knitted, it looks a bit woven to me. If you can sew, you might do well to find some thick fabric and have a go replicating the shape - would be helpful for a knitter as well if you decide to go that route, and make a nice starting point to make a sewn pattern.

That ribbing stuff you linked to is for cuffs, it's only about 15cm folded over.
posted by glitter at 4:32 PM on May 1, 2016

Best answer: Hand knitting this would take forever and be seriously boring. Like mentioned above, this garment was probably made with pieces of pre-knit fabric sewn together like woven material by a serger (?). Don't know about that part, I am NOT a sewer. It might also be made with a knitting machine. If you forego the ribs, the fabric will look quite a bit different. At least, I would feel that way.
posted by Foam Pants at 5:03 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

I can see from the pictures that it's knit fabric that was cut and sewn. So if you want something that looks like the original, buy the knit fabric. It would certainly be possible to machine-knit something to a similar pattern (which an experienced machine knitter could do by eye, it's a very simple garment) but what you'd end up with would be a thicker fabric; even the smallest-gauge home knitting machine isn't going to produce something with that sort of thinness and drape.

Also: price of yarn + cost of labour is going to be more expensive than buying the knit fabric ready-made.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 7:10 AM on May 2, 2016

That's a cut and sew knit sweater, I'm pretty sure. Here's a similar fabric. You'll need to use a serger to do the seams, Regular machine stitching isn't going to hold up well. Many sewing and hobby shops will let you rent time on their sergers, or you can see if there's a tool rental space or workshop near you.
posted by ananci at 6:05 PM on May 2, 2016

Response by poster: I've been thinking this over.

I think that if I took something like this, only longer:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Womens-Long-Sleeve-Cable-Knitted-Polo-Cowl-Neck-Cape-Poncho-Top-Ladies-Shawl-/181907250419?var=&hash=item2a5a845cf3:m:m4LM0Rjr9Oj4uA45S4mhHwQ

and I cut it off at the back so that it was hip length at the back,

then I cut a notch out of the right shoulder at an awkward angle and used it as an armhole,

and I cut up the right side most of the way but not quite as far as the shoulder notch,

and I cut a horizontal slash on the left side at elbow level and used that as the left armhole,

and I took the leftover fabric that I cut off the back and used it to make the waist tie,

I’d probably have a fairly close match.

Do you agree?
posted by tel3path at 11:17 AM on May 12, 2016