Sweater Thoughts

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all safe and well as this pandemic continues to keep us trapped indoors. I personally have been taking my mind off things by finishing some of my old projects-in-progress. My many... many... projects...

Look, I’m very good at starting things. Finishing them though? Not so much!

As luck would have it though, quarantine was the kick in the pants I needed to complete one of my bigger projects that had been languishing half-done for months now: my very first sweater! Yes, about a year ago I embarked on one of the seminal projects for a budding knitter: the pullover sweater. The pattern is Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio for those interested. It was a lot of work, especially since I’m used to knitting accessories and smaller projects, but it was so worth it! Half the reason I made this post was just to show off how pretty it is.

The other half of why I made this post, though, is because I have Thoughts. Thoughts about first sweaters, what works, and what doesn’t. I wanted to write them down so that if any of you are considering embarking on your own first sweater journey, you’ll have a little more wisdom than I did. Here’s what I learned:

1. Pick a pattern that you love.

You’re new to sweaters. You don’t know about set in sleeves, or circular yokes, or waist shaping, and maybe that’s a bit intimidating. Maybe you’ve decided that because it’s your first time, you’re going to find the most basic sweater pattern out there. It seems like a good plan, right? Well... if a super-basic sweater sounds fun to you, then go ahead. But if not, you’re going to be working on a boring project for a long time, and that won't be very enjoyable. Better to choose a pattern that you love, and make it worth the time and effort of making it!

2. Pick a well-written pattern.

Thought Number One comes with one caveat: if the pattern that you love is poorly written, then maybe it’s one to avoid. When you’re an experienced knitter of sweaters (or socks, or mittens, or what-have-you), you may be able to interpret a bad pattern and see what should be done. You can catch errors in the text and figure out what the pattern writer really meant for you to do. But as a beginner, you almost certainly don’t have this skill (yet!). Trying to use a poorly written pattern will just end in unnecessary confusion and suffering. Pay attention to online reviews of the patterns you’re interested in. If you have a favorite pattern maker or distributor and find their patterns readable, then they’re likely a safe bet. I picked my sweater pattern out of an Interweave Knits book, for example, because I’ve always had good experiences with Interweave patterns.

3. Pick a yarn that you love.

You’re going to be working on this project for a long time, and then you’re going to be wearing it. Why choose a yarn that you don’t like to touch? Nicer yarn may be more expensive, but isn’t an expensive sweater you wear all the time better than a cheap one that you can’t stand at all? This goes also for the care instructions for the yarn. If you despise handwashing your garments, don’t use a 100% non-superwash wool. Your time and effort is worth spending on a yarn that will make you happy to wear over and over again.

4. Read the instructions all the way through before you start.

This is advice for any first-time project. It’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into, plain and simple. Reading through your pattern will also let you know if it uses any techniques you’re unfamiliar with, so you can try them out with some test yarn. For me, this was the i-cord bind off, and I’m really glad I practiced doing it first!

5. Make a gauge swatch.

Everyone and their mother tells you to make a gauge swatch, and I’m no exception. With any sort of sized garment, it’s worth it to take the time so that you know you’re actually making the right size!

6. Put in lifelines

If you don’t know what a lifeline is, I suggest you look it up because they’re really useful. They make it so much easier to rip back a piece of knitting if you make a big mistake. I put a lifeline in whenever I was about to start a new type of shaping or joining, and it gave me exactly the confidence I needed to just do it without worrying what would happen if I messed up. 

7. Take a break when the project becomes a chore.

Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to experience project fatigue on longer knits. After a certain amount of time, working on them stops being fun, and that’s when I know I need a break. I’ll work on a different project, or try a different craft, or even (gasp!) do something non-crafty for a while. If you knit as a hobby, then it should be an enjoyable thing: don’t force yourself to work on a project just because it’s there! I promise, it will make the experience better, even if it takes longer to complete.

And there you have it! If you’re thinking of starting a sweater, or any other big complicated project, I hope you find this helpful. And I hope you go ahead and take the leap! Bigger projects are a challenge, but they’re so satisfying when you weave in that final end!

Stay safe, everyone, and until next time, stay crafty!