Lion Brand Notebook ®
I am very happy to be here again to lead our 2011 Winter Knit-Along (KAL) with all of you! I think the Saturday Morning Hoodie is a great choice for so many reasons, and I know you will enjoy making it during the rest of what has been a very cold and snowy winter. It is hard to believe that it has been a year since our Inishturk Sweater Knit-Along (finished sweater from that KAL is at the right), and this winter has made that sweater such a welcome sight in my sweater closet (and yes, my kitty still likes it too), so I know the Saturday Morning Hoodie Knit-Along will be just as rewarding!
Although there is a handsome young man modeling this year’s Saturday Morning Hoodie, it truly is a unisex garment that will look great on so many of us! So, let’s talk about sizes, yarn choices and one of my favorite subjects (really!): gauge.
So, first and foremost–the pattern is free and if you haven’t already–go and download the pattern and print it out; click here for the pattern. [Editor’s note 1/27/11: We updated the pattern with written out instructions for the reverse shaping and some extra clarification, so if you downloaded the pattern previously, please click the link to re-download it.]
Now, what size to make? It appears at first glance that the pattern is written for 12 different sizes – but in reality there are six. Since this is a unisex pattern, the six sizes are sorted by standard men’s sizes and standard women’s sizes. Either way, the finished sizes for this pattern are 40 (44, 48, 52, 56, 60)”. When trying to choose a size, I usually look at a garment that I have already similar to the weight and fit like the one in the picture – then I just measure it around the chest. This garment is loose-fitting, so when choosing a size, keep in mind that it should be about 4-6″ larger than actual bust or chest measurements.
I’ve decided to make the second of the six sizes: the women’s medium (or men’s small) with a finished bust of 44″. I really do like this hoodie, but am making a size that my husband can wear as well if he likes. (I always say that, but it’s yours truly who is always chilly!)
The yarn called for in this sweater is Wool-Ease® Chunky which is a bulky weight yarn and is a “Category 5” yarn by weight (thickness). Other Category 5/bulky weight yarns that would work great for this would be Alpine Wool, Tweed Stripes, Homespun, or–for a more season-transitional yarn–Baby’s First, which is a cotton/acrylic blend. I’ve decided to work this one in the Wool-Ease Chunky and have chosen the color “Wheat” – a great natural shade with flecks of black and brown.
For the 44″ finished size, the pattern calls for 9 skeins of the Wool-Ease Chunky, so my choice was an easy one! If you want to make this in another bulky-weight yarn, make sure that you go by yardage for the correct amount of yarn. Each skein of the Wool-Ease Chunky has 153 yard (140 meters) so this converts to approximately 1380(1530, 1690, 1840, 1990) yards [or about 1260 (1400, 1540, 1680, 1820) meters for the six sizes].
I’ve been working with my gauge and found that the US 13 needle called for in the pattern was the right size to get the 10 sts and 13 rows for 4 inches. I know as a knitting teacher that gauge is not always easy for many knitters, but stick with it and make sure to change needles until you get the right gauge! And if you need a “refresher” on gauge, click here. (For the best results, be sure to wash/block the swatch just as you will the finished garment to get a “finished” gauge.)
I’ve already cast on my stitches for the back on my smaller needles (US 11) and am working on the ribbing. I’m looking forward to your comments, so let’s knit and keep those fingers warm this winter! See you next week!
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Christine
I started the knitalong yesterday, glad to see instructions reprinted as I hate trying to refigure the opposite side – am using a chunky yarn, and it is knitting up so quickly!!!
Stephanie
I have a lot of left over worsted weight yarn and was thinking of combining two colors to get a tweed effect. Would the combination of the two achieve the yarn “chunkiness” quality required for this garment? With this said, I would also consider the gauge necessary.
Anonymous
Hi Stephanie, the best thing you can do is create a gauge swatch to see if it works for you. Get the gauge recommended in the pattern with two strands of your yarn and see if you like the density of the fabric. If you’re comfortable with it, go ahead and use the two strands. If it’s too dense or inflexible, then the two strands are probably a little too thick. Hope that helps!
William Aprile
In the pattern there are 2 three inch sections noted on the measurement of the sweater parts. But in the instructions for knitting I can account for only one three inch edge. What is the other?
Holly
They removed the second 3″ reference on the correction pattern. There is a link above to get the new pattern. It has quite a few changes.
William Aprile
I’m not an experienced knitter but I really like the looks of the sweater. So, I’m diving into the project. I have found that I really have to be careful because I seem to pierce the plys on this yarn and knit only three of the four strands. I usually catch them on the way back but a few have slipped by unnoticed (darn it). I have already knitted the back and all but 10 rows of the left front. Then I discovered there were corrections. I doubt I will start over but try to modify what I have done to fit the rest of the pattern.
Dace
Hello — I’m attempting to download the revised pattern, however every time I download it, I’m still getting the old pattern? Has the pdf been updated as well, or just the pattern page?
Pstabach
I started the pattern a few days ago & have finished the back and am now doing the fronts at the same time. I’m using LB Wool-Ease worsted weight in white frost single strand to make a bit lighter sweater for SE AZ, where we don’t have such cold weather. I’m still using the same size needles and am getting the same guage.
Christine
When I used the link above, it reprints just the corrected page first, then the subsequent pages are the revised pattern. It looks similar to the original, but when you read through it you can see the adjustments.
Mabel
Maabel…I think I am going to make my hoddie of wool ease in either red or redwood chunky yarn. Even though I am 70 years young I love the design of the sweater and think the color will go well with my white hair…lol Am looking forward to finishing this project!
Mabel
Maabel…I think I am going to make my hoddie of wool ease in either red or redwood chunky yarn. Even though I am 70 years young I love the design of the sweater and think the color will go well with my white hair…lol Am looking forward to finishing this project!
Christine
I finished knitting up the back of the sweater, love the look with the yarn I’ve used out of stash. My test gauge worked out fine, but when I pulled the back off the needles I re-tested the gauge and noticed (probably because I am a tight knitter) that I gained 1/2 stitch. How horribly is that going to affect the size of the sweater? I am making the 44″ size.
Anonymous
Hi, Christine: Just wondering what your guage is – and if it increased 1/2 st per inch or for the 4″. If your gauge is 3 sts= 1″ (instead of 2.5 sts = 1″) it will make a much smaller sweater. What you may want to do is to dampen (I use a spray bottle) and lay out the back to dry. Then measure across the back and see how that compares to the diagram for your your size in the pattern.
Christine
Hi Heather, thanks for your input. My test swatch was perfect. When I took the back of the sweater project off the needles I decided to measure stitches and it seems I knit tighter as I get cruising. I measured in the middle of the sweater back and I’ve gained 1/2 stitch there and across the raglan back I actually gained a full stitch 11 stitches to 4 inches. Am trying the dampening trick tonight, will let you know how I make out with that.
Christine
Thanks Heather, that worked! My measurements match the pattern. I will be doing this to all my pieces I am sure!
Anonymous
Great news, Christine! It is amazing what a little blocking can do – both now and when sew the pieces together. Thanks for letting me know that worked out for you!
Leanne
Ok – I”m considering this project and looking at yarn options. I may be doing my figures wrong but aren’t the yarn requirements off? If it takes 1530 yards for a medium and their are 153 yards in Wool-Ease wouldn’t that mean that I need 10 skeins not 9?
William Aprile
I have downloaded the corrected pattern. When I was knitting the right side front panel I came to a notational question.
“Raglan and Neck Shaping
Next Row (WS): Bind off 5 sts for raglan edge, k to end of row -”
Might that be “purl to end of row -” instead?
Carriebutler
I am working on knitting the back of the sweater. This is the first sweater I have made. I am at the raglan shaping on the back and I have knitted the first 2 rows and binded off 5 stitches on each side. I am making the size small and I do not understand the next set of instructions. It says Dec 1 st each edge every row 0 times, every other row 12 times. Can someone please help me?
Christine
Hi! It just means you are going to be decreasing on the wrong side rows rather than every row. So every other row on the wrong side decrease one stitch at each edge 12 times (you’ll be knitting a total of 24 rows while you are decreasing). I am making the medium size and had to decrease every other row 14 times. By the time I had knitted 28 rows while decreasing (the count includes right side and wrong side rows) I was at the 9″ and was able to bind off. Hope this helps1
Carriebutler
Thank you so much for your help!
Anonymous
I hope my yarn gets here soon. I had to order it. Everyone will be done as I get I hope started.
Kathy
Susan
Yarncrafter, I am in the same position. After hitting several stores I was unable to find enough chunky yarn in a color I wanted for my husband’s sweater, I am now waiting my order from Lion Brand for ‘Tundra’ in Tweed. I am going to be knitting like crazy to catch up!
Anonymous
Hi Susan. Keep me posted when you start. I ordered the bright blue – don’t remember the exact name. I’m not a really fast knitter but hope to actually finish this one.
Koutnik Susan
My yarn came in yesterday. My husband really likes the Tundra in Tweed stripes that I picked. I started late last night but managed to get through the ribbing and a couple of rows of stockinette before I had to put it down. Getting ready to jump in again right now.
CaraMia
I selected a Lion Brand Homespun yarn. In determining the gauge of the yarn, I found out that I need to use size 15 needles instead of 13 for the larger needles. Should I then use size 13 needles instead of 11 for the smaller needles? I’m looking forward to starting on the back and hope that someone can help me!
Christine
Hi CaraMia, that is what I usually do when I have to use different size needles. I go 2 down for the smaller size needle. You should be fine.
CaraMia
Thank you, Christine! I will do that!
Koutnik Susan
CaraMia I am also using 13s and 15s.
Saturday Morning Hoodie Knit-Along, Part 2: Starting the Hoodie with Thoughts of a Great Finish | Lion Brand Notebook
[…] Saturday Morning Hoodie Knit-Along, part 1: A Truly His & Hers Hoodie […]
Bobbie
Heather: I’m a TOTAL beginner. Just finished the 3 in. of ribbing on the back. I’m making women’s medium. What does “inc. 1 sts evenly spaced mean?
Anonymous
Hey Heather – or some other knitting guru….Can you please describe or post a picture of the left (or right) front? I’m wanting to peek inside the pocket and see how it’s worked…I’m having a hard time figuring out what is the ‘facing’ and what is the ‘body’. When I move stitches from the 1st holder and cast on 11, that needle is in my right hand, correct? so I’ll have the reserved stitches on my right needle, then cast on 11 new stitches. I think I can picture it, but when I will put my hand into the pocket, my hand will not be ‘behind’ the facing, correct? my hand will be cozied up in the reserved stitches plus the new 11, plus the edging that I’ll add later…so the reserved stitches and the new 11 stitches fold and form the pocket? is that right?…oh boy 🙂
thanks! – Julie
Anonymous
That is exactly what will be covered in Heather’s blog post tomorrow. Look out for it tomorrow morning.
Varidge
I decided to do the Saturday Morning Hoodie, but don’t usually knit. I have gotten the back, fronts and most of one sleeve completed, using Tunisian Crochet. The back and fronts came out pretty true to size. I am not so sure how the sleeves are going to come out. j
ann mccabe
i’ve done this three times and ripped the whole thing out because of the hood. i don’t know what i’m doing wrong. the directions on the hood decrease state bind off 3 st’s twice, 2 st’s twice and 9 st’s twice. does this mean every other row, or at the beginning and end the the row? can someone clarify this for me. i’m at the end of my rope and don’t want to have to throw the whole project out. thanking you in advance, ann
Anonymous
Hi Ann, the directions are indicating separate rows. In other words, for the next several rows:
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 3 sts. Work across.
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 3 sts. Work across.
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 2 sts. Work across.
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 2 sts. Work across.
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 9 sts. Work across.
At the beginning of the next row, bind off 9 sts. Work across.
Once you’ve done all of this, you should have 17 (17, 20, 22, 22, 24) st left.
Heather Lodinsky — An Old Friend of Lion Brand | Lion Brand Yarn Studio
[…] the highlighted text to read her posts about the Cable Luxe Tunic, the Moderne Jacket, and the Saturday Morning Hoodie — this is just a sampling!) She has also worked as a freelance designer for us in the past, […]
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Learn with Heather Lodinsky — An Old Friend of Lion Brand
[…] the highlighted text to read her posts about the Cable Luxe Tunic, the Moderne Jacket, and the Saturday Morning Hoodie — this is just a sampling!) She has also worked as a freelance designer for us in the past, […]