by

Zasio Sweater Coat

Pronounced ZA-zee-oh.

In this five-part tutorial, we’re going to learn to make this sweater – err, coat – if you live in a warm place, like I do.

This is a top-down raglan sweater. There are two huge advantages to knitting this style. First, no seaming. Second, you can try the sweater on while you’re knitting it, so you can be sure that you’ll have a perfect fit when you’re finished.

In this tutorial we cover working raglan increases, separating the sleeves, using the magic loop method to knit the sleeves, how to ensure a good fit, working tidy seed stitch, picking up and knitting the short-row collar, working the buttonhole, and more.

I’m going to say this is an intermediate pattern. You need to be comfortable with knitting, purling, and basic pattern reading. You don’t need prior sweater knitting experience – you just need to be comfortable with the basics of knitting. Everything else is covered in the video. You can view the video at the bottom of this post.

Sizes: XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, XLarge, 2XLarge, 3XLarge [to fit actual bust measurements of 28” (32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”)] PLEASE READ NOTES ON SIZING BELOW
Needles: Size 7 US 32” circular needle
Yarn: any worsted-weight wool or wool blend, 1010 (1150, 1300, 1440, 1600, 1730, 1880) yards
Additional Materials: One 1 1/8” button, four stitch markers, tapestry needle, row counter, scrap yarn
Gauge: 20 stitches and 25 rows over 4” in stockinette. (Stitch gauge is very important, row gauge is less important. Base your needle size on stitch gauge if you’re having difficulty matching both.) Be sure to measure gauge after you’ve washed and blocked your swatch.

Notes on Sizing – The measurements above are for the actual bust measurement of the sweater wearer. The finished sweater includes “ease” for a casual fit. The measurements of the finished sweaters are 32 (36, 40.5, 44, 49.5, 53, 56)”. Additionally, this sweater is a straight fit (with no shaping), therefore the bust and hip measurements are the same. For a good fit, you should choose the size that fits whichever measurement is greater – either your bust or your hips.

Pattern + links to 5-part instructional videos $8 US via PayPal

And the video:


Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The sweater I’m wearing is my Ombre Dyed Sweater.
The ball-chain stitch markers I use are from Rycrafty.
The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, called “Nein! Nein! Nein! OK, Fine!”
My watch ring is made by Davis.
Sorry – I don’t know the yarn I’m using in the sample. But the needles I’m using are Addi Turbos.

If you’ve made it this far in the post and you want to know the origin of the name, ask me. I’ll explain in the comments. I expect that some people have already figured it out. Yay!

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76 comments on “Zasio Sweater Coat”

  1. I l?ve watching your vids. Makes me want to put into practice everything you’re showing me! Thanks for another wonderful video. Clearly demo-ed with concise explanation.
    hugs

  4. Okay, I can’t figure out the origin of the name! I would love to know – it is beautiful (both the name and the sweater)!

  5. Love this sweater/coat. Bought the pattern, watched the videos and am going to look online for yarn tonight! Thank you Staci for designing interesting, wearable items and teaching the tricky parts so clearly.

    Haven’t a clue as to the origin of the name though, do tell.

  6. Okay, here’s the story on the name Zasio –

    A tv show that I really enjoy is Hoarders on A&E. One of the regular psychologists on the show is Dr. Robin Zasio. She seems to be really good at what she does professionally, and she’s always well dressed.

    In one episode, she was wearing a long, winter-white sweater. My first thought was, how pretty! My second thought – why is she wearing a light-colored sweater into a filthy hoarded house? haha

    Anyway, her sweater was different from what I designed here, but it was still my inspiration for this design. (Her sweater had a rolled collar, a belt, and no textured stitches.)

    The design is named after her, but if you don’t know this story, it sounds to me like a mythical, mysterious name…like the name of an elf or fairy.

    That’s the story!

  7. Thanks Staci:) I will be purchasing your pattern and looking forward to following you.

    You inspire me to knit knit knit!!!!

    Mary

  8. Hi Staci , have just watched your video and found it extremely interesting and both of your sweater are just beautiful !
    I so very much would like to give the sweater a try and with your clear instructional video, I feel sure I am able to knit it !
    But before I purchase the pattern, I need to know what ply wool the sweater is knitted in. Since I am from Australia , I want to use our local yarn .
    Love your sense of humor and that watch ring of yours , beautiful !! Now I know what I want for christmas 🙂

  10. Ordered the pattern, looking for the right yarn. Any suggestions for a yarn that has a lot of yardage, will work for the project and won’t brake the bank. I am thinking of Cascade 220. Would love Malabrigo or Dream N Color..but it would be a very pricey sweater/coat that I won’t get a lot of wear.

  11. to n2prpl2
    I used a nice, but inexpensive yarn from Hobby Lobby called I Love This Wool. It is under $6 for 200 yards. There are nice yarns out there that don’t break the bank! Cascade 220 is another good choice.

    Good luck!

  13. When I realized who this sweater was inspired by I had to chuckle! I love that show, too! I hope you sent her a picture of this beautiful sweater so she can see what she inspired! (And send her some pictures of your nice clean house)

  14. Hi Staci! Usually when I knit top down sweaters, there are a couple of loose stitches at the corners of the armholes where the increases end and I tighten them up with the duplicate stitch before I weave in the sleeve ends. Does this happen to you? Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid this?

    Thank you! Julie

  15. Hi Julie – yes, this is normal in a top-down raglan sweater, and I address it in the pattern. No real way to avoid it – it just happens, no matter how careful you are with your stitches. You handle the problem exactly like I do, an easy fix! Hope that helps!

    S t a c i

  16. I am like everyone I love your videos! You make knitting look so easy. I can’t wait to try this myself. I will have to watch the video this weekend and not on work computer.

  18. Hi Marcia – it really depends on the acrylic yarn. One synthetic yarn can be so different from the next! If you can find an acrylic yarn with the same springy-ness as wool, it should work. But I really recommend using a wool or wool blend for ease in knitting, and better end results.

    Many wool blends are washable, if that’s your concern. Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

  19. Hi Staci I just found your site when looking for a better way to bind off some linen stitch scarves! Thanks so much for the suggestion re BO. I’d like to join you about the sweater but am waiting for my yarn to arrive (and me to dye it!). When do I absolutely need to get the yarn by to join you?

  20. Hi Trish – I’m not sure what you mean by “join”. There is nothing to join – this pattern and video tutorial are always available to you, whenever you need it!

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

  21. Hi Staci,
    I’m so excited! I just got my yarn for this project and I’m making my swatch. This will be my first sweater.

    I have a question…will I have to block the whole sweater when it’s finished? Also, will I have to block it every time I wash it? If so, what do I block it on?

    Sorry, this is all new to me. I just started knitting in February 🙂

  22. Hi there

    I loved your videos….especially the instructions for sewing all the
    different sections of the sweater together which were very clear…

    Thank you…thank you

    june

  24. Loved the Zasio Sweater video as well as all you videos I’ve been watching for years. Speaking of arms, I have the opposite of you; I have inordinately short arms & I’ve had to roll up jackets & sweater sleeves all my life, so don’t let them tease you. At least you can “reach” everything….I can’t reach anything….lol!

  26. Not quite yet! We’re working on getting all of my patterns available in eBook format. We haven’t made it through all of them yet. Should be soon!
    🙂
    S t a c i

  27. Hi Staci,

    I made your Zasio sweater and almost wear it every day! it is a kind of my new home 😉

    Right now i am knitting a sarah lund sweater. i kind of figured it out myself but now i am entering the raglan decreases and i have to knit a snowflake pattern aswell. Makes me wonder, how do i do that without messing the snowflake up and end up with a big chaos around the shoulders. Do you perhaps have a tutorial or a tip covering this problem? Thanks! Anne

  28. Hi Anne – I’m so glad you’re loving your Zasio sweater! I would wear mine everyday, too, if it would just get cold in Texas every now and then!

    I don’t have a tutorial on that technique. The colorwork technique you’re describing is usually pretty unique to each specific pattern, and in my opinion, should be clearly spelled out by the designer. The best advice I could give you (without getting down to specific instructions, row-by-row) would be to “do your best”, which I know is no help. 🙂 I recommend you contact the pattern designer herself for specific instructions on maintaining the color chart through decreases.

    Good luck to you!
    S t a c i

  29. Love it! More sweaters, more sweaters! I love your style and as a new knitter, I have only done your projects so far. They are so easy to understand and fool proof, even for this newbie. So far I’ve done the scarf, hat, summer tee sweater and now I am starting this one. I hope you publish more.

  30. The name is clever and sounds very snazzy. 🙂 Beautiful fit on you and I can only dream of like results, but with you as the wind at my back, I may just try it.

  31. Hey Staci,
    I have made tons of stuff from your patterns. I want to do this sweater for myself. What do you think about using two complimenting colors, one for the body and one for the trim/cuffs? I try to think outside the box but sometimes I need a shove.

  32. Hi Terry Anne – sounds like a good idea! I haven’t seen it done, but even if you don’t end up liking it, it’s easy to reknit the cuffs. I say that it’s worth a try!

    S t a c i

  33. I love Very Pink because her instructions are so exact and easy that it makes you think you can really knit even if you are a beginner. The videos are so complete and easy to follow. Love your newsletters to find new applications for the patterns I want to use. Thanks

  34. Am visual learner do you have DVDs to buy I always have trouble with the heel of the sock,under arm of the sweater, the thumb of a knitted fingerless glove,can not get. I had a dream about a sweather for 4th of July if I was to knit the sweat her it would make at lot of money.Marie I don’t see the link

  35. Marie – I do not have DVDs to purchase (DVDs are very expensive to produce), but the instructional video that accompanies this pattern is available online, here on this page where you commented, as well as on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/M01CVUtX37M

    All of my videos, including videos for gloves, fingerless gloves, socks, etc. are available on my website: http://www.verypink.com

    S t a c i

  37. Hi Staci, I am fairly new to knitting and never knitted a sweater before. I want to knit the ombre dyed sweater and your Zasio sweater. What one should I do first? I can knit the make 1 left and right stitch.

  41. You know when you’re first knitting your eye catches onto a “dream pattern” that you plan to work your skills up to so you can make it?

    This pattern is that pattern for me. I just think it’s so elegant and beautiful.

    However, I’m a plus-sized gal (more of a 4X-5X) and I’m hoping when the time comes I can adjust the pattern to fit ME.

    So you think it’ll be easy enough to adjust for those two sizes?

  42. Hi Lisa – thank you for the note.

    In theory, yes – you should be able to make this sweater fit in a larger size. The way to do that is to continue with the raglan increases until the sweater is the size you want. You can slip the live stitches on to scrap yarn, and actually try on the sweater before you separate the sleeves. I encourage everyone to do this to get a perfect fit – this is the beauty of a top-down raglan sweater.

    There is one potential problem, and that is that proportions change with sizes. Because this is a long, straight sweater, you have to fit it to your largest body measurement. That is either going to be your bust, waist, or hips. The potential problem is that if your hips are significantly larger than your shoulder measurement, the sweater might end up being too big on top when you get it to the size to fit your hips (just an example). But again – that’s the beauty of a top-down raglan…you can try it on before you separate the sleeves to get the fit you want.

    Hope that helps – good luck!
    S t a c i

  43. Staci, I am making your Zasio sweater have just got a few inches done and I am getting a lot of “rolling” at the cast-on edge and even some from the needle side as well.

  44. That’s okay, Karen. It’s normal for stockinette stitch. You’re going to be adding the collar in seed stitch, which will help hold those edges flat.

    S t a c i

  45. Staci, I have a bit of a dilemma. I am making the Zasio sweater in a size medium but I am now wondering if I should have made it in the large. I am not to the point where I can try it on yet. I just don’t want it to be tight at all, would like it to be loose. But how would I adjust that now, because I should have cast on more stitches for a large. Should I rip it out and start over or will there be enough “ease” in the sweater

  46. Hi Karen – no, you don’t have to rip out and start over. The beauty of a top-down raglan is that you can continue increasing until you get the size you want. Knit up to the size in the pattern, slip the stitches on to scrap yarn, and try it on. If it isn’t big enough, you can continue increasing until it is the size you want, then move on to separating the sleeves.

    S t a c i

  47. Ok I think it just clicked. If I want it to be a large I do enough increases to mAtch the stitches in the pattern for the large then work the pattern from that point on for the large and the stitches will match all the way thru

  48. Hi Staci, could you do a video on how to sew a button or different kinds of buttons.
    Thank you,
    Melissa

  49. Hi Staci, I just bought the pattern and I’m ready and eager to get going. Just one thing……what’s the best cast on for the sweater? The only one I know os the long tail but yours looked so much nicer.

  50. Barbara – unless otherwise specified in a pattern, I always use the long-tail cast-on. That’s what I used for this pattern!

    S t a c i

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