150 comments on “Learn to Knit a Sweater – Woman’s T-shirt”

1. Hi Staci,

   Can I know if the pattern is a pdf download?

2. Genevieve – the pattern is available two ways…the $8 version is a printable PDF download, and the $6 version is an Amazon eBook, viewable on your computer and other mobile devices that run the Kindle app.

   S t a c i

3. Thanks staci.

4. Hi Staci,
   I am excited finding your YT channel. You have helped me a lot through your tutorials. I have bought the raglan sweater for a start. Next the sweater for the man of my life. I have 3 daughters. So long way for this sweater. It will be made 4 times. I will be a very busy mum. Now it’s time for a question. Can I extend sleeves to be longer following the same instructions until I reach the desired length?
   Thnx so so much again.

5. Yanna – yes, I give instructions in the pattern for how long to make the sleeves, but it is always better to measure and make them exactly as you need them. Just continue knitting to make them longer.

   Good luck with all the knitting you have to do! 🙂
   S t a c i

6. Hi Staci,

   I’ve bought the pattern n would like to check the needle size.US size 7,if in mm, is it 4.5mm? I’m using clover bamboo needles.

7. Hi Staci,
   I am very excited about making this top down sweater. Your tutorials on this site are fantastic. They are so easy to follow! I purchased the printable copy of the pattern for this sweater with the YouTube links. But I am having trouble accessing those links. Is there a secret??

   Thanks!

8. Susan – The links in the pattern work fine, not sure why you’re having trouble. You might try copying them from the document and pasting them into your browser. Or, if you look at the last few characters of the video link, you’ll see the time code for that particular video part. For example, “Part 5 Separating the Sleeves” – the URL for the video link ends with “14m12s”. That means you can just slide the video viewer to that time, and you’ll be at the correct part.

   The entire video (all 7 parts) are here on the same web page on which you commented: https://verypink.com/2011/06/21/learn-to-knit-a-sweater-womans-t-shirt/

   Good luck!
   S t a c i

9. Hi Staci. I was about to say that I will never give a try to a sweater. I would like to say after I have watched all the tutorials and bought the pattern that YES I am knitting my own sweater. Next wow three more to go for my daughters. Then I will go for the man sweater, you know the brown one…. Thanks for giving so clear instructions and videos!!!

10. Great video! I’ve been knitting rectangles for years and gotten bored but too scared to try a shaped piece. With the marvelous learn to knit a sweater pattern and the video to refer back to I have new found courage!

11. Hi Staci,

    Quick question: I’m just starting your Women’s Summer T-Shirt and would like to know if I should use a one size smaller needle to do the K1-P1 rib or just go ahead and use the size 7 needle?

    Thank you so much for all your wonderful patterns and your excellent tutorials.

    Bonnie

12. Hi Bonnie – I got the results you see in the photos by using the same size needles throughout, and not using smaller needles for the ribbing.

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

13. Hi Staci,

    I’ve purchased this pattern and am very excited to start. You have been a great help through all of my knitting forays! One question (and maybe this is covered in the videos), why is the first stitch at the start of the raglan increases a yarn over? I now have a lovely “hole” in my knitting that is just sort of hanging out there all on its own and I can’t figure out the purpose of it!

    Many thanks,

    Roberta

14. Roberta – the first stitch at the start of the raglan increases is a K1, then a YO.

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

15. Hi Staci,

    Thanks, for your reply. I did K1 and then YO. I think I just figured it out…I did not place a marker after I completed my cast on, so I had only three markers on my work. I thought it was weird to divide my sweater in only three places! Frazzle, guess I am “tinking” now. All part of the learning curve.

    Cheers

16. Hello, i just bought the pattern, and how i can’t see the video. Please help me. Thank you

17. Dhian – the links to the different parts of the video are all in the pattern. You can also watch the video on my website (here on this page where you commented), and also here on YouTube http://youtu.be/qYJ_x091htc.

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

18. I am not able to join my work on the round. why?

19. Saran – I don’t know. Are your circular needles too long for the number of stitches?

    S t a c i

20. Hi Staci, for the sleeves in this sweater could I do magic loop instead of using DPNs? If not would my DPNs need to be the same size as the needle I am using? Keep up the great teachings.

21. Hi Melissa – yes, you can always use the magic loop method instead of DPNs. And yes – regardless of what method you choose, the needle size should be the same as indicated in the pattern.

    Good luck!
    🙂
    S t a c i

22. My first sweater. Scared but excited! My bust is 39.5, my upper tummy is 38. Should I go for the 40″ or the 44″? I’m using the same yarn you did, does it shrink much? Obviously, I like lots of ease to hide my roll! Thanks, Staci!

23. Debbie – you need to be sure, and wash and block your swatch to see how it reacts. I don’t put my sweater in the dryer, and I don’t see any shrinkage. If you plan to machine wash and dry yours, do the same to your swatch before you start knitting!

    You may find that the size you want is between sizes, but top-down raglan sweaters make it easy. At any point in the sweater, before you separate for the sleeves, you can slip the stitches to scrap yarn and try it on. It is then that you can decide if you want to continue with the increases to give you a little more ease in the sweater. I believe I explain this in the video.

    Good luck!

    S t a c i

24. Hi Staci love your site! I wanted to know if this entire sweater would be do-able using the Magic Loop method? Thanks as always and in advanced!

25. Kristi – yes, if your circular needles are too long to use normally, you can always use the magic loop method.

    S t a c i

26. Oh my quick response! Thanks for answering me so quickly Staci! Guess I better get on it then:) happy pink day!

27. I have been trying to find a good pattern for my first sweater, and I’ve liked your video tutorials. So I’m considering this one, but I don’t care for the holes caused by the yarn-over increases. Could I do kfb for the increases instead?

28. Katrina – yes, you can substitute knit-front-back (kfb) increases if you like. You’ll have to work out how you want it to look, since kfb uses a stitch to create an increase, while yarn-overs do not. But a little swatch knit up testing the increases should get you the answer you want.

    🙂
    S t a c i

29. I’m knitting the body. Are the lengths shown in the pattern measured from the neckline, or just from the armpit?

30. Judi – the body measurements in the pattern are measured from the armpit.

    S t a c i

31. Done! And it fits! THANK YOU, S t a c i!!!!!!!

32. Staci, I bought the pattern! I love it! I have watched the entire tutorial several times, and have learned so much. I have begun other top down patterns recently- I am about to begin this pattern for my Mother in law. I’m so excited! you write the best patterns- and your videos are fantastic! I couldn’t have learned this without you! It’s helped me understand other top down patterns as well.

    my question is: What DPNs are you using in your video? they look very comfortable, and I am trying to decide which brand to get right now.
    thanks so much!
    Jen

33. Hi Jen – thank you for the note. My favorite DPNs to use are laminated wood or bamboo, and the ones I use in this video are by Crystal Palace. I also like the Knit Picks wood DPNs – very similar feel.

    🙂
    S t a c i

34. Staci, I love love LOVE your tutorials! They are easy to understand and inspire me to get creative. I bought this pattern and have been excited to knit my first sweater, but after 23 raglan increases (46 rows), the arm holes are still not big enough and the body is getting too wide. I’m a very tight knitter and have to use size 10 needles to get 18 stitches over 4 inches, and that gives me 26 rows in 4 inches. I’m also using Sugar ‘n Cream cotton yarn, if that makes a difference.

    So what can I do? Can I keep doing the raglan increases on the sleeve side and not increase on the sweater side? The only other thing I can think to do is to just rip it all out and adjust the set up row to make the sleeves wider and the body narrower. I’d rather not rip it all out, but I definitely want it to fit well. Help?

    ~Emily

35. Hi Emily – sorry you’re having trouble! It sounds to me like ultimately, your bust/arm proportions are different from the pattern, and with fitted sleeves like this, that can happen.

    I have never actually tried altering a raglan sweater by increasing in one area only (arms, in this case), and keeping the other section the same size. I’m trying to play that out in my head…it might just work.

    For the safest fix, you are correct. Changing the proportions of the CO row is the most solid fix. Adding two stitches to each sleeve, and taking two stitches away from each front and back sections will change the proportions by half an inch for each section – swapping more stitches will change the proportions further.

    I hope that helps – and I hope you’re enjoying the knitting! Good luck!
    S t a c i

36. Thank you so much for this sweater pattern. It is a dream to knit and is a perfect fit. I have made three of them to wear as layering pieces with a blazer and jeans. The sweater is just perfect. The neckline does not interfere with the blazer, does not bunch and lies beautifully flat. Your instructions are clear, correct and concise. The videos illustrate the pattern perfectly and kept me from ever getting stuck. I am going to try your socks next. You make knitting fun!

37. Hi Staci, I finally tried this sweater pattern, it’s nice to have a real project instead of scarves and hats etc.. I must have done something wrong with the test swatch, cause it’s turning out very wide. I’m going to the local yarn store for some help. Question: Is it ok to wet down and block a project midway through? I thought I should do this first … I’m going to get them to help me cut the sweater front and back to remove a couple of inches in the circumference. Do you think I’ll get a more accurate alteration if I block the work I’ve completed? Thanks, Phyllis

38. Phyllis – I’ll address each one of your comments/questions:

    1. If your swatch is too wide, your stitch gauge is off. You need to go down a needle size (or more) to get the correct number of stitches per inch for this pattern, before you start knitting the sweater!
    2. I don’t know why you’d want to wet block a project half way through…but if you’re asking because you want to see what the size is after blocking, that’s what your swatch is for. You should wet block the swatch, THEN check gauge, so that you can get a most accurate gauge reading.
    3. Cut the sweater? This sweater? This is meant to be a one-piece project, no cutting, no seaming. If you knit the sweater with too big of a gauge, I recommend unravellilng it, and reknitting it. Here is my video on reusing yarn: https://verypink.com/2012/10/03/reusing-yarn/
    4. As I said in #2, you should always check gauge AFTER washing and blocking (according to the directions on the yarn label) your swatch. That is the only way you’ll know how your finished knit will behave once it gets wet.

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

39. Hi Staci,

    I’d like to make this sweater but for the life of me, I can’t achieve the correct gauge (with a washed and dried swatch). I’m not sure how you got 18 sts with a sport weight yarn, even with 4mm needles. The Comfy Sport yarn gauge from KnitPicks is 24″ for 4″ on 3.25mm – 3.75mm needles.

    I have a very similar yarn called Cotton-ish (Bernat) and with 4mm needles I get 22 sts. My stitches get too loose with larger needles and even then I still only get 20 sts.

    My bust size is 42 so I would be knitting the 1X…would it work if I went down to the large size on the pattern?

    What do you do when you just can’t achieve the correct gauge? I wish I knew how to adjust a pattern to my gauge! How about a video on that? 🙂

    Thanks for any advice you can give.

    Ronna

40. Hi Ronna – if your tension is consistent, you should be able to get the correct gauge (even if it takes a few tries) by changing the needle size.

    You can knit a different size of the pattern if that helps, as long as you like the neckline of the other size. The beauty of a top-down raglan sweater is that you can try it on for size before you separate the sleeves, which means you can custom fit the sweater as you go – adding more to the bust/sleeves if necessary. (I explain this in the video.)

    Good luck – hope that helps!
    S t a c i

41. I’ll keep trying to achieve gauge on larger needles without getting a loosy goosy feel to my knitting. If not then I’m going to try the large instead of 1X. I love the look of this sweater so I’m motivated to keep trying!

    Thanks for your help!

    Ronna

42. Hello Staci!

    Thank you for the pattern! I’ve finished one sweater but the neckline is too wide for me. I’m trying another one but with different yarn. Could you tell me how I can adjust the neckline so that it’s a little bit smaller?

    Secondly, the gauge I did with this new yarn came out as 19 stitches and 23 rows for 4″. Is this still ok? (Just one more stitch; I did this with needle size 4.5m)

    Thank you!

43. Hi Staci!

    I’m knitting the t-shirt sweater and LOVING it! Question for you…you said that when you add a new skein of yarn to knot it around the area of the yarnovers. Makes sense, except am I supposed to KNOT the yarn? I thought you were never supposed to knot the yarn. And if I am to knot the yarn ,is there a special or certain knot to use?

    Thanks!

44. Sandra – don’t be afraid to tie knots. 🙂 Especially when you’re using a non-animal fiber yarn, knots are a way to super-secure your yarn ends through machine washes, multiple wears, etc. I always tie tidy, tight knots in my work, especially when using cotton.

    S t a c i

45. I recently purchased this pattern. I am SO excited to start this project! Thank you doll for being AMAZING! Keep the patterns coming!

46. I love your pattern…although I do realize this is an old post.This is my first sweater and I am having problems getting the correct gauge swatch.the yarn I am using is Lion Brand Pound of Love. I started out with a size 7 needle up to the biggest size I currently have which is a size 10 and my gauge is still too short. What am I doing wrong?

47. Melinda – when you say that you’re gauge is “too short”, do you mean that you aren’t getting enough stitches per inch? In that case, you need to go DOWN a needle size to make the stitches smaller, so that more stitches fit in an inch.

    S t a c i

48. Yes, that’s what I mean. I am new to knitting so please forgive me for being a pain in your neck but….If I go down a needle size wouldn’t it call for even more stitches to get the gauge in the pattern? I can get that gauge on the yarn label to match that gauge in the pattern. It’s only a one stich difference. Can I apply this to your pattern or does the gauge swatch have to be precise? Thanks for your time and help.

49. Melinda – getting correct gauge is very important. If you are even one stitch off per inch, that is multiplied around each inch of the entire sweater, and you will end up with a sweater that is huge, or tiny. To get the sizing listed in the pattern, your gauge needs to be spot on.

    It’s just a matter of finding the correct needle size – it can be done. This video should help: https://verypink.com/2010/12/21/checking-gauge/

    S t a c i

50. Hi Staci,

    Hope you have room for another fan! I’m a new knitter (about two months old) and I’m jumping in with this sweater as my first “real” project. I’ve chosen my yarn, have my needles and am ready to begin my swatch. I’m thinking of wearing this as a dressy sweater and want the sleeve to be loose rather than fitted. Any help/suggestions on how to achieve this or will that completely change the sweater? Look forward to your response.

    Thank you for your help and professional, yet friendly teaching manner. Because of you I’m attempting a sweater and then I’m on to socks! LOL

    Best,
    Cheryl

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