Knitting Pattern Diagrams – They’re literally the “blueprint” for your pattern and there is no specific trick or method to creating a diagram, adding instructions to it or reading it.  Unless of course, the patterns is drafted for someone else’s use.  We’re talking personal patterns.

At Hobbie’s House and Custom Costume Knits, we create our own diagram for each custom pattern and like to have nearly all the required information visible on the pattern diagram.  In fact, we rarely use written instructions. Every detail is written in our own version of shorthand and displayed within the diagram itself.
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Sweater Design Ease –  Wearing ease is just another topic in a long list of frequently asked questions we receive from potential customers.  What exactly is it? Sweater ease is comprised of both wearing and design ease.  They are critical to the design of a sweater and built into the knitting pattern.

In knitwear design, design ease is a visual element – the factor that attracts the knitter to a particular knitting pattern – the retro styled, pearl buttoned, clingy little “starlet” cardigan or the big, comfy looking jacket that will take you through the chilliest day of winter.

Sweater Design Ease: Those Extra Inches Matter

Wearing ease is a necessary component of the actual sweater design.  Without it, any sweater would fit as if it had been sprayed on.

 Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear

Wearing ease – adjusted to personal preferences – makes your sweater fit perfectly. Without it, you would be unable to move when wearing the sweater. We’re talking beyond clingy and form fitting.

Knitting Pattern Essentials: Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns

So what is sweater ease? It is an integral element of the garment design itself.

The new knitter should be aware of the role the ease factor imparts to the sweater, cardigan, or vest pattern.

Woven textiles, even double knit yardage and other knit fabrics do not have the amount of elasticity found in sweater knits.

Sweater fabrics have the highest amount of stretch.

In a hurry to learn knit to fit techniques?

Ease Into A Perfectly Fit Sweater

What is a perfect fit? It is a combination of both wearing and design ease which are critical to the design of a knitting pattern and the fit of the finished sweater.

What Is Wearing Ease?

Wearing ease is an extra amount of knit fabric added to any knitwear design.

It allows your body to move within the completed garment. Without wearing ease, your sweater might stretch enough to “fit” but it will either cling like a second skin or not have the look as the designer intended.

Drafted to standard measurements for a particular size, knitting patterns have a built-in, minimum amount of wearing ease. Directly related to the design, the fit, and the size of the actual garment, ease must not be ignored.

Two inches of wearing ease is a standard amount. Considered as generous wearing ease, three to four inches can also qualify as a normal amount.

The amount of wearing and design ease drafted into a knitting pattern varies from one individual size to another. It also varies between patterns drafted for Men, Misses, Petites, and Plus sizes.

An accurate stitch and row gauge is the cornerstone of all knitting pattern directions and determines the outcome of all your efforts – in other words, the size and fit of the sweater.

Inaccuracies in the specified gauge directly affect the wearing and design ease and the finished measurements of your knitting project.

As a rule, knitting patterns do not list actual body measurements. However, they do provide the “finished” measurements, which always include ease.

The finished measurements listed in a knitting pattern equal your actual measurements and wearing and design ease. Actual measurements are the dimensions you obtain when placing a tape measure over foundations garments.

For example, if your bust or chest measurement is 36 inches, and the pattern lists a finished measurement is 38.5 inches, the added wearing ease for this particular sweater style and size is two and a half inches.

The amount of wearing ease included for any given size is easily determined by comparing your actual measurements to the finished measurements given on the diagram. While you compare the two sets of numbers, keep certain measurement factors in mind.

The back shoulder width is a very important measurement. Verify the shoulder width measurements against the measurements provided in the pattern. Try to visualize your shoulders as the frame that supports the sweater. When the shoulder width is correct, the sleeves hang correctly and fit well. For a customized fit, lengthen or shorten the sleeves as needed.

The correct placement of the sleeve cap depends entirely on an accurate shoulder width measurement. The widest part of the sleeve, immediately before the underarm decreases, when placed in the proper position, falls across the upper arm.

The widest part of the sweater body will also be in the right place resulting in a good fit across the chest. For those with a larger bust line, knit-in darts will add the needed inches across the horizontal chest measurement. Bust darts also add wearing ease to the vertical measurement – shoulder line at the base of the neck, over the fullest part of the bust down to the bottom edge of the sweater – to prevent the sweater from riding up in the front.

Sweater length includes a certain amount wearing ease. Are you tall? Are you a petite? A wonderful aspect of knit fabrics is that they move in every direction.  Don’t forget that knits also stretch lengthwise – especially heavy, bulky sweaters.

A sweater can be short in length, as in cropped styles, as long as other points of measurement are accurate and other design features, including the all important ease factors play their assigned roles into the knitting pattern design.

Often ignored by eager new knitters, ease plays a very important function in the overall look of the completed garment. Is your sweater supposed to be close fitting or “oversized”? This is where design ease plays a role – either as negative or positive ease.

What is Design Ease?

Design ease is the additional amount of knit fabric, beyond wearing ease, which is added to create a certain style or look such as a purposely-over sized sweater, a cardigan or sweater jacket.

Jackets and coats generally have 8-10 inches of ease.

While pullover sweaters may have generous amounts of wearing ease, cardigans require even more ease. Normally worn layered over several garments, cardigans have as much as five to six inches of added ease.

Design ease can also be a negative amount. Extremely fitted, ribbed pullovers have negative wearing/design ease – as in actual measurements minus one to two inches. Why? Because ribbed fabric is very stretchy!

 Sweater Design in Plain English Knitting To Fit: Learn to Design Basic Sweater Patterns Sweater Design in Plain English

What is the answer to the what is sweater ease question?  Varying amounts of wearing ease and design ease produce various designer styles:

• Very fitted [often equal to negative ease],
• Fitted, [+1 to 1.5 inches],
• Semi-fitted or average [+ 2.5 to 3 inches],
• Loose [+ 4 to 5 inches] and
• Over-sized [+ 6 to 8 inches].
• Outerwear [+ 10 to 12 inches]

Some garments such as jackets and coats can have as much as 10 inches of added wearing ease!  Loose and oversized sweaters often give the impression that a buyer “fits” in a smaller size.  When ordering our knitwear, please note that we use semi-fitted or average wearing ease when drafting personal patterns.

As an example, if your actual chest measurement is 34 inches, the finished sweater will measure 36.5 to 37 inches at the chest level.

Yes, the smaller size may technically fit but they’ve lost the intended “look” of the design.  If the wearer plans on layering the pullover sweater over a shirt or turtleneck, you have in effect lost the space required to layer these garments and still maintain the proper fit. Cardigans are slightly more forgiving but still have their ease limits.

Crew Neck Sweater Pattern – In this post, we’ll review a basic crew neck set-in sleeve knitting pattern for a child’s size 4 sweater.

In our recent Sweater Measurements For Children post, we review and list measurements for the entire range of toddler and children’s sizes.

“What are the measurements for a Size 4 sweater?”

We receive plenty of inquiries related to measurements for toddler sweater lengths but the questions above tops the list.

We’ve knit many sweaters Size 4 sweaters because it is the ideal “in-between” size but the feedback was always the same – “they’ve already outgrown the sweater!”.

Want to design your own pattern? ==> Style your own knits for children of all ages

It fits toddlers who are way up there on the growth scale.  Gone are the toddler measurements but we’re not quite into the growth spurt.

That growth spurt is just around the corner so don’t spend too much money on this size. I call it the “wear once – pass it on” size.  Use machine wash and dry acrylic yarns!  There are so many beautiful tweeds and variegated colors available.

Don’t limit yourself to baby colors or pastels.  Go bright and bold.

Our sample sweater is knit in a fingering weight acrylic yarn but the drafted diagram can be used for any weight yarn.

 Style Your Own Kids’ Knits: Choose a PatternYou have all the measurements required to convert the pattern to sports or worsted weight yarn by calculating with a different stitch and row gauge.

Rather than simply list the measurements crew neck sweater knitting pattern, we thought it might be easier to include them on a diagram to better visualize the sweater measurements.

Make this a master knitting pattern (like the one found in this visual knitting design guide) and draw the diagram as many times as needed to match a new stitch and row gauge.

You can easily lengthen the sweater body and the sleeves.

Read about the commercial U.S. apparel sizing standards for young children.

This is the basic diagram we use to a draft a pattern.

Measurements are given for a Size 4 sweater styled as follows:

• A low set-in sleeve cap,
• Tapered sleeves,
• A round neck with a 1 inch neckband.
• Sleeves and bottom ribbing are 1 1/2 inches.

Double the length of the sleeve cuff ribbing so you can turn up the cuffs.

Never figured out why the arms grow so much faster than every other part of a kid’s body!

Size 4 Crew Neck Sweater Pattern: Basic Measurements

• Finished Chest = 25 1/4 inches
• Finished Length – 15 1/3 inches or to desired length (add rows before the underarm decreases)
• Finished Sleeve Length = 13 1/3 inches or to desired length (add rows before the underarm decreases)

The front neckline drop is 2.8 to 3 inches deep.

Unless you are prepared to re-draft the armhole and sleeve cap, don’t make any changes to the armhole section of the sweater body or the sleeve cap.

Need to lengthen the sweater body? It is much easier to add a few rows to the straight section of the sweater body (between the ribbing and the initial underarm decreases).

To lengthen the sleeve, it is easier to add a few rows after the last increase on the sleeve or spread them out evenly along the entire sleeve length.

We like to knit a double neckband on smaller sizes to prevent stretching the neckline. We often make the neckline a little wider as well.

Do you know of any child who enjoys having a sweater pulled over their head? Mine never did.

Also, if the sweater has sufficient wearing ease, you can easily layer a turtle neck or shirt under the sweater without having neckline area “tighten up”.

[yellowbox]Another little hint – Don’t knit the ribbing over a smaller number of stitches.  Cast on using the same number of stitches required for the body and the sleeves. Just use smaller size needles. We don’t need to get that technical on a size 4 crew neck sweater pattern.[/yellowbox]

Use a smaller size of knitting needles to knit the ribbing and it will pull in the ribbed bands sufficiently without making them too tight.

The measurements provided above are for the finished sweater …not the actual measurements of the child.

When knitting the Child’s size 4 Crew Neck Sweater Pattern figure on about 2 to 3 inches of wearing ease for a comfortable fit.

Toddler Cardigan Knitting Patterns – Does a four year old actually wear a size 4 cardigan? Not likely…

Toddler sweaters and cardigans are quick and just plain fun to knit but these days, kids grow like good weeds! Height and weight will also affect the size your child wears. Don’t forget that the “4” actually comes in two sizes:

• A Toddler 4
• The Regular size 4

I love decorative buttons!  Design the entire cardigan, including the color, to match any style from this decorative button collection.  Trucks, trains and aeroplanes for boys – flowers, butterflies and cats for girls.  Attach the buttons with the sweater yarn finishing off with a knot on the top of the button!

None of the fancy button designs mentioned above fall into the “wizard wear” category but a Hogwarts® style cardigan for little students can be made to look a little less severe while still easily identified as being a young wizard student. 🙂

Do I Pick Toddler Cardigan Knitting Patterns Or One Labeled In A Child’s Size?

The toddler size 4 will probably fit a 2-3 year old and your 3-4 year old will most likely fit into a regular size 4 or 5.

Our twin elves wore a size 6-7 at age 4 1/2 because they were tall for their age.

A few years ago, I would knit a size 6 for the twins, adjusting the cardigan body and sleeve length. The past 6 years have done nothing to slow down their growth.

Recent measurements for one of the boys – now 5’8″ – put him in a Man’s Size 36. Yikes!   He enjoys his new status as model for several knitwear designs.

Cardigans are basically outerwear, designed to be worn layered over other garments such as turtlenecks or long sleeved shirts.

Be sure to compare your child’s actual measurements to those of the standard/average measurements for a 4T and a size 5 AND to the measurements provided with your knitting pattern.

Measurements for the 4T  are:

Full Chest = 23 inches;
Hips = 23.5 inches;
Shoulder width = 10.25 inches;
Arm length = 13 3/4 inches.

These are actual measurements not those of the cardigan.

The cardigan is knit to the following finished measurements:

• Full chest/hip = 25 1/2 inches;
• Sleeve length = 13 3/4 inches;
• Finished cardigan length =  14 3/4 to 15 inches.

Knit it as long as required.  How long do I knit it? Long enough to cover their behind.

Why Pick A Child’s Size 5?

The Child’s 5 measurements are:

Full chest = 24 inches;
Hips = 24 1/2 inches;
Shoulder width = 10 1/2 inches;
Arm length = 15 inches.

These are actual measurements not those of the cardigan.

Knit the cardigan to the following finished measurements:

• Chest/hip = 26 inches;
• Sleeve length = 15 inches
• Finished cardigan length = 15 1/2 to 16 inches.

Sleeve and body length can be adjusted for a perfect fit by adding several rows just before the underarm shaping.

More about Toddler Sweater Masurements!

Sweater Care instructions – These directions for sweater care have allowed us to keep sample sweaters knit more than twenty years ago in excellent, hand-me-down condition.  Knit with premium quality acrylic fibers. these sweaters are now heirlooms.

Don’t throw that sweater, vest or scarf into the [popup_product]laundry tub[/popup_product] with the rest of the laundry!  Follow these directions for the best in sweater care and the knitwear you purchase from Hobbie’s House of Wizard Wear will look good for years to come.

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These top 10 gift ideas for knitters are sure to make any Holiday [popup_product]wish list[/popup_product]!

I’m always on the lookout for gift ideas for knitters.  Some of these “ideas” might make it on my wish list so why not surprise them with a totally unexpected gift for their favorite hobby?

After more than 40 years in the business and more than 60 years as a hand knitter, I’m not ashamed to say that I still have a Holiday wish list when it comes to knitting tools, gadgets, and learning material.

Do you have a knitter in your family – someone who, like me, is “never not knitting”? Always at a loss for or wondering about the next perfect gift idea?

In a hurry to explore the hobbies and crafts category?
====> Check out the best sellers in the knitting category

Premium Knitting Bag
Stylish, Durable & PortableOrganized & Portable Knitting Stash!

The following “Top 10” list will make it easy to select the ideal surprise.

After all, don’t you do want another pair of comfy socks, a designer style sweater knit in the softest merino wool or maybe a classic bomber style jacket knit in a worsted weight [popup_product]Donegal tweed[/popup_product]?

This list is for anyone who would love to explore the myriad possibilities of having fun knitting on two or 150 needles.

Perhaps that someone is YOU.

So Many Gift Ideas For knitters!

Knitting on two needles is the most accepted for of knitting.  However, machine knitting should not be considered  “cheating” any more than the circular plastic gadgets have a right to be called knitting machines.

Machine knitting is just the use of a different method to achieve the same results.

LK 150 Knitting Machine

Imagine knitting on 150 needles!  It is just as easy [easier in my opinion] to knit on 150 needles as it is to knit on two needles.

Combine the knowledge of traditional knitting with machine knitting and the sky is the limit.

The LK 150 is considered a “hobby knitter” but don’t let that moniker fool you.

The only “lightweight” feature is its weight.   With needles spaced at 6.5 millimeters, it is considered a mid-gauge machine meaning that it is the perfect tool to knit hand knitting yarns from sports to DK and worsted weights for a hand-knit look.

There is a slight learning curve to machine knitting but nothing to be concerned about because the machine includes a fabulous instruction manual as compared to the manuals that came with Japanese machine nearly 50 years ago.

Those were literal translations from Japanese and required hours of deciphering the instructions – it was easier to learn the language or experiment on the machine itself!

Easy Machine Knitting Patterns

This machine makes it pure fun to knit.  We have a detailed write up on the LK 150 along with photos.

You will find a nice selection of books for new mid-gauge knitters but the fun lies in knowing that you can translate any hand knitting pattern and make it on this machine.

Need a machine knitting teacher [we have you covered] or easy machine knitting patterns? We have you covered there as well.  Check out our current collection of free knitting patterns for [popup_product]Harry Potter[/popup_product]© styled knits but be on the lookout for new machine knitting patterns for a variety of knitwear from costuming pieces to one of a kind sweaters.

All our new knitting patterns will feature designs knit on the LK 150.

Graph Paper Pads for Charted Designs

wWe all have a wonderful design to knit into (via Intarsia knitting) or duplicate stitch onto a sweater.  Read more about how we embellish sweaters.

The problem comes when you want to draw it and transcribe the motif into a charted design.

Here is where you need knitting graph paper! Yarntree offers graph and tracing paper for knitting and duplicate stitch designs.  Their pads come in two gauges: 5 stitches by 7 rows and 10 stitches by 14 rows to the inch.

For any design, it is important to match the proportions of your stitch and row gauge.

Japanese for Knitters

Why do I need to learn a new language?

Obviously, you don’t have to learn the language – just Japanese for machine knitters (or hand knitters) and how to read the symbols and shorthand used when creating a knitting pattern.

I have personally learned so much from the graphs, diagrams and the method used in writing out a knitting pattern that the urge to know “how did they do that?” was always irresistible! So I learned all the Japanese language related to knitting.

Zaza magazine is considered a collector’s item but leaf through any copy of Nihon Vouge knitting magazine to uncover some of the best techniques and haute couture designs in the knitwear industry.  Knitting with Noro hand-dyed yarns [hint, hint….a 10 pack of Noro yarn would be a spectacular gift :-)] is a real pleasure and so is leafing through their seasonal pattern collections [another super gift for any knitter]!

Whether you are an avid hand knitter or a novice machine knitter, Japanese knitting magazines are like technical manuals – another level in the learning experience.

Noro #10 Spring Summer 2017Noro #7 Fall-Winter 2015-16

Online Knitting Classes

Craftsy rules the video world with their online knitting classes.  Many are free, but they are always running a sale on superior classes.

Once you’ve purchased the class, it stays in your account so that you can review the course material, ask questions and go over any part of the class you need to review.

I own several of their classes including Knit Faster with Portuguese Knitting and Machine Knitting Essential Techniques because Susan Guagliumi is a top notch instructor.  More than 25 years after taking my first class with Susan, I continue to benefit from her knitting expertise.

You can’t go wrong with the prices, and I recommend any class wholeheartedly.  The only problem you may encounter is deciding which topic to select.

Portuguese Knitting Videos

While we’re on the subject of videos, please check out Andrea Wong’s videos on Portuguese knitting.

I suffer from carpal tunnel and tendonitis and this is now the only way I can knit for more than 30 minutes at a time without experiencing any stiffness in my hands and wrists.

Looking for speedy knitting? I’m not sure I could knit the “old fashioned” way anymore 🙂

Jumbo Wool Winder

Whether you knit with two needles or 150, all knitters need a wool winder.  None more yanking the strand of yarn from the center of the skein!

In a hurry to make a center pull yarn ball? ====> Pick the perfect yarn winder!

With a center pull ball, knitting is smoother, and your stitches will be more even.

A jumbo wool winder is a perfect tool for sports and worsted weight yarns – wind up to 10 ounces of yarn.  There is also a wool winder for lace and fingering weight yarns.

Flexible Curve Rulers

36 Inch (90cm) Flexible Curve Ruler For Garment Design

Flexible curve rulers are a must for anyone who sews or knits.  In flat pattern drafting, these are prime tools of the trade.

 

Even a novice knitter can use flexible rulers.

Use them to calculate the required number of stitches to pick up and knit along an armhole or neckline.

 

Most Japanese rulers come ruled in centimeters on one side and inches on the other.

The ideal length for a curve ruler is 24 inches but there is a 30-inch model that should cover just about any required measurement.

Conversions from centimeters to inches and vice versa is as simple as multiplying or dividing by 2.54.

 

While a flexible curve is not included, this set of pattern making tools should cover everything required by anyone ready to jump into the deep end of pattern drafting.  It is just as useful when aimed at grading and pattern drafting for knitwear!

Subscription To A Knitting Magazine

I love knitting magazines! Never have enough of them except that my craft “library” will have to be enlarged to make room for one more magazine storage box! Consider an online subscription!

Gift Certificate or Gift Card

This may be the easiest gift idea for a knitter!  A gift card is not terribly personal but if it is the right gift card or a gift certificate to the yarn store of their dreams then you have an all around winner.  All you need to do it determine a dollar amount and step away from the yarn stash!

Anything From The Etsy Knitting Category!

Looking for stocking stuffers or the very unusual gift?  Check out Etsy’s gifts for knitters!  I’m going to add a pottery or wood yarn bowl to my list along with those cute hang tags!  Unique yarn markers marker perfect stocking stuffer too.

Take time to review the items on this list but I may just create another top 10 list in the near future!

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about them. Drop a few hints about knowing what you would like for your birthday or Christmas this year then leave these gift ideas for knitters it a very conspicuous place 🙂

School House Colors add that special touch to an otherwise basic sweater. Our reproduction wizard school knitwear features a simple stripe pattern to represent each of the four school houses.

The stripe sequence of “House” colors is added to specific places, depending on the style of sweater you are knitting:

• The Original “CoS” Style: In the neckband and along the bottom of the body.
• The Newer “PoA” Style: Along the lower part of the body and the sleeves.

In a hurry to get into color work? ====> It’s time to master the art of knitting stripes

Knitting School House Colors

Add the stripe pattern 1 or 2 rows above the bottom ribbing.  This stripe pattern goes along the bottom of the vest, the pullover sweater, and the cardigan. It is our opinion, with the benefit of experience, that adding stripes or any fair-isle design, a couple of rows above the ribbing prevents the ribbed stitches from distorting the horizontal edge of the pattern.

The stitch distortion is particularly noticeable when knitting the stripe pattern with worsted weight yarns.

Again, this is OUR opinion, but the idea here is to reproduce the “look” of the Hogwarts© school uniform knits, which includes the proportion of the stripe as a pattern over the entire sweater.

We leave the ultimate placement, and size, of the stripe pattern up to the individual knitter as there are numerous and differing opinions as to the “authentic” placement of the stripe pattern.

School House Colors Stripe Proportions

The sample on the immediate left, knit in Patons® Classic Merino Wool, illustrates a 2/2/2 “Chamber of Secrets© style” stripe sequence.

At this stitch and row gauge, the House stripe pattern is .94 inches wide.

The width of the full stripe may be “in proportion” for an adult sized sweater but too wide, and seemingly out of proportion on a child’s pullover.

When knitting a child’s sweater, you may want to reduce the width of the stripe by working a 1/1/1 row sequence.

Stripes In Various Yarn Weights

Displayed below are stripe patterns knit in various yarns, wool, and acrylic.

They illustrate the difference in the width of the stripe pattern when using different yarns.

The blue and pale gray rib-knit scarf sample is knit in Lion Brand© yarns. In this rib knit sample, a 4-row stripe was nearly one inch wide.

With KnitPicks© Swish Merino Wool, the narrow/wide/narrow look of the POA stripe, and maintain a good proportion, we had to reduce the stripe pattern to a total of four rows.

In stockinette stitch, using the same Merino Wool, the classic Chamber of Secrets® styled House stripe pattern should not be more than four rows wide to maintain proportion in an adult sized sweater.

The Initial Sweater is here!  The initial sweater from Hobbie’s House knitting collection can be with knit with or without the initial!

Remember our littlest wizards wearing their *Initial* sweaters? It was their very first Christmas Holiday season.

Ready to start knitting?
==> Pick from a beautiful selection of tweed yarns

Full Fledged Wizards!

Twins, blue sweaters…sounds familiar?

That was more than 13 years ago and much larger sizes were recently commissioned for the Halloween season.

I’m talking adult sizes.  A forest green and a dark blue – because blue is still the color 🙂

In this post, the featured knitting pattern is for an adult version of the “wizard wear” rolled neck, initial sweater.

It is the same design as the sweaters knit for the twins but this adult version is knit in a dark olive wool and mohair blend. This design is adaptable to a variety of flecked, tweed, and variegated yarns.

The neckline is rolled with the cuffs and bottom edge trimmed with ribbing…or not!  The initials were duplicate stitched.  This sweater style is very easy to wear and to dress up or dress down.

Add a large initial and you have the replica of a very popular sweater!

It’s Hobbie’s version of the quick and easy “Weasley©” sweater. Adjust the gauge and knit the sweater in the new chunky tweed colors!


Knit in a Misses size 8, we call it the Roll Neck Initial Sweater.

It is a regular length, straight, roll neck pullover sweater with a ribbed bottom edge. The style is easy to wear – a drop shoulder jumper with full length, tapered sleeves, and ribbed cuffs.  Want to make this an even quicker knit?  Don’t make ribbed edges – just start knitting and let the edges roll!

The round (crew) front neck and shallow back neck ensure a good fit. The sweater features a rolled edge neckband.

Although we often knit our samples using production “shortcuts”, the rolled neck sweater is knit exactly as our pattern is written.

Cast on using your preferred method but we almost always opt for the most elastic cast on method taking the fiber content into consideration.

Please feel free to Contact Us with any specific questions regarding sizing and materials required to knit the Initial Sweater. However, don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any other sweater style from our collection of free knitting patterns.

We decided on a broad neckline so the sweater could be worn layered over a shirt or turtleneck.

The sweater is a very versatile style so the boys’ next Harry Potter Ron sweater will feature rolled edges on sleeves, bottom, and neck.

While the sweaters for children are knit in acrylic for ease of care, the adult sweater shown here is knit in a light, worsted weight yarn of blended fibers, finished with a rolled neckline and ribbed bottom edge and cuffs. It is more of an indoor sweater as the fabric is quite delicate.

Knitting The Initial Sweater:

SIZE: Standard Ladies 34 inches [Ladies 8] YARN: Dalegarn “Sisik”; Color of your choice; 50 gr. = 148 yards
GAUGE: Stocking stitch over 4 in = 10 cm: 20.0 sts by 24.0 rows. Body knit on #6/7 US needles; Ribbing knit on #5 US needles or whatever size needles achieve required stitch and row gauge.

FINISHED measurements in inches with an “average” fit.

• Bust/Chest:36.3″ [2.3″ of added wearing ease]
• Width at bottom of sweater body:36.3″ [use of smaller needles to knit ribbing will cause fabric to pull in]
• Total Armhole:16.9″
• Top Neck Opening:7.0″
• Front Neck Width:3.2
• Front Neck Depth:3.4
• Width of sleeve above ribbing:7.9″
• Width of sleeve hem:7.1″
• Back Neck Width: 7.0
• Total Sleeve Length: 16.6″
• Back Neck Depth: 0.5″
• Sweater Body Length: 22.4″ [can be increased by adding rows during Step 2]
• Rib Hem Length: 2.0″
• Rolled Collar depth: 2.5″
• em Length: 2.0

Note: Read ALL these instructions thoroughly BEFORE starting to knit.

There may be sections where there are two shapings to work at the same time (such as necklines or waist shaping).

Initial Sweater Back:

Cast on 93 sts on size 5 needles. Work in K1P1 ribbing for 2.0 ins.Change to size 6/7 needles and Stocking Stitch.

Work even until piece measures 12.0 ins (72 rows), excluding hem.

Mark this row at both ends for armhole. Continue until armhole measures 8.0 ins (48 rows).

Shape neck. Work both sides at the same time. Work 29 sts. Slip the next 35 sts to a holder.

With the second ball of yarn, work remaining 29 sts.

Work even until armhole measures 8.7 ins (52 rows). Cast off 29 shoulder sts loosely.

Initial Sweater Front:

Follow steps 1 and 2 as for back.

Armhole. Mark this row at both ends for armhole. Continue until armhole measures 5.0 ins (30 rows).

Shape neck. Work both sides at the same time. Work 39 sts. Slip the next 15 sts to a holder.

With the second ball of yarn, work remaining 39 sts. Dec 1 st at neck edge every row 10 times, until 29 sts remain.

Work even until armhole measures 8.7 ins (52 rows). Cast off 29 shoulder sts loosely.

Initial Sweater Sleeves

Cast on 37 sts on Size #5 needles. Work in K1P1 ribbing for 2.0 ins. Inc 5 sts evenly across the row to 42 sts total.

Change to size 6/7 needles and Stocking Stitch.

Inc 1 st at each end of every 3rd row 3 times, then every 4th row 19 times to 86 sts (85 rows total, excluding hem).

Work even until sleeve measures 14.6 ins (88 rows), excluding hem.

Cast off loosely.

Left Shoulder Seam

1. Sew front to back along the left shoulder seam.

ROUND (CREW) FRONT NECK ROLLED EDGE COLLAR:

— on size 6/7 needles.— The rolled edge collar is worked in stocking stitch, which will roll naturally, with the purl side showing.

If you prefer to work on a circular needle, and eliminate the collar seam, sew the right shoulder before starting the collar.

With right side of work facing, pick up and work

2 sts from right back neck edge, 35 sts from back neck holder, 2 sts from left back neck edge,22 sts from left front neck edge, 15 sts from front neck holder and 22 sts from right front neck edge. Total of 98 sts.

Work 2.5 ins (16 rows). Cast off loosely.

Finishing. Sew remaining shoulder seam. Sew collar seam with an invisible seam. The collar can be left to roll naturally, or tacked in place. For a fuller look, it can be stuffed and then tacked in place.

Finishing The Sweater:

We always block wool sweater pieces individually before final assembly.  Use your preferred blocking method but do not block the ribbing OR the rolled edges.  Steam blocking sets the stitches and in this case you want both the ribbed edges and rolled edges to keep their elasticity.

1. Sew sleeve top to armhole, easing to fit. We use crochet to attach sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew any remaining seams.
2. Darn/weave/sew in all loose ends.
3. Our motto is that the interior of the sweater should look just as good as the outside.  🙂

Measure a sample piece for a more accurate calculation. We recommend purchasing 1-2 extra skeins of the same dye lot.

Approximate Yarn Amount Needed:

• 3 oz.for the body and sleeves;
• 1.4 oz. for ribbing and/or hems;
• .6 oz. for collar;
• 15 ounces TOTAL

Pattern designed and edited by: Hobbie’s House Designs © 2006

POE School Sweater – First introduced in the Prisoner of Azkaban® movie, the POA school sweater is another traditional style of school uniform sweater.

It represents a nearly complete change from the original wizard school uniform and it took everyone by surprise. Many fans took to it right away while others still preferred the original “Chamber of Secrets®” style school sweater.

POA School Sweater

Since it’s introduction, the “POA” school sweater has become a classic and a favorite.

The new “House” colors are darker and richer too…maroon and old gold, a dark “forest” green with pewter grey, a dark “marine” blue with silver grey and old gold with black.

The corridors and classrooms at Hogwarts© are still drafty; there is still a chill in the air so you’ll be glad to know that the new school sweater, knit in a sports-weight wool yarn, will keep you warm and toasty.

Wool is an incredible, natural fiber. It holds its shape and color too. We do recommend dry cleaning!

The PoA school sweater is knit in a high quality, dark charcoal grey [very near black], 100% wool. The trim colors are also 100% pure new wool.

It is designed as a solid colored, ribbed V-neckline pullover with boarding house colors along the bottom of the sweater body and the bottom of the sleeves – just above the ribbed bands.

The trim colors are also 100% pure new wool.  Wool is an incredible, natural fiber. It holds its shape and color too. However, we recommend dry cleaning!

Wool Versus Acrylic

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Wool you say?   If wool gives you the “itchies” or an allergic reaction, consider having this new style sweater knit up using a black acrylic yarn.

While the acrylic fibers do not give the sweater as much “body”, it certainly solves the problem for those who allergic to wool.

When it comes to custom designs, customers have also requested the POA style in the regulation charcoal grey wool yarn used for the original school sweater.

Pictured on the right is the dark charcoal grey wool we use to knit the POA school sweater.  It is also a perfect example of a “customized” jumper.

This custom sweater combines POA muted colors with the COS style.   As in the original school uniform, the neckband is accented by the blue and bronze book colors.  The neck band is folded not ribbed.

On the POA styled sweater, the “house” stripe is knit in a light/dark/light sequence but also in a narrow/wide/narrow pattern – slightly different than the even, mini-stripes of the original school sweater.

The POA school sweater contrast colors are as authentic as possible.  In the featured photo at the top of the post, the wool yarn “Ravenclaw®” colors are named dark blue and dove grey.   The white is strictly there to show the contrast between the grey and the white.

==> See The Best In Harry Potter® Costume Props

Order the POA School Sweater

The sweater available in a wide range of standard sizes in Misses, Men’s, Juniors and Children’s sizes that can be customized for a nearly perfect fit.  Our focus in this post is on Ravenclaw® colors and Misses sizes.

Please note that each sweater is made to order just for YOU.  Sweaters are not available for immediate shipment.

Men’s POA School Sweater Order Form

POA School Sweater Men’s Sizes/Prices

Men’s XS 32 $95.00 USDMen’s SM 34-36 $105.00 USDMen’s MED 38-40 $115.00 USDMen’s L 42-44 $125.00 USDMen’s XL 46 $135.00 USD

Colors

maroon/old goldd.green/pewterd.blue/pewterold gold/blackd.blue/bronze

Misses POA School Sweater Order Form

POA School Sweater Misses Sizes/Prices

Misses XS 4 $95.00 USDMisses SM 6-8 $95.00 USDMisses MED 10-12 $105.00 USDMisses L 14-16 $115.00 USDMisses XL 18-20 $125.00 USD

Colors

maroon/old goldd.green/pewterd.blue/pewterold gold/blackd.blue/bronze

 

By default, the new, “PoA” styled school sweater is knit in 100% wool, unless otherwise indicated in the “Optional Instructions” section of the shopping cart during the Paypal ordering process.

The sweater is available as a long sleeve, pullover sweater or as a vest .

By default, the vest features solid colored armbands. Did you know that WB offers a Revenclaw® girl’s cardigan? It looks like a boyfriend cardi!First introduced in the Prisoner of Azkaban® movie, the POA school sweater is another traditional style of school uniform sweater.

It represents a nearly complete change from the original wizard school uniform and it took everyone by surprise. Many fans took to it right away while others still preferred the original “Chamber of Secrets®” style school sweater.