The Birdie Sweater is worked from the top-down in the round, with saddle shoulders blending into raglan shaping to create lovely structure around the shoulders. (The saddles and brief yoke shaping are worked flat. Then, you join in the round before starting modified raglan increases.) Rapid decreases on the arms and before the hem further the slight ballooning shape, and they are finished with several inches of a 1x1 rib. The high, wide-set neck is worked last, picking up stitches along the neckline. The pattern includes three options for sleeve length: cropped, bracelet, and full.

Wear on a hike, on a rooftop, while rolling down a hill, to a coffee shop, to a wedding, to prom, to sleep, to giggle, on a bike ride, etc.

Sizes: 1 (2) 3 (4) 5

Width under arms: 22.75 (25.25) 27.75 (30) 32 inches = 57.8 (64.1) 70.5 (76.2) 81.3 cm

Choosing a size: The shoulder and arm shaping lends itself to more positive ease than perhaps typical, even for an oversized sweater. I’d recommend selecting a size with about 13-18 in of positive ease. The yoke is also relatively deep, so the widest point will fall slightly lower than a more typical construction.

Gauge: 16 sts x 23 rows = 4x4 in = 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 8 needles, blocked

Needles: Most of the body is worked in US 8 = 5 mm needles. The US 6 = 4 mm needles are used for the sleeve cuffs and hem, while the US 5 = 3.75 mm needles are used for the neck.

Yarn: Use an aran weight yarn you really love! A thicker, wooly, tweedy yarn is very well-suited to this design. I recommend Noro Haunui, De Rerum Natura Cyrano, Kelbourne Woolens’ Lucky Tweed, or Briggs & Little Heritage 2-Ply.

400 (500) 600 (600) 700 g (100 g = 218 yards)

The dark brown Birdie Sweater is a size 3, knit with Noro Haunui in the colorway ‘Waitomo (25)’. The finished weight is ~ 550 g. It is knit using the mock-neck neckline and bracelet length sleeve options.

The warm grey Birdie Sweater is a size 4, knit with Prado de Lana Criollo Queso in the colorway Gris, held double. The finished weight is ~600 g. It is knit using the turtleneck neckline and full length sleeve options.