The Boyfriend Sweater with its relaxed oversized fit, slightly fitted sleeves and beautiful textured fabric can easily become a favourite casual piece to wear all day long! It is worked in a simple herringbone stitch pattern that creates a firm yet light textured fabric, while the geometric pattern at the upper Front piece adds visual interest.

Special note:

The Boyfriend Sweater pattern is also available as a kit on The Fibre co website. You can get 10% off the Boyfriend sweater kit, until 17th of April, using the code ‘BoyfriendSweater10’ (link below).

https://thefibreco.com/product/boyfriend-sweater-kit/

Thank you Fibre co!

Construction notes:

Front and Back pieces are worked flat, bottom-up and seamed at the sides. Shoulders are joined with a 3-needle bind off. Sleeves are picked up from the armholes and worked in the round to the cuffs. Hems, sleeve cuffs and the neckband are worked in 1x1 ribbing.

The sweater is worked in a very simple herringbone stitch pattern that creates a firm fabric with a delightful drape. The upper Front piece is decorated with a geometric stitch pattern with the use of the intarsia colorwork technique and the crocheted surface stitch technique.

Techniques used:

Increases, decreases, bind off, intarsia colorwork, chart-reading skills (or able to follow written instructions), crocheted surface stitch, short rows and seaming.

Links to video tutorials are included in the pattern for easier execution of techniques.

Charts (with written instructions) are included for easy execution of all decreases in pattern.

Skill level: Intermediate.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7).

Finished bust circumference (after blocking):

Size 1: 98.5cm / 38.75in
Size 2: 110.5cm / 43.5in
Size 3: 122.5cm / 48.25in
Size 4: 128.5cm / 50.5in
Size 5: 135cm / 53.25in
Size 6: 147cm / 57.75in
Size 7: 159cm / 62.5in

Intended positive ease: 15 - 20cm (6 - 7.75) in

Yarns used:

(A) The Fibre co LORE (100g/3.54oz, 250m/273yds, 100% English Romney lambswool). Sample photographed in the “Heaven” colourway.

(B) The Fibre co CUMBRIA (100g/3.54oz, 216m/236yds, 60% Merino wool, 30% Masham wool, 10% mohair). Sample photographed in the “St Bees Beach” colourway.

Yarn requirements per size:

Size 1: (A): 4 skeins (975m/1067yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 2: (A): 5 skeins (1113m/1217yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 3: (A): 5 skeins (1238m/1354yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 4: (A): 6 skeins (1363m/1491yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 5: (A): 6 skeins (1488m/1627yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 6: (A): 7 skeins (1650m/1805yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)
Size 7: (A): 8 skeins (1813m/1983yds), (B): 1 skein (59m/65yds)

Gauge:

22 stitches and 29 rows in Stockinette stitch over 10cm/4in with larger needles (worked flat), after blocking.

23 stitches and 30.5 rows in Herringbone stitch pattern over 10cm/4in with larger needles (worked flat), after blocking.

Needle size recommendations:

• 4mm (US 6) straight needles or 80cm/32in (or 100cm/40in) circular needle for main fabric, per knitter preference.
• 4mm (US 6) 40cm/16in circular needle for sleeve main fabric.
• 3.5mm (US 4) straight needles or 80cm/32in (or 100cm/40in) circular needle for hem, per knitter preference.
• 3.5mm (US 4) 40cm/16in circular needle for neckband and sleeve cuffs (with magic loop, otherwise use same size double-pointed needles).

Notions: 3.5mm (US E-4) size crochet hook, 6 markers in total, 2 removable and 2 unique, blunt tapestry needle, 4 scrap pieces of yarn or stitch holders, measuring tape.

Measurement units: centimetres & inches.