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This pattern is designed to fit a wide range of sizes, as the fit is determined by your starting garment and personal measurements.

✨ The Story Behind Your Next Knit

Have you ever loved a cozy sweatshirt just a little too much, but wished it had a bit more you in it? Or maybe you found a thrifted gem and knew it was begging for a glow-up? Then grab your coffee, crank up the Taylor Swift, and dive into the Second Life Sleeves project! ☕️

This project is where thrift-store style meets cozy handknits. We’re reclaiming the comfortable fit of a favorite sweatshirt and knitting custom sleeves right onto the armholes. Think of this as more of a blueprint than a strict pattern. You’ll use some super satisfying, straightforward math (don’t worry, it’s easier than trying to get the kids to eat their veggies!) to ensure a perfect fit, turning a garment you already own into truly unique, wearable art.

🧶 Quick Highlights:

• Difficulty: Intermediate (perfect for expanding your skills!)
• Techniques: Knit, purl, basic increases and decreases, picking up stitches, embroidery back stitch
• Construction: This is a top-down project! You’ll start by preparing your garment and then creating a foundation line of stitches using an embroidery style backstitch. You’ll then pick up stitches around the armhole opening and the foundation line. The sleeves are worked in the round from the shoulder down to the cuff.
• Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight

📐 Approximate Measurements:

This pattern is designed to fit a wide range of sizes, as the fit is determined by your starting garment and personal measurements.

🧶 Suggested Yarn:

• Recommended Yarn:
• I Love This Yarn (100% Acrylic; Worsted Weight (4); 5 oz / 142 g: 252 yds / 230 m) in the following colorways:
• MC (Sleeves): 494 Instant Classic. An adult medium sweatshirt consumed approximately 1.75 skeins. Larger sizes will likely need 3-4 skeins, while smaller sizes will need 1-1.5 skeins.
• CC (Cuffs): 200 Grey Mist: 0.25 skeins.
• Or a similar Worsted Weight (4) yarn. This is a fantastic project for using up gradient sets or bold leftovers! I loved creating cuffs that matched the main body of the sweatshirt, but feel free to choose a fun contrasting color! I recommend using machine washable yarn - it just makes life easier!

🥢 Needles:

• US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle or size to obtain gauge, at least 32” / 80 cm long for Magic Loop, or DPNs, and US 5 (3.75 mm) or two sizes smaller than your main needle circular needle at least 32” / 80 cm long for Magic Loop or DPNs.

✂️ Notions:

• Most Critical Requirement: A hoodie or sweatshirt with set-in shoulder seams that you like but are willing to cut the arms off! Thrifted ones with funny sayings are my favorite!
• Stitch marker (1)
• Tapestry needle
• Sharp scissors (for removing original sleeves)
• Washable marker or tailor’s chalk
• Measuring tape with metric measurements
• Calculator
• Row counter (optional)

📏 Gauge:

• 20 sts / 23 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch using US 7 (5.5 mm) after steam blocking. Stitch gauge is more important to achieve than row gauge (it makes the math easy!)

📝 Pattern Notes & Support:

• The pattern is fully written out with a page dedicated to helping you do the basic math required to make your custom sleeves.
• This pattern has been professionally tech-edited by Marie Ferner.. You know I’m all about that precision and polished finish! 🤓
• A massive thank you to my amazing test knitters who helped make this pattern shine! You all rock! 🤩
• Questions? If you believe there are any errors or just have a burning question about the pattern, please contact the designer at hello@ashleighwempe.com or join my Ravelry group here. I’m here to help you get unstuck!

© Copyright & Usage:

• This pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute, sell, or reproduce this pattern in whole or in part.
• You may sell finished items made from this pattern, but please credit Ashleigh Wempe Designs as the designer and link to this pattern page.

📌 Ready to Cast On?

Grab your needles and yarn, and let’s create some amazing sleeves together! Want more support, a caring community, free patterns from myself and other new-to-you designers, plus a growing library of knitting resources? Come join us inside the Tinking Circle, my monthly membership for knitters like you! Join us here!