Enjoy 25% off all patterns to celebrate the re-release of the Semper Sweater until Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 11:59 pm BST.

The Semper Sweater is a top-down raglan sweater, worked in the round. I first developed this pattern in 2022 when I felt very overwhelmed and unhappy, and just needed some soothing, mindless knitting. I named it ‘Semper’, meaning ‘always’ in Latin, because I wanted it to be a piece I’d always want to wear. That’s remained true, and it has also become a pattern I knew I always could come back to if I needed to unwind. This version, updated in March 2026, features improvements to the grading for all sizes, a slightly widened neckline, and clearer formatting. If you would like the original version, please email me and I’ll send the pdf.

You will begin by working the folded collar, and will then continue to some German short rows which are used to shape the neckline. From there, you will work raglan increases at various rates to ensure a good fit across the chest and upper arms across the size range. Once the yoke is complete, you will leave the sleeve stitches to rest whilst you work the length of the body, which is finished with 1x1 rib. Finally, you will work each sleeve in turn, shaping them with decreases to taper the sleeve and, again, finishing with a 1x1 rib cuff.

This pattern was originally released in September 2022 and has been re-written, re-graded, and re-launched in March 2026. I will keep the old pdf live on Ravelry until 3 April 2026 and will then delete those pdfs.

Materials and Fit

Notions: You will need 3 mm / US 2.5 circular needles with 40- and 80-cm / 16- and 32-in cords; 4 mm / US 6 circular needles with 40- and 60- or 80-cm / 16- and 24- or 32-in cords. If you’re making one of the larger sizes, you may also find it helpful to have both needles with a 100-cm / 40-in cord.

You will also need at least 8 ring stitch markers, your preferred stitch holder (i.e., scrap yarn, a set of spare needles, or a cord), a darning needle, and you may find some clip-on markers helpful to track your work.

Tension: 21 stitches x 28 rows/rounds in Stockinette Stitch on 4 mm / US 6 needles = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 in.

Sizing and ease: The Semper Sweater has a recommended positive ease of 5-10 cm / 2–4 in for Sizes A-H, and 0-10 cm / 0-4 in for Sizes I-L. However, if you wanted less ease, you would be welcome to choose a smaller size relative to your chest measurement and vice versa.

Size: A (B) C (D), E (F) G (H), I (J) K (L)

Chest measurement (cm): 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95), 95-100 (100-105) 105-110 (110-115), 115-125 (125-135) 135-145 (145-155)
Chest measurement (in): 29.5-31.5 (31.5-33.5) 33.5-35.5 (35.5-37.5), 37.5-39.25 (39.25-41.25) 41.25-43.25 (43.25-45.25), 45.25-49.25 (49.25-53.25) 53.25-57 (57-61)

Actual circumference of garment at chest (cm): 85 (90.5) 95 (100), 105 (110.5) 115 (120), 125 (135) 145 (155)
Actual circumference of garment at chest (in): 33.25 (35.5) 37.5 (39.25), 41.25 (43.5) 45.25 (47.25), 49 (53.25) 57 (61)

Yoke depth (cm): 18.5 (18.5) 18.5 (20), 20.5 (23) 23 (23), 23.5 (25) 26.5 (28.5)
Yoke depth (in): 7.25 (7.25) 7.25 (7.75), 8.25 (9) 9 (9), 9.25 (9.75) 10.5 (11.25)

Body length from bottom of collar to end of hem at centre back (cm): 50 (51) 52 (53), 55 (56) 57 (58), 60 (61) 62 (63)
Body length from bottom of collar to end of hem at centre back (in): 19.75 (20.25) 20.5 (21), 21.75 (22) 22.5 (23), 23.75 (24) 24.5 (24.75)

Sleeve circumference at bicep (cm): 30.5 (32.5) 33.5 (35), 36 (37) 38 (40), 44 (47.5) 51.5 (55)
Sleeve circumference at bicep (in): 12 (12.75) 13 (13.75), 14.25 (14.5) 15 (15.75), 17.25 (18.75) 20.25 (21.75)

Sleeve length (cm): 45
Sleeve length (in): 17.75

Yarn: I estimate that you will need approximately 820 (880) 950 (980), 1040 (1150) 1170 (1210), 1270 (1350) 1460 (1560) m / 900 (970) 1040 (1080), 1140 (1260) 1280 (1330), 1390 (1480) 1600 (1710) yds of a fingering-weight and a lace-weight yarn if working with 2 strands of yarn held together; or of a light DK-weight yarn if working with a single strand.

For my sample, I used Knitting for Olive Merino (100% merino wool; 50 g = 250 m / 273.5 yds in the shade Marzipan held with Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (70% mohair, 30% silk; 25 g = 225 m / 246 yds) in the shade Soft Rose.

If you wanted to use the same yarn as me, you will need 4 (4) 4 (4-5), 5 (5) 5 (5), 6 (6) 6 (7) balls of Knitting for Olive Merino and 4 (4-5) 5 (5), 5 (6) 6 (6), 6 (6-7) 7 (7-8) balls of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair.

If you did want to use a DK-weight yarn, I’d recommend choosing something relatively lofty like Isager Jensen (100% wool; 50 g = 125 m / 137 yds.