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Stowaway is a playful DK weight sweater designed to make stashbusting approachable. A clean stockinette body keeps the knitting relaxing while the fair isle sleeves bring all the personality. Add the optional colorwork kangaroo pocket and suddenly it becomes the sweater everyone notices.

The contrast between the simple body and the vibrant sleeves makes it easy to wear with everyday outfits while still feeling special.

Design Details

Stowaway centers around the sleeves. The fair isle motifs create bold color moments while the body stays clean and wearable, so the sweater pairs easily with anything in your closet.

An optional colorwork kangaroo pocket adds a cozy, slightly unexpected detail and a perfect place to warm your hands. Two sleeve charts are included: a two-color version and a three-color version, along with a coloring-book style chart so you can plan your own palette.

You can keep things simple with just a few colors, add small accent pops using duplicate stitch, or go all in with a multicolor sleeve. The sweater adapts easily to your stash.

Pattern Highlights

• Colorwork sleeves
• Optional kangaroo pocket for extra personality
• Top-down construction makes fit easy to adjust
• Multiple sleeve charts + coloring chart for stash creativity

Construction Overview

Stowaway is a modified drop shoulder sweater worked from the top down.

Back shoulder sections are cast on separately and worked flat with short rows to shape the neckline. Front shoulders are then picked up and worked to the armholes, shaping the front neckline.

The body is joined and worked in the round in stockinette and finished with a ribbed hem.

Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round using the fair isle charts. The optional pocket is picked up above the hem, worked flat in colorwork, and attached at the top using mattress stitch.

Yarn Notes

We knit our samples in Magpie Fibers Swanky DK
(80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon — 250 yards / 115g).

The yarn has enough structure to hold crisp colorwork while still feeling soft and wearable. The slight sheen also helps the motifs stand out.

Any DK weight yarn with good stitch definition will work well. For sleeves and pocket, small amounts of contrasting colors are perfect for minis and leftovers.

Needles & Gauge

US 4 (3.50 mm) circular & DPNs
US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles

22 sts x 30 rows = 4 x 4”
(stockinette and colorwork flat and in the round, wet blocked)

Yardage Requirements

Main Color (body, hem, collar):
560 (660, 760, 870, 940, 1040)(1140, 1220, 1320, 1440) yards

Contrast Colors (sleeves + pocket):
140 (165, 190, 220, 235, 270)(295, 325, 340, 370) grams total

Pattern includes two full sample palettes with color breakdowns and a blank chart for planning your own.

Finished Measurements & Fit

Stowaway is designed for 2–6” (5–15 cm) of positive ease at the bust.

To choose your size:

1. Measure your full bust.
2. Add 2–6”.
3. Choose the pattern size that matches that number.

Example: If your bust is 40”, choose:

• 42” for a closer fit
• 46” for a more relaxed fit with roomier sleeves

Bust:
30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50)(54, 58, 62, 66)“

Bicep:
14.5 (15, 15.5, 16, 17.5, 19)(21, 23, 24.5, 25.5)“

Armhole Depth:
7.5 (7.75, 8, 8.5, 9.25, 10)(11, 12, 12.75, 13.5)“

Body Length:
14.5 (14.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5)(15.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5)“

Sleeve Length:
17 (17, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18)(18, 18, 18, 18)“

Let’s Knit Together

Stowaway includes video tutorials for the construction, colorwork sleeves, and pocket finishing. Our Discord community is always open if you want help choosing colors or support while knitting.

Join us here: https://discord.gg/M64Ec9yeng

#sizeinclusive #colorwork #stashbuster