I love a good, complicated knit. Throw me an all-over cabled sweater, colorwork knit flat, lots of shaping or unusual construction. But sometimes it’s just nice to sit down and knit the darn sweater. I can’t tell you this sweater is entirely without shaping – it has to fit after all. And it’s not without a bit of detail work, either. But it’s the fun kind – at least to me!

This squishy garter sweater begins at the top with the saddles and works its way downward. Slipped I-cord edges and I-cord bind-offs form the look of exposed seams in this oversized sweater. Short-row shaping is thrown in at the shoulders for good measure, but there’s nothing super fussy about this garment. I made my samples in two different sizes, resulting in 7.5 and 11.5 inches of ease respectively, and I love them both! These are destined to become wardrobe staples that I’ll be reaching for time and again over the years.

SIZE
Women’s XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)
shown in size S (caramel version) with 7.5 inches/19 cm of ease at chest and size M (aubergine version) with 11.5 inches/29 cm of ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest circumference at underarm: 37 (40.5, 44.25, 48.75, 52.25, 56.75, 60.75, 65, 68.5) inches/ 94 (103, 112.5, 124, 132.5, 144, 154.5, 165, 174) cm
Length: 22 (22.5, 23, 23.25, 23.75, 24, 24.75, 25.25, 25.5) inches/ 56 (57, 58.5, 59. 60.5, 61, 63, 64, 65) cm

MATERIALS
Yarn
Malabrigo Ultimate Sock 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon; 420 yd/385 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein; color: 142 Caramel; 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins

OR

Premier Yarns Anti-Pilling Everyday Superfine 100% Anti-Pilling Acrylic; 437 yd/400 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein; color: 2201-09 Aubergine; 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins

Recommended needle size
1 set US #2/2.75mm needles – 32 inch/80 cm circular (for body) and 16 inch/40 cm circular (for neck edging only)
2 sets US #1/2.25mm needles – 32 inch/80 cm circular (for body) and 16 inch/40 cm circular (for neck edging only)