Overview
TannenBOOM is a top down colorwork sweater that is custom-sized to your specific measurements. It’s also an experiment! I designed it to use a yarn advent calendar I purchased and challenged myself to write the entire design before I saw any of the yarn. I’m releasing the pattern before I open my yarns (or knit my prototype) so that other folks can knit along with me this season. However this means the design hasn’t been test knit and yardage estimates are not given at this time.

Each of the 25 different advent yarn colors are used in the design’s yoke, exploding in a festive riot of color down the top of the sweater. From there, remaining yarn is used for the rest of the garment, making stripes, fades, or even re-using some of the colorwork charts. It’s flexible based on each knitter’s personal taste as well as how much of each color remains.

No advent calendar? No problem! Dive into your sock yarn scraps or use any minis you have in your stash.

Any updates or errata will be kept up to date on the link above.

Slack Channel

I’ve put together a public Slack channel for questions, progress, and all things TannenBOOM! Join me on Slack using this link OR send an email to sarah@swankyemuknits.com and I’ll send you an invite.

Sizing Info
Like all Swanky Emu Knits patterns, TannenBOOM is #sizeinclusive and has absolutely no upper size limits. It’s custom-fit based on your unique measurements. Note that because of the colorwork, it cannot be sized smaller than approximately an adult women’s XS (with a yoke depth of 6”)

The pattern asks you to input 8 of your body measurements (in inches or cm) and then calculates the pattern from there.

Gauge and Yarn information
To ensure a precise fit, gauge is important for this project.

Using your sock yarn, choose a needle size and gauge that you like and select it from the dropdown boxes on your spreadsheet. Stitch gauge may be anywhere from:

28 to 36 stitches and 40 to 56 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch

Pattern Download - PDF and spreadsheet
Pattern includes both PDF and its accompanying spreadsheet. The PDF has methods, charts, and finishing instructions. The spreadsheet file will take your personal body measurements and automatically do the rest of the pattern grading math for you, giving you a completely custom-sized sweater!

Swanky Emu Knits design philosophy
I’ve had to modify every single garment I’ve ever knitted for myself. I know plenty of people who look like me, but my body is larger or differently proportioned than most knitting patterns seem to call for.

I create size-inclusive instructions to ensure my patterns work for absolutely every body size and shape, no matter what. No need to learn pattern grading to knit a perfectly-fitting garment every time.

I build this into the framework of the design rather than add it later.

Everyone deserves to wear something that is both tailored to their shape and that makes them look and feel amazing.

-Sarah, Swanky Emu Knits