Separating Sleeves from Body: Top Down Seamless Sweater Knitting + Cable Cast-On

If you’ve never knit a top down seamless sweater, I have the perfect video tutorial for you today! This one works step by step through the process of separation and also includes a tutorial within for the Cable Cast-On. You can view all my tutorials here. In this tutorial, the sweater featured is constructed with seamless set-in sleeves. However, the process of separating sleeves by placing stitches on hold, casting on stitches at the underarm, & joining the front & back is pretty much the same no matter what construction style you are working. You can use this video for raglan & yoked sweaters as well, as long as they are worked from the top down!

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Top-Down, Seamless, Set-in Sleeves: a thing you should NOT ignore.

The Sweater Patterns featured in this video at the time of publication are:
Julie Twist
Just Nicole
Little White Cardi
Naveen

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Lee Wrapalong: the KAL to kick off your 2019

You made it through the holidays! January is here and the New Year is underway. You gift knitted your little fingers off and now it is time to knit something to reward yourself for all that hard work. I am so pleased to present a pre-order for the Lee Wrap which is a design that has been in progress for almost a year now. My favorite designs tend to involve a lot of trial and error and ripping out and re-doing and this one is no exception but my oh my, this cardigan is like wearing a big hug and I just want to live in it.

I’ve decided to do this release a little differently than usual because I am just so excited about this project. I’ve teamed up with YOTH Yarns and Fiber & Hue to set up a KAL deal with a variety of yarn options that work beautifully with this design. I wanted to give everyone time to place their yarn orders and maybe get a swatch or two done before we all CO together on the official KAL start date, which is next Tuesday, January 22. This will also give you a little bit of time to clear your needles, if you want to!

The wrap is constructed as a giant rectangle with set-in sleeves placed just-so. The sizing for the design is based primarily on upper arm with a very stretchy ribbed crossback, so you’ll be working your gauge swatch in stockinette as that’s how the sleeves are worked. The other textures featured in the design are totally reversible and you may recognize them from the Lee Blanket. The Twisty Rib is my favorite—it is a reversible cabled stitch worked without a cable needle. Jasmine (featured in the images above) is wearing her sweater oversized in YOTH Yarns Neighbor in Bronze (dyed by Fiber & Hue); I’m wearing mine with more fitted sleeves in YOTH Yarns Big Sister in Cracked Pepper.

I’ll be at Stitches West for the third year in a row in the YOTH Yarns booth; it’ll be the second year with Fiber & Hue and for the first time, I’m actually going to have my own little pop up shop in the booth too. So, it made so much sense for us all to work together for this KAL! Fiber & Hue Go to DK yarn will provide a very similar drape and fit as the YOTH Yarns Big Sister (shown on me, above) and Krista (the maker behind F&H) was kind enough to knit up a few swatches in pattern to show you how it works up. The colors below are called Siren, Troll, Frida & Ghost.

So without further adieu, here are the awesome yarn options we have come up with that we recommend for this KAL! Stay tuned to instagram as we chat more about how these fibers will produce slightly different fabrics. You can also see our test knitter’s projects on Ravelry. They look so good!

YOTH Yarns Neighbor (featured)
YOTH Yarns Big Sister (featured)
Fiber & Hue Go To DK
YOTH Yarns Daughter

YOTH Yarns is offering 10% off Neighbor, Big Sister and Daughter bases for our KAL with the code LEEWRAPTASTIC. Fiber & Hue is offering 15% off Go to DK purchases over $200 with the code LEEWRAP and you can get the pattern for $2 off from me with the code LEEWRAPTASTIC as well. All these deals are valid now through our KAL start date, January 22, 2019. When you purchase the pattern on Ravelry, you’ll be provided with a spec sheet that includes yardage information along with total skeins for each of our recommended yarns. You will also receive swatching instructions so you can get started on that as soon as you have your yarn in hand! And of course you are welcome to use any yarn you want in our KAL so I will look forward to seeing what other beautiful selections are represented, too.

I hope you are ready to jump on in and join me! I can’t wait for us to get started. This pattern is totally suitable for adventurous beginning knitters so do not be shy. Feel free to challenge yourself this year with this project. If you know how to knit and purl, cast on and bind off, you can knit this sweater. That’s the great thing about KALs, plenty of help is available for any questions that arise. The other great thing about KALs? Prizes. We will announce our prizes at the start of the KAL. They will be yummy and yarny!

Big Sister

Big Sister = comfy, wearable, stealable sweater, never safe from your little sister :) Knit in YOTH Big Sister in Mint

Shown in size S with 3" positive ease

Photography by Veronika, Modeled by Jasmine

In this latest version of Big Sister, I have added options for long sleeves. The original design featured 3/4 length sleeves worn slightly off the shoulder; now you can do whatever you like without having to do any math or extra thinking.

Big Sister Front

Other than the sleeve option, the design is substantively the same. I like to think it is a little prettier now though!

This sweater is knit from the top down and is seamless. It is suitable for adventurous beginners. This is a great first-sweater project. Skills required include provisional CO, picking up sts and basic increasing and decreasing. Even if you are trying these skills for the first time, I believe this is a great opportunity to give them a try!

You can find the updated version of Big Sister anywhere my designs are sold including my website and Ravelry.

Included that last image just in case you are into some Matchy Matchy...because the wee version of this design came out earlier this fall. Happy knitting!

Keep Blushing

I can't actually believe it has been a year and a half since this pattern was originally published. There are some really lovely versions on Ravelry like this one by Norbertine or this one by anitasr.  Seeing patterns knit up is one of my favorite parts of being a Designer.  Blush is now available as a re-release now part of the Kate Oates line. This sweater features YOTH Yarns Big Sister in Peach.  Photos posted here by Veronika Jobe with her lovely daughter Jasmine modeling.

This sweater is a top-down seamless knit with raglan-style sleeves.  There are a few short rows to add length to the back of the sweater and it is finished off with a cute little split at the back hem. The neckline is wide, in between a crew and a boatneck. The texture is cozy and soft and very pettable. A small width of ribbing on each side adds to the flattering fit.

With this re-release, I did not take new pictures but I did do some pattern tweaking in areas where I have received questions. There are some new tips to clarify the trickier bits.  It is a pretty straightforward pattern but now is even more so.

One thing that folks have asked about is the texture pattern which I have labeled as Moss Stitch. My version came from Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (2012).  It features texture and stockinette on alternating rows/rounds. If you have worked a Moss Stitch pattern in the past and the directions do not match up with mine, no worries!  The stitch pattern name does not matter.  If it makes you feel better, you can even cross out my "Moss" and come up with a new label. I can assure you that the stitch pattern instructions in Blush will provide you with the sweater you see in the pictures.

This particular stitch pattern also is one that blocks out beautifully.  Since you will be knitting a swatch (right?), make sure you block the swatch so that you can see how nice it looks once it is dry. Swatching is even more important in textured patterns because many knitters will have a different tension when changing back and forth between knitting and purling on the same row, as opposed to stockinette where each row is either purled or knit.

I am enjoying getting reaquainted with these previously published designs and it really makes me happy getting to see them after their makeover.  Here is  a preview of my new format so you can see it too!

Enjoy 50% off this re-release today only with the code KATEOATES valid in the pop-up shop. When you shop on my site, you will automatically receive an e-mail with a download link to your pattern.  If you create an account, you will also always be able to access the pattern going forward by viewing all of your orders. If you do not get your e-mail, you can check your spam filter for an e-mail from help@kateoatesdesign.com or just log into your account to see it.

I have another handful of re-releases to show off over the next few weeks but am also very much looking forward to a brand new design coming next month. Congratulations to Jessica for winning a copy of (re) Gramps last week, and to LISAKOBY for winning a copy of the updated Blush.  Leave me a comment this week telling me what part of fall gets you most excited for a chance to win a copy of the next KO pattern! 

Dyad

I have a new thing that I am so excited to share with you. I seem to be addicted to big projects, so this fall, I am introducing a new line of patterns which will simply be identified by my name. Without going on and on, I'll just say these adult patterns will be knittable, wearable, stylish and modern.  I'll be publishing brand new designs (first one right now! finally!) and also refreshing & updating some of my favorite When I Grow Up designs with my new look and feel.  I have to immediately and heartily thank Mary Joy Gumayagay who continues to wow me with her genius design skills and how she can understand what I want better than even I do.  You are awesome. Love you! And now for the debut pattern: here is Dyad.

This sweater is perhaps a tad multiple personality. It's an honest design with complex character. When I conceptualized it, I thought about the many women that live in a daily roulette of roles. We work hard, we are professionals, we are providers, we are mothers, we are wives; the list goes on. I know my attitude varies based on surroundings and expectations alongside my own experiences and feelings.  Dyad is a pliable cardigan ready to exemplify your spirit.

This top-down cardigan design is defined by duality: choose cozy cables or spunky colorwork, short or long, snug or generous fit. The faux seam lines are lengthening to flatter every body; knit it just as you want with the options you love.

The body of this sweater is worked seamlessly alongside the edging for a double breasted open finish. The collar is knit upward from provisionally cast-on neckline stitches and is doubled for reversible stability regardless of how the sweater lays. Finishing is minimal as there are no stitches to pick up for the edging.

My knitting style gets a bit anxious: when I close in on a project, I am ready for my process to be over. Not every project can be designed with minimal finishing but if it can be done, I will do it and thus does Dyad. Edging is worked along with the body to nix that finishing step.

This pattern is designed for intermediate knitters comfortable with minimal seaming and working from a chart. Colorwork version shown in size S with 3”/15 cm positive ease; cabled version shown in size XS fitted with no ease.

I am thankful to work and live an in a supportive community and enjoyed partnerships every step of the way with this design. Magpie Fibers provided the yarn support for this project; working with Dami's colors and fiber made the knitting so enjoyable. And she didn't even blink when I asked about knitting a second sample to show off a very different option set.  I want to also thank Krista Wilson for testing this pattern, knitting one of the samples and finishing way ahead of deadline.  The yarn we used is called Domestic Worsted and you'll want to go shop for your own right here.  Thanks also to my tech editing duo Tana & Edie for getting the pattern into top shape.

Poshture Boutique (Columbia, SC) was so generous in helping me style these pieces (along with another still to come). I shared my vision in how I would want to wear these sweaters and Kara's fabulous taste, along with my friend and photographer, Erica Billingsley, brought it to light.  The two of them also hooked me up with models Kristin (wearing the colorwork version) and Delaney (wearing the cabled version).  Check out Kristin's dress here, boots here, and stunning necklace here. Feeling a bit more casual? Delaney's top is here,  boots are here & necklace here.

As for me, I want a funky colorwork collar when I am ready to make a splash but I will take my cables any day when I need to feel cozy and protected.

You can click here or on any of the photos to purchase the pattern.  For the first 24 hours, you can purchase this pattern for 50% off with the code KATEOATES, valid through my shop only. Click on the blue "promo" link at checkout to enter the code. If you choose to create an account in the shop, you will have permanent access to your PDF purchases. Please join the new mailing list if you'd like to stay up to date on the new brand and be notified when the new website launches in full!

Whether you knit this sweater once or several times over, I hope it uplifts you freely and makes you feel amazing.  I would love to hear your comments on this design and which version you think you'd like to make!  Post a comment for me for a chance to win a free copy of the next KO pattern on the slate, which is Gramps revamped :)