Inspiration
SOME SWEATER
We typically take a leisurely stroll through a brand-new Field Guide, stopping first at smaller projects that may tempt a knitter to a fling with an alluring accessory. We think of these smaller projects as welcoming, low-commitment points of entry into a designer’s world.
But in the case of our brand-new Field Guide No. 29: Mosaic, with five designs by the wonderful Amy Christoffers, I cannot summon the restraint to start small.
All I can say is: HAVE YOU SEEN THE SWEATER?
For at least 20 years, I’ve been on a quest for an everyday sweater that feels like a sweatshirt and looks like a million bucks. And I’ve had some successes, for sure. I have not wanted for sweaters.
But Amy’s Waffle Pullover is IT, the grail I was searching for. The key is the springy, corrugated fabric created by the simplest version of mosaic knitting—slip 1, work one, all the way around.
As wonderful as it is in photographs, the Waffle Pullover is even nicer in person. The perfect amount of ease, trim yet comfortable fit at the shoulders and sleeves, swingy drape in the body, and a waistband that doesn’t pull in—it grazes the hip in a relaxed, non-clingy way. It’s delightful. A sweater for everyday and for forever.
There are two flavors of Waffle Pullover: one-color or two-color. I’m going to go with two-color, because that version is the easiest to knit, since the slips and the stitches that are worked in each round will always be in different colors. I love a visual cue to keep me on track, and two colors is twice as fun as one color! Also: mosaic is a colorwork technique, so it feels like a missed opportunity to use just one color.
My two colors of MDK Jane will be a little less subtle than the sample. I crave a strong juicy vs. blah contrast.
Right now, my log cabin experiments with Jane have me loving the juxtaposition of Shadow’s dark, steely taupe with Marigold’s, sunny golden yellow. Grellow will never lose its appeal to me.
But I could branch out to Grorange! Persimmon would also be wonderful with Shadow.
Hmmm. I have a little time before I get to the end of the log cabins, so I’ll keep thinking.
More details about the Waffle Pullover: it’s worked in the round, top-down, with raglan sleeves and a back neck shaped by German short rows. There is built-in positive ease of 3-6 inches, but it’s easy to adjust the fit because there’s no body shaping: just choose the size that will give you the ease you want, and make the sleeves and body shorter or longer to fit.
I know the Waffle Pullover would be divine in a number of DK-weight yarns, but Jane really is perfect due to its light weight and resistance to pilling.
After all, once you’ve found your daily sweater, you want it to last and last.
This Friday, April 4, noon Central, Amy will join us for a conversation we’re really looking forward to. Sign up here. External Link. Opens in new window., and we’ll send the link the day of—and the recording afterward in case you need to watch later.
Looks fabulous! Bravo
Looks fabulous! Bravo
I will certainly try it!
I am excited to think about colour combinations. My only mosaic project has been a glass bottle protector and I was happy with how it turned out.
Looks fabulous and just the ticket as we head into winter in the Southern Hemisphere…Just waiting for my FG to arrive.
It’s really just the perfect sweater – a wardrobe staple.
Now at the top of my queue! It’s the Marion Cunningham’s Yeast-Raised Waffles of Waffle Pullovers … but maybe it wants to be a cardigan (jk!).
https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Yeast-Raised-Waffles/
Marisimmon would be my choice! Cannot wait to start this beauty. Thanks, Amy, Kay and Ann; love it.
This is a scrumptious sweater! Excited to knit this one up using Jane…. I’m thinking Bluebell and Heather.
I was thinking about the marigold and shadow combination, too. The sweater looks amazing. I have to finish my Bolin first! Cannot start another sweater before finishing this one.
Love this.
Kay, have you considered Marigold and Persimmon? Like armchair travel to India… Imagine wearing this on a gray winter day in NYC while everyone around you is in black…
I’m just going to put that thought in your head. Ok, now I can’t get the thought out of my head!
Love that combo.
Very nice. Might have to be my next knit. Love the two colours.
This sweater definitely caught my eye; I’m thinking Shadow and Juniper for the first one. Of course, I have a lot of things to make, so who knows when I’ll get to this, but yes, this sweater. In multiple combinations, honestly. This is exactly my jam. I’d wear it every day in the fall and winter.
I made almost exactly this sweater (sort of by mistake) about 20 years ago! I was (supposed to be) following a Pingouin pattern making a retirement gift sweater for my father-in-law. The biggest difference here is raglan sleeves & top down circular vs flat piece knit & set-in sleeves, but the colours & technique are nearly identical! Somehow my mosaic came out not the same as the photo (I dbl & triple checked that I was doing what the directions said and my teacher/Mom agreed that I was) & my final result was a bit different texture/colour play than the pattern photo, but yes! So I can absolutely attest to how FUN this sweater (or a very near approximation) is and how versatile & long lasting too!
Heads up!!
If yours comes out like mine, it will be an extra versatile sweater because the reverse side colour/texture are different but every bit as appealing as the (intended) right side! You may have a reversible “2 for the price/effort of 1” sweater!!
Kay, I had to order some Jane right away for this sweater, and it’s going to be very similar to yours! But who could stop at just one CC. I’m going to alternate Marigold, Persimmon, and Scarlet.
Ooooooooer, even more fun in the crayon box!!!
I haven’t made plans to make this sweater yet, but I’m not sure why not — it’s wearable wearable wearable. I’m looking forward to seeing it with a long-color-change yarn in the contrast sometime.
I knit the Pressed Flowers Cowl (mosaic knitting) and it was very fun to see the flowers emerge, especially as my CC was a Noro wool-silk variegated yarn with a white wool as the MC. Probably a heavier weight than the pattern called for, but for a cowl it worked. Another fun pattern to try mosaic knitting is Ann and Kay’s longtime Linoleum Dishrag pattern. It’s so adorable and fun! I have made many of those as gifts and keep cotton in various colors in hand just in case, well, you know. Now I am eyeing this waffle sweatshirt pattern for… me! I hardly ever knit for myself and this one looks delish. That dark grey is intriguing, but I am struggling what my CC should be. I love grey and gold too but my olive skin is allergic to anything with yellow in it. Would grey and pink look ok? The blue is sweet too, but maybe too monochromatic and a sweatshirt needs some spark to it to not look like old gym clothes.
oooooh – great idea!
Another winner from Amy!! I’ve been in a sweater knitting slump, this might just kick start me. Drinking tea while browing my new most EXCELLENT Field Guide!
This is definitely on my list of sweaters to make. I love a waffle pullover.
Happy to see a full-on photo of how the design is meant to lay, length, fit – so you can see the entire piece and no detail is missing.
I was surprised when I started reading the Bolin pattern to discover there were buttons! As you couldn’t see them in the photo. Artsy photos are pretty and ‘sell’ the pattern but seeing the details are just as important.
How would this work in a non-wool yarn? Any suggestions for cotton, linen or silk? I can wear merino socks but even that is itchy in a sweater for me…
Yes, I have the same question. Such a gorgeous sweater pattern would be wonderful in a non itchy yarn.
Oh my. I expect delivery of my FG any day now (thank you, MDK Society perks), I have three different colorways in DK already in stash, and my goal for this year is to get more confident at knitting sweaters. I’ll need to find the perfect contrast to go with one of those colorways in-hand, though I’m determined to wait to cast this one on til sweater already OTN is done, as I keep myself to one of any kind of thing OTN at once. Temptation, thy name is MDK, darn y’all.
I’ve just received my FG. Mosaic knitting was this years technique to try for me so I couldn’t be more thrilled. The pullover will be my first project too. It’s perfect! One question though. Is Jane next to skin soft from someone with sensitive skin? I know nothing about Masham yarn.
I knitted a couple of hats in Jane for Christmas presents, and they came out nice and soft. No itching reported by recipients!
Kay, Can you give us a clue how much yarn we should order of each color for a sweater? I’m afraid when my field guide comes, you will be sold out.
I want to try knitting this but I never knitted a sweater before. What is the level of experience required for this pattern?
Thank you.
My goodness. That’s a fab sweater.
OMG. You’re not kidding, that IS the holy grail of sweaters!!!!
OMG. You’re not kidding, that IS the holy grail of sweaters!!!!
This jumper is definately a staple piece for my wardrobe I like to knit in aran and I am at present doing the fishermands rib pattern.
But I love thr waffle stitch
I would love to knit this this waffle stitch. I love the finished article and it would become a staple piece in my wardrobe.