Download a free PDF with all the sizing details and yarn requirements.

Blossom is a comfort sweater made for embracing a season of change and renewal.

As a knitter in my late 50s, I often feel like so many sweater patterns are designed for women who are trendier or younger than me. And if they’re a classic look I love, the pattern’s often written for a bulky weight gauge that isn’t very wearable for me. But my season of life—the menopause years—is a time shared by so many people.

I wrote the Blossom pattern especially for folks who want something simple and classic for their wardrobe, but with little details that add cooling elements (like eyelets or three-quarter sleeves) and with a few elevated touches to make it just that little bit more.

There are:

• Eyelet increases for a perfect blend of air movement, cooling and warmth
• 3 options for the body shape
• Bold sleeve cable or, if you’re daunted by cables, a sporty rib detail
• Cooling three-quarters length sleeve or more warming bracelet length

Blossom is an achievable project for knitters who have never knit a sweater before, as well as knitters who have knit many sweaters.

The pattern has lots of milestones such as stitch counts, measurements, illustrations and tips noted along the way to help you check your progress, plus 5 video tutorials to demonstrate any techniques that may be new to you.

SIZES

(1, 2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) {8, 9, 10}

MEASUREMENTS & RECOMMENDED EASE

If you want your sweater to fit as it’s pictured on Tyne and me, choose a size that will give you 4 to 6 inches of ease.

Your full bust/chest circumference

(28, 32, 36, 40) (44, 48, 52) {56, 60, 64} inches
(70, 80, 90, 100) (110, 120, 130) {140, 150, 160} cm

Actual garment, when knit at gauge, will measure as follows at the full bust/chest

(33.75, 38.5, 42, 45.75) (50.25, 54, 58.5) {62.25, 65.75, 72.25} inches
(84.5, 96, 105, 114.5) (125.5, 135, 146.5) {155.5, 164.5, 180.5} cm

GAUGE

17.5 sts and 23 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch blocked

RECOMMENDED YARN

I wrote this pattern for my hand-dyed Targhee Worsted yarn, which is available in my shop. If substituting, I recommend a worsted weight wool, that’s round and bouncy.

YARDAGE REQUIRED

Skeins of my Targhee Worsted (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 5) {5, 6, 6}
(733, 817, 904, 987) (1067, 1152, 1238) {1343, 1443, 1607} yards
(670, 747, 827, 902) (976, 1053, 1132) {1228, 1320, 1470} meters

If you will be using my yarn, you will be able to customize your sweater to include bust darts, A-line shaping, or bracelet- length sleeves without needing an extra skein. The number of skeins, above, will be adequate.

If you are substituting yarn, or want to add a dropped, rounded back with my yarn, allocate the following additional yardage:

A-line shaping: Add 20 yards (18 meters)

Dropped, rounded back & hem: Add 1 skein, or
(60, 70, 80, 90) (100, 110, 120) {130, 140, 150} yards
(55, 64, 73, 82) (91, 101, 110) {119, 128, 137} meters.

Bracelet length sleeves: Add 35 yards (32 meters) (bracelet-length sleeves are more fitted, so the difference in yardage
required, across the size range, is fairly small)

TECHNIQUES IN THE PATTERN

• Slip knot cast-on (my favorite!)

• German short rows

• How to resolve the 2nd double stitch when resuming knitting in the round

• How to work cable crosses without a needle

• How to measure raglan depth in progress and check your fit

• Backward loop cast-on

• Single crochet reinforcement at inside neckline