Whether you lean towards sassy athleisure or moto-jacket sophisticated, this bespoke jacket will absolutely showcase your talents. As a friend of mine put it, “that’s a bit of a flex, then, isn’t it?”

And YES! Letters From the Open Road is packed with thoughtful details: more ease in the front than the back, sewn tubular bind-offs, self-facing hem and collar.

This #sizeinclusive pattern has your back: you can look forward to step-by-step instructions, video for the zipper installation, and a zipper supplement with lots of photos. Even if all the special techniques are new to you, you’ll have what you need to succeed.

To see tester projects, download the supplement, and get the full schematic, visit the project page on my website.

CONSTRUCTION

Letters From the Open Road is worked in pieces from the bottom up. You’ll work the fronts and back first, then seam them together. Stitches are picked up on either side of the front and the welted zipper plackets are worked by slipping stitches.

Stitches are picked up and knit for the hem and the collar, which are finished with an optional tubular bind-off. The zipper is sewn in by hand (using a sewing machine is not recommended). Sleeves are knit flat and seamed, and then set in.

SIZES

A (B, C, D) (E, F, G) (H, I, J)

To fit actual upper chest measurement: 29.5 (32.75, 36, 39.25) (42.5, 45.75, 49) (52.25, 55.5, 58.75) inches / 273 (82, 90, 98) (106.5, 114.5, 122.5) (130.5, 139, 147) cm

Finished full bust measurement, zipped: 31 (35.5, 39.5, 43.5) (47.5, 51, 55) (59, 63, 66.5) inches / 77.5 (89, 99, 109) (119, 127.5, 137.5) (147.5, 157.5, 166) cm

​Finished upper sleeve circumference: 11 (11.75, 13, 13.75) (15, 16.25, 17.5) (19, 20.75, 22.25) inches / 27.5 (29.5, 32.5, 34.5) (37.5, 40.5, 44) (47.5, 52, 55.5) cm

YOUR BEST FIT

I recommend choosing a size based on your upper chest measurement. Intended ease is approximately 2-3 inches at the full bust and 2” at the upper arm. For more information on choosing a size using your upper chest measurement, visit this blog post.

Note: This sweater is graded for bodies with breasts and has more material in the front than the back. The difference between the back width and the front width at the full bust is 1 (1, 1.5, 2) (2.75, 1.5, 2) (2.75, 3.25, 4.5) inches / 2.5 (2.5, 4, 5.5) (6.5, 4, 5.5) (6.5, 8, 11) cm.

I am wearing size D in Length A (20” / 50 cm zipper), with 3” of ease at the full bust. Instructions and yardage are also provided if you would like to create a longer sweater, using a 24 inch / 60 cm zipper (length B) or a 28 inch / 70 cm zipper (length C).

Length can be adjusted for other zipper lengths by working more or fewer rows between the cast on and the underarm.
Download the complete schematic on the pattern webpage.

YARN

Sprinkled Fibers 2 Ply Fingering
80% Superwash Merino, 20% nylon; 463 yards per 100g skein

This is a lightweight yarn with a subtle speckle that lends the garment depth. The 2 ply yarn, held double, creates a very textural fabric. Main Color is held double for the Seersucker Stitch and held single for the welted Zipper Placket. Lengths A - C are for zippers 50, 60, and 70 cm.

Main Color
Length A: 2715 (2955, 3220, 3495) (3760, 3990, 4245) (4525, 4825, 5030) yds / 2715 (2955, 3220, 3495) (3760, 3990, 4245) (4525, 4825, 5030) m

6 (7, 7, 8) (9, 9, 10) (10, 11, 11) skeins

Length B: 3005 (3290, 3600, 3920) (4230, 4495, 4790) (5115, 5455, 5695) yds / 2750 (3005, 3295, 3585) (3865, 4110, 4380) (4675, 4990, 5210) m

7 (8, 8, 9) (10, 10, 11) (12, 12, 13) skeins

​Length C: 3315 (3640, 4005, 4365) (4720, 5025, 5365) (5735, 6120, 6400) yds / 3030 (3330, 3660, 3995) (4315, 4595, 4905) (5245, 5595, 5850) m

8 (8, 9, 10) (11, 11, 12) (13, 14, 14) skeins

4 Contrasting colors, each
Length A: 65 yds
Length B: 70 yds
Length C:: 90 yds

Interested in a kit for this project? Send Sprinkled Fibers a message on Instagram!

GAUGE

28 sts and 40 rows over 4 inches / 10 cm in Seersucker Stitch with yarn held double and size A needles.

NEEDLES

Size A: US size 3 / 3.25 mm needle, or as needed to obtain gauge.
Size B: US size 2 / 2.75 mm needle, or one size smaller than size A.
Size C: US size 1 / 2.25 mm needle, or two sizes smaller than size A.

NOTIONS

• Stitch markers (optional)
• Tapestry needle
• Smooth waste yarn in contrasting color for the tubular cast-on (optional)
• Spare DPN
• Cable needle
• Sewing needle and cotton thread
• Straight pins
• Separating jacket zipper (instructions are given for 20, 24 and 28 inch / 50, 60 and 70 cm zippers)

TECHNIQUES

• Working directional increases and decreases
• Working a sloped bind-off (optional)
• Working a tubular cast-on (optional)
• Picking up and working stitches
• Sewing a tubular bind-off (optional)
• Handsewing (for the zipper)
• Seaming
• Recognizing a knit and purl on the needle

CREDITS

Photography: Hypnotic Imagery, LLC
Tech Edit: Boann Petersen