Sep 13, 20192 min read

It Started with a Sketch: Soothsayer

"Keep it simple, stupid" could be the tagline for this sweater. Like with Milky Oolong, I found myself starting the design process with a more elaborate plan and then stripping away details as the project went on.

Soothsayer is a casual chic top-down sweater with raglan sleeves and a scooped neckline. It is very understated but with a few nifty details that'll keep your interest when you're knitting the pattern.

Original sketch for the Soothsayer sweater design

Originally my vision for this sweater was a reverse stockinette pullover with massive cables on the sleeves. But here life, or yarn, intervened. The yarn I'd swatched with and planned to use for this sweater was very hard to come by so I had to change my plan.

I'd wanted to get my hands on Kässäkerho Pom Pom Suoma Single DK (100% non-superwash Finnsheep wool, 250 m/100 g) the moment it was released and this was the perfect opportunity to try it. Cables looked crisp and plump in my swatch but when I changed the plan to a DK-weight singles yarn with a slight halo, I knew they'd get lost in the yarn.

I may revisit the cabled sleeve idea at a later date — I really loved it, too.

Twisted rib details on the Soothsayer sweater knitting pattern

Cables were out but I kept everything else: reverse stockinette as the outside, set-in pockets, the high-low hem... Ditching the cables meant the sweater could be worked from the inside out. That's right: even though the reverse stockinette side is the right side you don't have to purl in the round with this sweater. The sweater is mostly knit in the round in stockinette, then turned the other way up in the end. Much faster and more convenient than purling!

Soothsayer features a high-low hem line that's longer in the back than in the front. The rounded back hem is shaped with a few short rows. Not only does it look contemporary, it'll also keep your booty warm in the winter.

Set-in pockets on the Soothsayer sweater knitting pattern

My favorite detail on the sweater: pockets! These set-in pockets are worked the same way as in Dilaila's Hoodie: the pocket opening is worked with waste yarn and when it's unraveled, you pick up stitches from the opening. If that sounds confusing, no worries! The pattern includes a step-by-step photo tutorial for making the pockets.

Twisted rib looks stunningly crisp against the reverse stockinette background. The neckband, sleeve cuffs, hem ribbing and pocket details are all done in twisted ribbing.

Soothsayer is my first garment pattern that uses my extended sizing template. The sweater comes in nine sizes, ranging from XS to 5X or 30" to 62" bust.

To knit the sweater you need approx. 850–1750 m or 950–1900 yd of DK to worsted-weight yarn. The yarn I used for the sample knits up at a looser gauge compared to most DK yarns so rather than trying match weight and yardage, go with a yarn that gives you the recommended gauge and a nice fabric you love. It might be worsted, it might even be aran! That's just one of the things that make this pullover a very quick to knit.

The pattern for Soothsayer is now available in my Ravelry store and on LoveCrafts. Share your sweater with the hashtags #soothsayersweater and #talviknits — I'd love to see your photos!