Announcing Sewrella’s very first annual Holiday Knit-a-Long!
This year we’ll be knitting My First Holiday Knit Sweater – a design I made with crocheters and newbie knitters in mind.
If you wanna skip the reading and shop the kit, click here.
This design has simple colorwork, easy stockinette stitch and lots of links to tutorials to help you make a sweater successfully.
I’ll be knitting along through the month of November and I hope you’ll join me for this fun project!
The Knit-a-Long will begin Monday, October 29 and we will end with our finished sweaters just after Thanksgiving, November 26.
Materials + Choosing your Size
I’ve gotten some questions about sizing as well as materials you’ll need apart from the kit so I’ll address those here!
When you order the Kit from Lion Brand (more on that below) you’ll receive all the yarn you need plus a printed copy of the full pattern. You will also need the following (click the links for my supply recommendations for beginners!):
I’ve listed below the finished measurements of the sweater. Hopefully this will help you choose your size! Sizing listed in the pattern will be in Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, and 3XL listed in parenthesis. I am wearing the Large size in the photos, and my true bust measurement is 38″. I designed this pattern with positive ease for a classic holiday sweater fit – oversized and comfy! I’ll be sizing down to a medium (notice that size matches my true bust) for a snug fit when I make my second sample along with you all.
Sweater Finished Measurements:
Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 53)“
Length: 21 (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)“
Armhole: 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)“
Sleeve Length: 17 (17.5, 18.5, 19, 20, 20.5)“
*note: the sleeve length and sweater length are adjustable, the bust and armhole measurements are not.
The Yarn
I chose to use Lion Brand Yarn’s brand new Color Made Easy yarn for this project for a couple of reasons – I needed a thicker weight yarn to make this pattern super beginner friendly and quick enough for newbie knitters to feel accomplished. This CYC 5 bulky weight yarn is a really rare find. You’ll notice a lot of yarns in big stores are either worsted weight or a category 6 bulky weight yarn – it’s really hard to find a great category 5 bulky weight yarn.
Important note: for this pattern, I strongly recommend you use the Color Made Easy yarn (available only on the Lion Brand website) – substituting a CYC4 or CYC6 yarn for this project will not work without major sizing adjustments.
Side bar – when I visited Lion Brand in NYC earlier this year for the LBY Blogger Bash, all the bloggers talked a lot about some of the things we’d like to see come available and a great CYC 5 yarn offered in a refined color palette was at the top of our list, and LB delivered! I couldn’t be happier with this yarn and the way my project came out.
Lion Brand has put together a kit just for this Knit-a-Long and there are 6 stunning color options available! I made my first sample (pictured) in the Pomegranate option, but I’ll be making my second sample along with you in the blushy pink color called Millenial.
You can grab your kit by clicking here – it comes with a printed copy of the pattern so you’ll be ready to go when we begin on October 29!
I do recommend grabbing your kit this week while it is 20% off, it will go back up to regular full price next week and you may not receive your kit in time to begin the KAL with the group.
The Community
I’ve put together a Facebook group just for Holiday Knit-a-Long participants! CLICK HERE to access the group, just click the blue “join” button and you’ll be added.
(Or search “My First Holiday KNIT Sweater KAL w/ Sewrella” on Facebook and the group will come right up)
In the group, we’ll be sharing the colorway we chose for our kit, work-in-progress (also known as WIP) photos as we knit together, asking questions, and even hosting some giveaways! There will be lots of fun in the group, so join up as soon as you grab your kit!
We also have a cute illustration to share on social media for participants of the KAL! You can save it here by right clicking on the image and clicking “save as” to your computer. Or visit my Instagram post here and screen shot to save on any mobile device.
Share with the hashtag #SewrellasHolidayKAL and get excited for the event! Maybe you’ll even find a friend to invite to the KAL too 🙂
And if you’ve read all this thinking “I can’t knit, I’m a crocheter!”“then fear not – listed below are a bunch of links to beginner knitting videos that I’ve found super helpful as a crocheter! Additionally, throughout the pattern there will be links to helpful technique videos every step of the way. You can do this!
- Knitting for Crocheter’s – Cast On
- Knitting for Crocheter’s – Knit Stitch
- Knit & Purl Continental Style (Video)
Let’s have a great Knit-a-Long!
(Free version of the pattern will be posted here on the blog on our KAL start date)
What size needles are we using, I only have 2 sets & love far from a craft store! Please let me know as soon as possible!
The kit on the Lion Brand website says Circular Knitting Needles Size US 11 (8.0 mm), 36”. Hope that helps!
Hi, I just ordered the kit for this pattern and noticed that the only needles listed were 8.0 mm 36″ circulars. Are DPNs required or a shorter circular for the sleeves? I just want to be sure I have all of my supplies ready for the KAL just in case I have to order the right size double-pointed needles.
Great question! We’ll be using the magic loop method for the sleeves but if you’d rather use DPNs you can! Just make sure they’re 8mm 🙂
Bought my kit & needles! Can’t wait to get started!
I don’t have Facebook, is that the only way to keep in touch with this knit-along? Or will you be posting here on the blog periodically also?
I tried clicking on the link to buy the kit but it comes up as “page not found”
Link should be working now!
When you list size for armholes, is that circumference or diameter of the hole?
Cannot wait to get started! Kits have been purchased. My daughter and I are going to do this together. New yearly tradition! Thank you so much.
Just ordered my kit! Gonna work mine in pomegranate, too!
Hi Ashleigh. I just found your blog and your stuff is lovely.
I had a question regarding the chunky mini basketweave blanket, but the comments seems to be closes and I couldn’t figure out how to contact you directly.
I noticed that you use the double crochet for that blanket, which I love. Your instructions and video say to start in the 3rd chain from hook for the foundation chain and then chain 2 at the end of each row. Is that specific to that pattern for a reason as I have always been instructed to chain 3 at the end for a double crochet. Does the chain 2 give it enough height?
I always use chain 2 for dc, there is plenty of height, especially when I dc into the same stitch as the chain 2.
Very interesting Teresa. I’m also sorprised. Can you post the link here about the stuff you ask? Thanks!
I actually have a very similar yarn, and enough, can I join the KAL and purchase the pattern without the kit?
Yes! The pattern will go live for free here on my blog on our start date, the 29th!
I can NOT wait to get my hands on this kit. I ordered before I knew there was a KAL. I knit and crochet for others, but I’ve never made a sweater for myself. And even though I was planning to give up facebook, I’m joining the group. At least until the end of the year ????.
Hi, I’m working on this sweater…not really doing the KAL (already had the and found the KAL by accident). Question on then row where you leave the underarm stitches uncorked. I moved the first 8 stitches to scrap yarn but when I begin to knit the next 51, it leaves a very tiny arm opening. What am I doing wrong? Thanks ????
That’s expected! You’ll sew it up later when you graft the underarms 🙂
Hi! I am from Melbourne, Australia and have joined the knit along. Since I can’t get the kit in Australia and we don’t stock color made easy I am using woolspun. Can’t wait to start but not sure where I can get the pattern? Will it be released when the CAL starts? I would love to test my gauge before it begins.
HI , I JUST SAW YOUR POST FOR THE KAL HOLIDAY SWEATER , SO I JUST PLACED MY ORDER FOR THE KIT FROM LION BRAND IN THE COLOR HUCKLEBERRY . SINCE I WON`T BE GETTING MY ORDER TILL SOMETIME NEXT WEEK AND THE KAL IS ACTUALLY STARTING TODAY , I HOPE I WILL STILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG ……. LOVELY SWEATER BY THE WAY . IF MINE TURNS OUT AS NICE AS YOURS I WILL BE MAKING MORE IN VARIOUS COLORWAYS ; )
I would love to knit this. But as I’m in the UK the kit with postage is too expensive. Can I just get the pattern?
Hola Ashleigh! Estoy muy feliz de haber encontrado tu blog. Es muy lindo y tiene patrones muy bellos! Muchas gracias por crearlo y mantenerlo! Cariños desde Chile, Sud America. Hello Ashleigh! I am very happy to have found your blog. It is very cute and has very beautiful patterns! Thank you very much for creating and maintaining it! Love from Chile, South America! ????