The Plaid and Simple Sweater is the perfect pattern to combine your favorite colors in a classic plaid design. This sweater is not the quickest of projects, but rather the colorwork will force you to slow down and work each row mindfully, stitch by stitch. Working with three colors at a time, this design invites you to practice your color changes in a systemic pattern that’s easy to memorize.

The sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, so you can easily try it on as you go and make any necessary adjustments. It features a modified drop shoulder construction and shaping at the underarm and sleeves in order to minimize the usual bulkiness that comes with the traditional drop shoulder. This way, all sizes will have the same fit at the shoulders, upper- and underarms. For plus sizes, this means that the shoulder will not drop to your elbow!

This intermediate pattern has you covered with step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos including on how to complete the yoke and how to add short rows for the sleeves. Exact stitch counts are given every step of the way, so you can always be sure you’re on track.

The colorwork of the plaid motif is based on charts, with detailed written instructions on where to start and end the rows. Each size comes with its own graph for the yoke (the upper portion of the sweater, right before the split for sleeves), so you can easily orient yourself at any point during your work.

Here is a quick video tutorial I made on how I change colors while keeping all three yarns from creating a tangled mess.

This pattern is available in English only and uses standard US crochet terminology.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) (56, 60, 64, 68) inches or 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132) (142, 152.5, 162.5, 172.5) cm

The sizing for this pattern is based on the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) measurements.

This sweater is designed to be worn with 2.5 to 6.5 inches or 6 to 17 cm of positive ease around the bust. When choosing a size, find the bust measurement in this list that is closest to 2.5 to 6.5 inches or 6 to 17 cm larger than your actual bust measurement depending on your desired amount of positive ease and make this size.

All my garment patterns are size-inclusive and are graded for actual bust circumferences of up to at least a 60 inches or 152 cm.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate

MATERIALS
• Yarn: 1925 (2100, 2295, 2390, 2585) (2795, 2920, 3075, 3175) yds or 1760 (1920, 2100, 2190, 2360) (2555, 2670, 2815, 2900) m of any DK weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in 3 colors. The yardages above are total yardages and are estimated.
• Hooks: 4.0 mm (main gauge) hk, 3.5 mm (secondary) hk, or sizes needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, 4 locking and numbered stitch markers, steamer for blocking (for synthetic fibers)

Check out more photos, yarn substitution ideas, as well as the tester lookbook with exact yardages from my testers on the blog post.

DOES THIS PATTERN COME WITH A STITCH CHART?
Yes.

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD MY PATTERN?
After completing the payment, check your inbox for an email containing a download link button for the PDF pattern. You will need a PDF reader installed to open the pattern.

PATTERN SUPPORT
For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group CrochetHighway Designs.