How to Knit a Sweater

To knit a sweater is to feel a great sense of accomplishment. A sweater may seem overwhelming, but all you need are some instructions, the necessary materials and practice. Begin with a mini sweater for a teddy bear. This will help you learn the basic procedures without wasting a lot of time and money. Once you master this miniature version, you can adjust the proportions to make different sizes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 ounce of leftover sock yarn
• A set of double-pointed needles, ranging in size from 3 to 3.5 mm, or size 3 to 4 U.S

Begin the Back and Front of Your Teddy Bear Sweater

1. Cast on 134 stitches.
2. Begin the first row by purling one stitch.
3. Create a slip stitch for the second stitch in row one. Place the yarn in front, insert the right needle into the next stitch from back to front and slip the stitch off. Repeat until the end of the row.
4. Begin the second row by placing yarn in front. Insert your right needle into the stitch of the last row from back to front, then slip the stitch off.
5. Continue the second row with a purl stitch while picking up both loops. Repeat for the rest of the row.
6. Repeat two through five until you have 1 inch of fabric.
7. Bind off three stitches for the armhole.
8. Knit 26 stitches for the front as in rows one and two.
9. Bind off three stitches and finish the back.

Continue the Back and Front of Your Teddy Bear Sweater

10. Work on the front of the neck at the edge. For every other row bind off two stitches, then one stitch, and then the rest of the stitches for the shoulder.
11. Shape the neck back in the same way.
12. Continue knitting the back until you have an additional 3 inches of fabric.
13. Bind off the 10 middle stitches.
14. Create the neck back at the edge. On every other row bind off two stitches, then one stitch, then all remaining stitches to create the shoulder.

Knit the Sleeves of Your Teddy Bear Sweater

15. Cast on 24 stitches in the round.
16. Create the first row. Knit one stitch, purl one stitch, and repeat for the rest of the row.
17. Increase by one stitch for the next row. Repeat the previous step.
18. Repeat the previous row by increasing by one stitch every third row.
19. Repeat the increase five times until you have 29 stitches.
20. Continue until you reach a fabric length of 2 to 2 1/2 inches, then bind off loosely.

Finish Your Teddy Bear Sweater

21. Sew the shoulder seams.
22. Set in the sleeves.
23. Pick up 39 stitches in the round for the neckband. Follow the pattern described above.
24. Bind off loosely when the neckband is 1/2 inch high.

Tips & Warnings

• You should be able to cast on, knit and purl, and bind off before attempting to knit a sweater.