Thun

Thun Sweater by The Blue Mouse

What Is Being Made

Thun is a top-down, seamless raglan sweater designed by Emily Franck of The Blue Mouse. Named after a picturesque lake and town in the Swiss Alps, this knitted garment features a distinctive design with striped patterning throughout the body and sleeves, complemented by a split hem detail. The sweater is constructed using a seamless construction method, eliminating the need for seaming after completion.

Construction Method and Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques that make it suitable for knitters with some experience:

• Top-Down Construction: The sweater is knitted from the neckline downward, allowing for easy fitting adjustments and the ability to try on the garment as you work.
• Seamless Raglan Shaping: The raglan sleeve cap is integrated into the body during knitting, creating a smooth transition from body to sleeve without seams.
• German Short Rows: This advanced shaping technique is used to create custom fit and shaping within the sweater.
• Stripe Work: The pattern incorporates color changes throughout the body and sleeves. Knitters have the flexibility to either cut the yarn with each color change or carry the yarn along the wrong side as they work, depending on personal preference.
• Split Hem: A distinctive hem detail that adds visual interest to the finished garment.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Thun sweater utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques:

• K2TOG (Knit Two Together): A right-leaning decrease used for raglan shaping and garment shaping.
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with K2TOG for balanced decreases in the raglan lines.
• M1R and M1L (Make One Right and Make One Left): Increase stitches used to shape the garment and create the raglan expansion.
• Tubular Bind Off: An advanced finishing technique that creates a professional, elastic edge ideal for cuffs and hems.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Thun sweater is designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, a medium-light yarn weight that creates a fabric with good drape and definition for stitch detail. The pattern provides yardage requirements across multiple sizes:

• Main Color (MC): Approximately 540 to 985 yards depending on size, with specific yardage given for 14 different size options.
• Contrast Color (CC): Approximately 255 to 465 yards for the striped sections, allowing for creative color combinations while using less yardage of the secondary color.

The pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF format, making it accessible for immediate use. Complementary resources are included with the pattern, such as detailed video tutorials for swatching, the German short row technique, sleeve separation, tubular bind off, and decrease techniques, supporting knitters through each step of construction.

Skill Level

Rated as an intermediate project, the Thun sweater is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic knitting techniques and are ready to tackle seamless garment construction, shaping techniques, and color work. The included tutorials provide additional support for techniques that may be new to the knitter.