Bohéme Sweater

Bohéme Sweater by Faroeknit

What is Being Made

The Bohéme Sweater is a knitted pullover garment designed by Randi Hjelm and published by Faroeknit. This is a beginner-level knitting project suitable for crafters new to sweater construction. The design features a classic sweater silhouette worked in the round, with set-in sleeves and a coordinated two-color colorway.

Craft and Technique

This project uses knitting as the primary construction method. The sweater is worked primarily in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, which creates seamless fabric and allows for continuous knitting without turning the work. This technique is efficient for garment construction and produces a polished, professional finish.

The design incorporates color work using two contrasting yarn colors: a base color and a contrast color. The two-tone palette creates visual interest while remaining accessible for beginner knitters, as the color changes appear to be applied through yarn selection rather than complex colorwork techniques like stranding or intarsia.

Stitches Used

• Ribbing (K2, P2): A knit-2, purl-2 rib pattern used for the cuff sections. Ribbing creates elasticity and helps the fabric hug the body, making it ideal for sleeve cuffs and waistbands. The rib is worked for 4 cm (1.6 inches) at the beginning of the sleeves.
• Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch used for the body and main sleeve sections. Stockinette creates a smooth, classic fabric with a flat appearance on the right side and is the foundation of most sweater designs.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Snældan 3-ply worsted weight yarn, or any other worsted weight yarn of similar characteristics (9 wraps per inch). The pattern specifies two colors:

• Base color (bc): Viking Gold
• Contrast color (cc): Off-white

Yardage by Size:

• Sizes XS and S: 280–300 grams of base color and 70 grams of contrast color
• Sizes M and L: 350–400 grams of base color and 100 grams of contrast color

Needles and Tools:

• Circular needle in size 4.5 mm (US 7)
• Double-pointed needles in sizes 4.5 mm (US 7) and 5 mm (US 8)
• Stitch markers to denote the beginning of rounds
• Wool or tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Optional: stitch holders for managing stitches during construction

Sleeve Construction Details

The sleeves are worked in the round from the cuff upward. Each sleeve begins with a cast-on of 40, 44, or 48 stitches depending on size. The cuff is worked in K2, P2 ribbing for 4 cm using the smaller 4.5 mm (US 7) needles. After the ribbing is complete, the knitter switches to the larger 5 mm (US 8) needles and continues in stockinette stitch.

Sleeve shaping is achieved through increases worked every 8 rounds. One stitch is increased after the first stitch of the round and one stitch is decreased before the last stitch of the round, creating symmetrical shaping. This increase sequence is repeated 10 times, bringing the sleeve from its initial stitch count to 60, 64, or 68 stitches depending on size.

Sleeve length varies by size, ranging from 46 to 54 cm (18 to 21.5 inches), allowing for customization based on desired fit and arm length.

The Bohéme Sweater combines beginner-friendly techniques with a timeless design, making it an excellent project for knitters developing their skills in garment construction and two-color coordination.