Lupin

Lupin Crochet Sweater by Marie Wallin

What is Being Made

Lupin is an intermediate-level crochet sweater designed by Marie Wallin. This garment is available in four sizes to fit bust measurements from 81-97 cm (32-38 inches) up to 122-127 cm (48-50 inches), making it suitable for a range of body types. The sweater features a motif-based construction, with each individual crochet motif measuring approximately 9 cm square, which are then joined together to create the finished garment.

Crochet Techniques and Construction

Lupin employs a modular crochet approach, where separate square motifs are crocheted individually and then assembled to form the complete sweater. This technique is popular in crochet design as it allows for flexibility in garment construction and makes the project more manageable by breaking it into smaller, repeatable units. The motif-based method also creates visual interest through the geometric patterning that results from joining these squares together.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes a variety of fundamental and intermediate crochet stitches to create texture and structure:

• Chain (ch) – the foundation stitch used to create loops and spaces
• Double crochet (dc) – a basic short stitch for dense fabric
• Treble (tr) – a taller stitch that creates more open, drape-friendly fabric
• Double treble (dtr) – an even taller stitch for increased height and openness
• Quadruple treble (qtr) – the tallest stitch in this pattern, creating very open lacework
• Slip stitch (ss) – used for joining rounds and motifs together seamlessly
• Decrease stitches including dc2tog (double crochet decrease), tr2tog (treble decrease), and dtr3tog (double treble decrease) – these create shaping and help reduce stitch counts where needed for garment fit

Materials and Specifications

The Lupin sweater is designed to be worked with Rowan Summerlite, a 4-ply yarn weight that creates a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for warm-weather wear. The pattern requires between 10 to 15 balls of 50-gram yarn, depending on the chosen size. The photographed sample is shown in White 417, though the yarn is available in other colorways.

A 2.50mm crochet hook (US size B1/C2) is required to achieve the correct tension. The pattern specifies a tension of 26 stitches and 16 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the pattern using the recommended hook size. Maintaining this tension is essential for the garment to fit correctly across all four size options.

Difficulty Level

Lupin is rated as an intermediate crochet project. While it uses a range of stitch heights and decrease techniques, the modular motif-based construction makes it accessible to crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle more complex shaping and assembly. The repeating nature of the motifs provides good practice for consistency, and the intermediate difficulty level suggests that crocheters should be comfortable reading pattern abbreviations and following multi-step instructions.