Wolf in sheep clothing DK

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing DK Sweater by Aida Sofie Knits

What is Being Made

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing is an intermediate-level knitted sweater designed by Aida Sofie Knits. This garment features a conceptual design inspired by the classic idiom, presenting a sweater that metaphorically represents the duality of nature and hidden truths. The design celebrates the wolf as a symbol of the warrior found across many cultures throughout history, while exploring themes of revelation and concealment through its construction. This is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern suitable for knitters with intermediate experience.

Techniques Used

This sweater employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its finished structure. The pattern utilizes circular knitting for constructing the body, yoke, and ribbed sections, which allows for seamless construction and even tension distribution. Top-down yoke construction is incorporated, a popular method that enables knitters to try on the garment as they progress and adjust fit easily. Ribbing is used strategically at the neckline, cuffs, and hem to create elastic, fitted edges that frame the garment. The sweater is designed to be blocked after completion to achieve proper gauge and finished dimensions, which helps even out stitches and set the fabric structure.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure is stockinette stitch (abbreviated as st st), which creates the smooth, classic fabric that forms the main body and yoke of the sweater. Stockinette stitch is created by alternating knit and purl rows in flat knitting, or by knitting every round in circular knitting, producing the characteristic V-pattern texture on the right side. Ribbing is used for the cuffs, neckline, and body hem, typically created by alternating knit and purl stitches in vertical columns to produce an elastic, textured edge.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn of any fiber content, provided the knitter can achieve the specified gauge. The required gauge is 22 stitches by 27 rows over a 4 by 4 inch (10 by 10 centimeter) swatch when worked in stockinette stitch on the larger needles and blocked.

The needle requirements include multiple sizes and styles to accommodate different sections of the sweater:

• US 4 / 3.5 mm needles: Small circular needles or double-pointed needles (DPNs) for ribbed sleeve cuffs; a 12 or 16 inch (30 or 40 centimeter) circular needle for ribbed neckline; and a 24 inch (60 centimeter) circular needle for ribbed body hem
• US 6 / 4.0 mm needles: A 24 inch (60 centimeter) circular needle for knitting the main body and yoke sections; and small circular needles or double-pointed needles for the sleeve caps

The use of smaller needles (US 4 / 3.5 mm) for ribbing creates the necessary tension for elastic edges, while the larger needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm) are used for the stockinette stitch body to achieve the specified gauge. Circular needles of varying lengths allow the knitter to work different sections comfortably without excessive stitches bunching on the needle.