Ladies Sweater and Hat in Schachenmayr Extra Soft Merino Alpaca - 2001

Ladies Sweater and Hat in Schachenmayr Extra Soft Merino Alpaca – Pattern 2001

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern, numbered Design 2001 and published by Schachenmayr, provides instructions for two coordinating women's knitwear pieces: a classic ladies' pullover sweater (Damenpullover) and a matching hat (Mütze). The pattern is written in German and is available as a downloadable PDF at no cost, making it an excellent choice for knitters looking to create a stylish, cohesive cold-weather set.

Yarn and Materials

Both pieces are worked in Schachenmayr select Extra Soft Merino Alpaca, a luxuriously soft DK weight yarn composed of 80% Schurwolle (pure new wool) and 20% Baby Alpaca. This premium fibre blend delivers exceptional warmth, a beautiful drape, and a wonderfully soft hand feel against the skin. The yarn has a running length of approximately 130 metres per 50 g ball, and the colourway used in the sample is Aqua, shade 06052.

• Sweater: 550–600–700–750 g depending on size
• Hat: 100 g

Needles Required

The pattern calls for Milward needles in a range of sizes to accommodate different stitch patterns and tension requirements:

• Sweater: Straight or interchangeable needles in sizes 3–3½ mm and 3½–4 mm, plus a 40 cm circular needle in size 3–3½ mm for neckband finishing
• Hat: A 40 cm circular needle in size 3–3½ mm, a 40 cm circular needle in size 3½–4 mm, and a double-pointed needle set (Nadelspiel) in size 3½–4 mm for working the crown decreases in the round

The Ladies' Pullover Sweater

The sweater is a multi-size pattern, with instructions given for four sizes from smallest to largest, separated by dashes throughout the text. It is a sophisticated design that combines several distinct stitch patterns across the body, creating rich textural interest without relying on colour changes.

The construction features carefully structured stitch panels arranged across the front and back. The layout includes sections of ribbing, honeycomb pattern (Wabenmuster), cable pattern (Zopfmuster), and a combined cable-rib panel (Zopf-Rippen-Muster), all worked in sequence to produce a garment with a beautifully varied surface texture. Shaping is introduced at a height of 34 cm, where increases are distributed across specific stitch groups to shape the body.

Stitch Patterns Explained

Ribbing (Rippenmuster)

The ribbing used throughout is a classic 2×2 rib, alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches. This elastic stitch pattern is used at cuffs, hems, and within the decorative panel layout, providing structure and a neat, fitted finish at the edges of the garment.

Stocking Stitch Variants

• Glatt rechts (Stocking stitch / Stockinette): Knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows; when worked in the round, knit every round.
• Glatt links (Reverse stocking stitch): Purl on right-side rows, knit on wrong-side rows; when worked in the round, purl every round. This is used as a background or separator between cable and textured panels.

Honeycomb Pattern (Wabenmuster)

The Wabenmuster is a charted stitch pattern that creates a geometric, honeycomb-like texture across the fabric. Only right-side rows (or odd-numbered rounds) are charted; wrong-side rows and even-numbered rounds are worked as the stitches present themselves. The 8-row repeat