Marie

Marie Sweater by Deb Hoss

What is Being Made

Marie is a luxurious knitted sweater featuring a distinctive shawl collar that offers versatile styling options. The garment can be worn with the collar standing cozily upright, folded over to create a deep v-neckline, or adjusted anywhere in between. This slim-fitting and shapely piece extends to high-hip length, making it an elegant layering piece perfect for cooler weather.

Garment Specifications

Available Sizes: XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X], with the pattern photographed on size S.

Finished Bust Measurements: 31[35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55] inches across all available sizes.

Length: Bodice extends to high-hip length with ribbed trimming at all hems and the collar.

Knitting Techniques Used

Marie is worked bottom-up using circular needles, beginning as a single piece for the lower portion. At the start of the front neckline, the work splits and each side is completed separately, allowing for customized shaping. The pattern incorporates several intermediate to advanced techniques:

• Circular knitting on circular needles
• Knit and purl stitches as foundational techniques
• Decreases including k2tog (knit two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit)
• Purl decreases: p2tog (purl two together) and p2tog tbl (purl two together through the back loop)
• Increases: m1r (make one right) and m1l (make one left)
• Stitch pick-up around the neckline for collar attachment
• Short row shaping at the collar and shoulders for dimensional fit
• Blocking to set the finished garment
• Seaming to join sections

Stitches Featured

The sweater utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with shaping techniques. Ribbed stitching appears at the hems and collar for a refined, fitted finish. The main body is worked in stockinette stitch, creating a smooth, elegant fabric. Decreases and increases are strategically placed to create the slim-fitting silhouette and shapely construction.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn Fiber Content: This design pairs two complementary yarns—worsted weight wool combined with alpaca in dk (double knit) weight. This combination provides both warmth and luxury, with the alpaca adding softness and the wool contributing structure and durability.

Needles: Circular needles are required for the bottom-up construction method, allowing the knitter to work the lower body as one continuous piece before splitting for the front neckline shaping.

Skill Level and Difficulty

Marie is rated as advanced beginner difficulty. While the foundational stitches are accessible to intermediate knitters, the pattern requires comfort with multiple techniques including circular knitting, various decreases and increases, short row shaping, and finishing techniques such as stitch pick-up and seaming. The combination of techniques makes this a rewarding project for knitters ready to expand their skills.

Design Details

The luxurious shawl collar is the signature feature of Marie, offering styling versatility that adapts to personal preference and occasion. The high-hip length bodice creates a flattering silhouette, while ribbed trimming at the hems and collar provides structure and a polished appearance. The split construction at the neckline allows for precise shaping of the shoulders and collar, contributing to the garment's sophisticated fit.