Sweater, Snood and Hat in Sytlecraft Special Aran with Wool - 9661 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater, Snood and Hat in Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool – Pattern 9661

This Stylecraft pattern 9661 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering three coordinating designs in one: a classic fitted sweater, a cosy snood, and a matching hat. All three pieces are worked in Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool, making this a beautifully cohesive set ideal for the autumn and winter wardrobe. Rated as an intermediate difficulty, the pattern is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, rib patterns, and reading multi-size instructions.

About the Yarn and Needles

All three designs are worked in Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool, an aran weight yarn that combines the softness and warmth of wool with the durability and easy care of acrylic. The aran weight gives the finished fabric excellent stitch definition, which is particularly important for the textured rib and moss stitch detailing used throughout the pattern. 4mm knitting needles are specified for the sweater's cast-on and main body sections, with additional needle sizes likely used for ribbing and finishing as is standard for aran weight garments.

The Sweater

Sizing and Fit

The sweater is designed to fit a wide range of sizes, making it an inclusive and versatile pattern. The five sizes available are:

• 81–86 cm (32–34 in) bust, with an actual measurement of 94 cm (37 in)
• 91–97 cm (36–38 in) bust, with an actual measurement of 105 cm (41¼ in)
• 102–107 cm (40–42 in) bust, with an actual measurement of 115 cm (45¼ in)
• 112–117 cm (44–46 in) bust, with an actual measurement of 125 cm (49½ in)
• 122–127 cm (48–50 in) bust, with an actual measurement of 135 cm (53¼ in)

The sweater has a relaxed, positive ease fit across all sizes. Full lengths range from 62 cm (24½ in) for the smallest size up to 73 cm (28¾ in) for the largest, while sleeve lengths range from 46 cm (18 in) to 48 cm (19 in). The pattern includes larger sizes up to 122–127 cm, which is a particularly welcome feature for knitters who often find sizing options limited.

Construction and Techniques

The sweater is worked flat in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The back is cast on using the thumb method, a reliable and stretchy cast-on well suited to rib and textured edges. Construction follows a traditional set-in or drop-shoulder style typical of aran weight sweaters.

Stitches Used

The sweater features a combination of stitch patterns that create visual interest and a professional finish:

• Moss stitch – worked as alternating knit and purl stitches, creating a dense, textured fabric used at the edges and borders
• 2x2 rib (k2, p2) – a classic ribbing stitch used across the main body panels, providing elasticity and structure
• Combined moss and rib panels – the pattern cleverly combines moss stitch borders with central rib sections, giving the sweater a sophisticated, layered texture

The stitch pattern is set up from the very first row, with right-side and wrong-side rows carefully constructed to maintain the integrity of the moss and rib panels. Stitch counts vary by size, with the back casting on between 106 and 148 stitches depending on the chosen size.

The Snood

Dimensions and Design

The snood is a simple, stylish accessory that pairs perfectly with the sweater. It measures 36 cm wide by 70 cm long (14 in x 27½ in), making it a generously sized loop that can be