Sweater and Hoodie in Merry Go Round XL in Stylecraft - 9963 - Downloadable PDF

Stylecraft 9963: Sweater and Hoodie in Merry Go Round XL – Pattern Summary

Stylecraft pattern 9963 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two easy super-chunky designs for children: a classic drop-shoulder sweater and a hoodie. Both garments are sized to fit ages 2–3, 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 years, covering chest measurements from 56 cm (22 in) up to 76 cm (30 in), with generous actual measurements ranging from 69 cm to 86 cm to allow comfortable ease. Full lengths range from 38 cm to 56 cm and sleeve lengths from 23 cm to 40 cm, making both designs practical and wearable across a wide age range.

Designs Included

Design 1: The Sweater

The sweater is a straightforward, beginner-friendly pullover worked in stocking stitch with a neat k1, p1 ribbed hem and cuff detail. Its clean silhouette and minimal shaping make it an ideal project for knitters who are new to garment construction. The sample shown uses Stylecraft Merry Go Round XL in the colourway Fruit Salad (shade 3723), a vibrant self-striping yarn that creates eye-catching colour changes automatically without the need for intarsia or Fair Isle techniques — perfect for beginners who want a visually exciting result with very little extra effort.

Yarn quantities for the sweater range from 4 balls for the smallest size up to 8 balls for the largest size, each ball being a 100g ball of Merry Go Round XL.

Design 2: The Hoodie

The hoodie follows the same easy construction principles as the sweater but adds a hood, making it a slightly more involved but still beginner-accessible project. Like the sweater, it is worked primarily in stocking stitch with k1, p1 rib at the lower edges and cuffs. The hoodie sample is shown in Stylecraft Merry Go Round XL in the colourway Rainbow (shade 3142), another self-striping colourway that delivers bold, cheerful stripes with no additional colour-work technique required.

Yarn quantities for the hoodie range from 5 balls for the smallest size up to 9 balls for the largest size.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st): The main fabric of both garments, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This produces a smooth, classic fabric that works beautifully with self-striping yarn.
• K1, P1 Rib: Used at the lower body and cuffs to create a stretchy, neat edge that helps the garment keep its shape. The rib is worked over a small number of rows before transitioning to the main stocking stitch body.
• Decreasing (dec / rib2tog): Simple decrease rows are used at the transition between the ribbed hem and the stocking stitch body on certain sizes to adjust the stitch count neatly.
• Working on stitch holders: Stitches are placed on holders as part of the garment construction, a standard technique in seamless or partially seamed garment knitting.
• Circular needle knitting: Required for the hoodie, specifically for picking up and working the hood section, using a 9mm circular needle and a 10mm circular needle.

Materials Required

Yarn

The primary yarn specified is Stylecraft Merry Go Round XL, a super chunky weight yarn sold in 100g balls. This yarn is a self-striping yarn, meaning it produces automatic colour changes as you knit, creating vibrant stripes without any additional technique. The pattern notes that alternative yarns can be used, specifically listing Stylecraft Special XL, Stylecraft Special XL Tweed, and Stylecraft Life Super Chun