Sweaters in Stylecraft Special DK - 9640 - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters in Stylecraft Special DK – Pattern 9640: Two Knitted Sweater Designs

Pattern 9640 from Stylecraft is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two distinct sweater designs worked in Stylecraft Special DK yarn. Both garments are sized to fit a bust measurement of 81–86 cm up to 122–127 cm (32/34 in to 48/50 in), making this an inclusive pattern that caters to a wide range of sizes. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, meaning it is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, stitch pattern variations, and working from a multi-size chart.

Design One: V Neck Sweater

What Is Being Made

The first design is a V Neck Sweater, a classic pullover silhouette with a defined V-shaped neckline. It is a generously sized garment with a relaxed, comfortable fit. The actual bust measurement ranges from 102 cm (40 in) to 142 cm (56 in) across the five sizes, providing a comfortable amount of ease over the body. The full back length ranges from 64 cm to 75 cm (25¼ in to 29½ in), and the cuff-to-cuff measurement spans from 103 cm to 127 cm (40½ in to 50 in), indicating a sweater with a substantial sleeve width and reach. The underarm length is approximately 26–28 cm (10¼–11 in) depending on size.

Techniques Used

• Casting on using standard methods, beginning with 82 to 118 stitches on the front depending on size
• Garter stitch border worked over 11 rows as a neat, non-rolling hem at the lower edge
• Elongated garter stitch pattern — a textural technique where the yarn is wrapped twice around the needle for each stitch on the right-side row, then the needle is inserted into only one loop on the following wrong-side row, creating a deliberately dropped, stretched stitch effect that gives the fabric an open, airy quality
• Marker placement on the right side of the work to help orientate the knitter throughout construction
• V-neck shaping, requiring decreases worked symmetrically on either side of a central divide
• Armhole and shoulder shaping typical of a set-in or drop-shoulder sweater construction

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (knit every row) — used for the lower border and cuffs, creating a firm, flat, reversible fabric
• Elongated garter stitch — the main body fabric, created by the double yarn-wrap technique described above; this produces a loose, textured, slightly lacy appearance while remaining straightforward to execute

Materials

This sweater is designed to be knitted in Stylecraft Special DK yarn, a popular, widely available double knitting weight yarn known for its softness, durability, and extensive colour range. The pattern calls for 4mm knitting needles for the main body sections, with a smaller needle size likely specified for the ribbed or garter-stitch borders and neckband. Knitters will also need a stitch marker to identify the right side of the work.

Design Two: Boat Neck Sweater

What Is Being Made

The second design in pattern 9640 is a Boat Neck Sweater, featuring the characteristically wide, horizontal neckline that sits close to the collarbone and extends toward the shoulder points on both front and back. This neckline style is elegant and relaxed, requiring no complex neckline shaping such as V-neck divides or round-neck pick-up rows. The actual bust measurement for this design begins at 98 cm and extends to 139 cm across the size range, again offering generous ease and inclusive sizing.

Techniques Used