This post is step #1 of the Love Note Tutorial series. Other posts in this series include:
- Yarn choice and sizing (this post): How to choose a fabulous yarn combination and find the right size for you.
- Construction: An overview of the process and how the sweater is constructed.
- Yoke: How to work the provisional cast-on, lace pattern, and raglan increases.
- Body and sleeves: Creating the high-low hem and picking up the sleeves.
- Neckline: How to pick up stitches from the unzipped, provisional cast-on, plus tips for ensuring the perfect fit.
- Finishing: How to finish off your beautiful sweater!
Selecting yarns
Here comes the first fun part: choosing a yarn combination! Our Love Note samples for this tutorial were knit holding a single-ply sock-weight yarn, along with a strand of lace-weight mohair and silk. We used Rainbow Heirloom and La Bien Aimee. (See our in-depth tutorial on mixing mohair lace and sock-weight yarns.) If you’d rather not use mohair, you could hold together a sock with a different sort of lace-weight yarn – or just use a DK weight yarn. Worsted or aran-weight yarn will work, too, but the fabric will be heavier, giving the garment a significantly different drape.
Yardage note: Our sizing and yardage table lists yarn requirements for combined yarn, so if your size calls for 600 yds, it will require 600 yds of both the sock-weight yarn and 600 yds of lace-weight mohair yarn.
When it comes to sizing, we’ve designed the Love Note to include plenty of positive ease – we recommend between 4″ and 12″. This sweater has a relaxed fit, and the loosely knit fabric is fabulously drapey!
What is positive ease? This means the finished sweater will measure 4″-12″ more than your actual chest measurement. For more information on ease and choosing a sweater size, check out our sizing post here.
Nina (left) is wearing Love Note size M with 7.5″ of positive ease; this means the sweater is 7.5″ larger than her actual bust measurement. Aimee is wearing size XL-XXL with 10″ of positive ease.
Once you’ve chosen your yarn and desired size – and knit a gauge swatch to confirm that you’re achieving the pattern gauge of 16 sts & 24 rounds / 4” in stockinette stitch – you’re ready to cast on!
If you use Ravelry.com, add this project to your Projects page, so you can keep all your notes in one place for easy reference… and so we can see your sweater when it’s done!
Next step
The next post in this series is about the Construction of the Love Note Sweater. Head there now!
September 27, 2021 @ 8:17 pm
Can you please clarify if the the guage for the love note sweater knit in stockingette knit should be knit flat or in the round?
September 28, 2021 @ 10:47 am
Hi Sandra – The gauge for Love Note is: 16 sts & 24 ROUNDS / 4” in stockinette using larger needles, so that means your gauge should be measured in the round.
July 3, 2021 @ 12:46 pm
I’m going to use an Andean DK yarn which normally knits 22 sts in 4 inches on a 4 mm needle. What needle size is most likely to give a gauge of 16 sts in 4 inches for this DK yarn? (Yes, I will do a swatch but thought you might be able to give me a starting point).
July 4, 2021 @ 10:46 pm
Hi Mari Lyn – I think you might try starting with a US 10 / 6mm
May 11, 2021 @ 9:31 am
Hello, I have a Love Note question regarding sizing. My bust is 36.5 which with a positive ease of 4.5″ I’d say the Small would be just right. However I noticed the top sleeve measurement says 12.5″ and assuming that’s the upper arm measurement it might be a little tight because my upper arm measures more like 13.5-14″ (so much shame here 🙈). Do I risk the sweater being ‘too big’ if I go up to a size M? Any advice/recommendations greatly appreciated. Thanks!
May 11, 2021 @ 11:44 am
Hi Andryea – No shame! We all have different measurements. To get a bigger upper arm you can work a few extra increases in increase round 3. Then, when you place markers for the raglan lines you are going to distribute those extra sts to the upper arms. Does that make sense?
May 11, 2021 @ 6:53 pm
Thanks Alexa. While I haven’t read the pattern (and it’s been a LONG time since I’ve knit anything) knowing that I can make this kind of adjustment is good to know. And I’m guessing that once I get there it’ll all make perfect sense! Thanks again!
December 16, 2020 @ 10:06 am
For your beautiful Love Note I’m kind of in between sizes….my bust measurement is 34″. I don’t want it to be too big, but still a little drapey and soft. Do you think a S or XS would fit best? Thanks for your help!
Also, the sweater i have that I like the fit of is 19″ seam to side seam.
I’m narrow through the neck and upper chest.
December 17, 2020 @ 1:13 pm
Hi Jenny – IMHO go with the S. 7.5″ of positive ease will look great in the Love Note sweater!
June 19, 2020 @ 4:20 am
Really great how you have broken it down in steps.