After knitting up 4 child-sized versions of the Homegrown Hoodie, one for each of my own kids, I had no intention of EVER knitting another hoodie, EVER AGAIN. Especially not an adult-sized version!
Wouldn’t you know it, many test knitters of the child-size pattern politely requested a pattern in bigger sizes, for themselves and their loved ones who had seen the child version and wanted one of their own.
Who am I to deny knitters like you?? So the “my size” version was born. And I am so glad that it was!
HOMEGROWN HOODIE is a loose-fitting, compound-raglan pullover with a relaxed fit that comes with a front pocket and a hood. It starts at the back neck with raglan stitches and a couple stitches for each front panel. The yoke is rapidly increased at four points, similar to a raglan yoke, to create the back and front panels, while simultaneously shaping the neckline through short rows worked flat. Once the neckline is shaped, the sleeve and armhole shaping is done in the round within the yoke. The garment is divided for sleeves and body, and the body is worked straight in stockinette until stitches are put on hold and sections are worked separately to shape the front and liner of the pocket. The long sleeves are seamlessly shaped in the round as one piece to the cuffs. In final steps, the neckline is picked up to work the hood, which is shaped using short rows (optional), increases and decreases.
I have put abundant effort into creating Progress Trackers for each size for this pattern. These tables help the knitter keep track of stitch counts per section, since more than one section is being increased at the same time within the yoke of the sweater. That means you know the total stitch count, but also how many stitches should be on the front or back panels, or how many should be within the sleeves, at any point within the yoke. This is how I prefer to work while I knit, and I have found that knitters really appreciate this extra addition to the pattern.
I think this might be my most wearable design yet – I have been wearing my sample at least once a week. I generally enjoy a cotton/polyester hoodie, but I’m actually surprised how wearable it is to have a knit version. The shoulder fit on this pattern is excellent, and that always improves the comfort level of a garment. It doesn’t slip around, or move forward and back. It sits where it is supposed to, and then the positive ease around the bust allows freedom of movement and extra comfort.
If you struggle to find a good fit in your knitwear, I encourage you to examine the fit of the shoulders in these garments, and compare it to those you DO find comfortable.
I hope you enjoy the Homegrown Hoodie – my size! I love to see and share your projects on Instagram! If you like, you can tag them with @the.bluebird.box. Instagram no longer allows us to follow hashtags, so unfortunately tagging them will not help me to see your project. But uploading a project page to Ravelry is always appreciated! Thank you for supporting my creative work!
Much love,
Anna.
