There’s an old saying that the shoemaker’s children go barefoot. In my house, the knitting designer’s devoted partner had gone without a handmade sweater for far, far too long. So I had him show me a few pictures of the kind of sweater he wanted: shawl collar, double breasted, with detail at the shoulders, with a slim, modern fit. I set about to do all those things and more: seamless, bottom-up construction with wide garter stitch saddle shoulders and a back yoke panel to integrate them, making an heirloom wool sweater he can wear with pride.

The yarn I used is long discontinued, from a British woolen mill that I hear supplied such companies as J. Crew back in the day. Any sturdy, worsted weight wool will serve perfectly. You may wish to choose a machine washable yarn if you fear he’s likely to throw it in the washing machine.

Finished Sizes: 
36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)” (shown in size 40”)

Yarn: 
approx.1350 (1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, 2500) yds Worsted Weight wool yarn (shown in Hunters of Brora)

Recommended yarns: 
Valley Yarns Valley Superwash 
Valley Yarns Berkshire 
Berroco Vintage 
Malabrigo Rios 
Madelinetosh Vintage

Needles: 
US size 7 (4.50mm) 40” circular and double pointed needles, or size needed to get gauge

Other Materials: 
Stitch markers 
Stitch holders 
8 buttons

Gauge: 
4.5 sts and 6 rows = 1” in Stockinette Stitch

Skills used:
knitting & purling, short rows, button holes, increasing and decreasing