This traditional snowman motif is knitted in cream against a light blue background with a contrasting red hat and spotty scarf, but you can knit this sweater in whichever colours you like. The cute little robin on the back of each sweater makes this design extra special. Use the intarsia technique for the colourwork.
This pattern is for the adult large size; this is equivalent to a UK size 16-18 for women, and a chest size 40-42 in for men. You'll find the children's and the other adult sizes in the book.
Follow the pattern below – the rows on the pattern are numbered to make it easy to work between the chart and the pattern.
Click here to download the chart for the snowman on the front and the robin on the back.
You will need:
1,100m of 10-ply Aran weight yarn
A pair of 4½mm knitting needles
Materials for motif:
80m (90yds) of 10-ply (Aran) yarn in each of the following colours: cream, red and mid-brown
50m (60yds) of 4-ply (fingering) yarn in sparkly white (use this yarn double when knitting)
Small amounts of black, orange and dark brown 10-ply (Aran) yarn for embroidery
Small amount of toy filling
Snowman jumper pattern:
Size: Adult Large (size 16-18 for women, and chest size 40-42in for men)
Tension: 18 stitches and 24 rows in st st, 10 x 10cm.
Front
Using 4½mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, cast on 108 sts.
Next row (K2, P2), rep to end of row.
Rep this row a further 11 times.
Working from the Front Chart for your chosen motif, cont as follows:
Work in SS for 88 rows or until work measures 39cm (15¼in).
Cont in SS, working decreases as shown to shape armholes:
Row 89 Cast off 5 sts at beg of row [103 sts].
Row 90 Cast off 5 sts at beg of row [98 sts].
Row 91 Cast off 4 sts at beg of row [94 sts].
Row 92 Cast off 4 sts at beg of row [90 sts].
Row 93 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [88 sts].
Row 94 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl [86 sts].
Row 95 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [84 sts].
Row 96 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl [82 sts].
Row 97 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [80 sts].
Row 98 Purl.
Row 99 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [78 sts].
Row 100 Purl.
Row 101 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [76 sts].
Row 102 Purl.
Row 103 Knit.
Row 104 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl [74 sts].
Row 105 Knit.
Row 106 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl [72 sts].
Cont with no further shaping until row 128 is complete.
Shape Front Neck as follows:
Row 129 K30, turn, leaving rem sts on a st holder. Cont working over these 30 sts.
Row 130 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [28 sts].
Row 131 Knit.
Row 132 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [27 sts].
Row 133 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [26 sts].
Row 134 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [25 sts].
Row 135 Knit.
Row 136 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [24 sts].
Row 137 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [23 sts].
Row 138 Purl.
Row 139 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [22 sts].
Row 140 Purl.
Row 141 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [21 sts].
Row 142 Purl.
Row 143 Knit.
Row 144 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [20 sts].
Row 145 Knit.
Row 146 Purl.
Row 147 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [13 sts].
Row 148 Purl.
Row 149 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [7 sts].
Row 150 Purl.
Row 151 Cast off rem 7 sts.
Place centre 12 sts on a st holder and, with RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem 30 sts. K to end of row.
Work second side as follows:
Row 130 Purl.
Row 131 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [28 sts].
Row 132 P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [27 sts].
Row 133 K1, ssK, K to end of row [26 sts].
Row 134 P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [25 sts].
Row 135 Knit.
Row 136 P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [24 sts].
Row 137 K1, ssK, K to end of row [23 sts].
Row 138 Purl.
Row 139 K1, ssK, K to end of row [22 sts].
Row 140 Purl.
Row 141 K1, ssK, K to end of row [21 sts].
Row 142 Purl.
Row 143 Knit.
Row 144 P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [20 sts].
Row 145 Knit.
Row 146 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [14 sts].
Row 147 K1, ssK, K to end of row [13 sts].
Row 148 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [7 sts].
Row 149 Knit.
Row 150 Cast off rem 7 sts.
Back
Using 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, cast on 108 sts and work as for Front.
Use the Back Chart for your chosen motif and follow the instructions for the Front armhole shaping up to end of row 106 [72 sts].
With no further shaping, cont in SS until row 139 is complete.
Row 140 P30, cast off 12 sts and P to end of row. Cont over rem 30 sts, setting aside the first set of 30 sts to be completed later.
Row 141 Knit.
Row 142 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [24 sts].
Row 143 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [23 sts].
Row 144 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [22 sts].
Row 145 K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [21 sts].
Row 146 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [20 sts].
Row 147 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [14 sts].
Row 148 P1, P2tog, P to end of row [13 sts].
Row 149 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [7 sts].
Row 150 Purl.
Row 151 Cast off rem 7 sts.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem 30 sts and cont as follows:
Row 141 Knit.
Row 142 Purl.
Row 143 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [24 sts].
Row 144 P to last 3 sts, P2tog, P1 [23 sts].
Row 145 K1, ssK, K to end of row [22 sts].
Row 146 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row, P to last 3 sts, P2tog, P1 [15 sts].
Row 147 K1, ssK, K to end of row [14 sts].
Row 148 Cast off 6 sts at beg of row [8 sts].
Row 149 K1, ssK, K to end of row [7 sts].
Row 150 Cast off rem 7 sts.
Sleeves (make two)
Using 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, cast on 46 sts and work 12 rows in (K2, P2) rib, as for Front.
Cont in SS for 86 rows, working from Sleeve Chart if appropriate, and shaping as follows:
Inc 1 st at each end of rows 3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, 44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80 and 86 as follows: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1.
At the end of row 86 there will be 76 sts on the needle.
Cont in SS with no further shaping until row 96 is complete or until sleeve measures 41cm (16¼in).
Work sleeve-head shaping as follows:
Row 97 Cast off 4 sts at beg of row [72 sts].
Row 98 Cast off 4 sts at beg of row [68 sts].
Row 99 Cast off 3 sts at beg of row [65 sts].
Row 100 Cast off 3 sts at beg of row [62 sts].
Row 101 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [60 sts].
Row 102 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [58 sts].
Row 103 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [56 sts].
Row 104 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [54 sts].
Row 105 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [52 sts].
Row 106 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [50 sts].
Row 107 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [48 sts].
Row 108 Purl.
Row 109 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [46 sts].
Row 110 Purl.
Row 111 Knit.
Row 112 Purl.
Row 113 Knit.
Row 114 Purl.
Row 115 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [44 sts].
Row 116 Purl.
Row 117 Knit
Row 118 Purl.
Row 119 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [42 sts].
Row 120 Purl.
Row 121 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [40 sts].
Row 122 Purl.
Row 123 Knit.
Row 124 Purl.
Row 125 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [38 sts].
Row 126 Purl.
Row 127 Knit.
Row 128 Purl.
Row 129 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [36 sts].
Row 130 Purl.
Row 131 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [34 sts].
Row 132 Purl.
Row 133 Knit.
Row 134 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [32 sts].
Row 135 Knit.
Row 136 Purl.
Row 137 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [30 sts].
Row 138 Purl.
Row 139 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [28 sts].
Row 140 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [26 sts].
Row 141 K1, ssK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1 [24 sts].
Row 142 P1, P2tog, P to last 3 sts, P2togtbl, P1 [22 sts].
Row 143 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [20 sts].
Row 144 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [18 sts].
Row 145 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [16 sts].
Row 146 Cast off 2 sts at beg of row [14 sts].
Row 147 Cast off rem 14 sts.
Making up
- Join the right shoulder seam.
- With RS facing and using 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, pick up and knit 19 sts along left front edge of neck shaping, knit across 12 sts on st holder and pick up and knit 19 sts along right front neck edge. Pick up and knit 21 sts to centre of back of neck and a further 21 sts to left back shoulder [92 sts].
- Work 10 rows in (K2, P2) rib and cast off loosely and evenly in rib.
- Join the left shoulder seam.
- Lightly press or block all pieces of the sweater and sew the sleeves into the armholes, easing to fit.
- Follow the finishing instructions for your chosen design, working any embroidery and details.
- Sew the side seams and underarm seams, being careful to match any pattern.
- Sew in all loose ends of yarn.
Finishing instructions
When you've finished knitting the sweater and the snowman outline, follow the instructions below to add the nose, buttons and bobble on the snowman's hat, and embroider his face.
Nose
Using orange yarn and 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, cast on 3 sts and purl 1 row.
Next row (K1, M1) twice, K1 [5 sts].
Next row P1, M1, P3, M1, P1 [7 sts].
Work 6 rows in SS.
Next row K1, ssK, K1, K2tog, K1 [5 sts].
Next row P1, sl1, P2tog, psso, P1 [3 sts].
Knit 1 row.
Cast off, leaving a long yarn end for finishing.
Buttons (make three)
Using black yarn and 4.5mm (UK 7, US 7) needles, cast on 1 st.
Next row Kfbf [3 sts].
Work 3 rows in SS.
Next row Sl1, K2tog, psso [1 st].
Fasten off rem st. Leave a long yarn end for attaching the button to the snowman.
Bobble for snowman’s hat
Using a double strand of sparkly white yarn, cast on 3 sts and purl 1 row.
Next row (K1, M1) twice, K1 [5 sts].
Next row P1, M1, P3, M1, P1 [7 sts].
Next row K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 [9 sts].
Work 4 rows in SS.
Next row K1, ssK, K3, K2tog, K1 [7 sts].
Next row P1, P2tog, P1, P2togtbl, P1 [5 sts].
Next row SsK, K1, K2tog [3 sts].
Cast off, leaving a long yarn end for finishing.
Front finishing
- Run a length of yarn around the edge sts of the nose and gather slightly. Place a little toy filling inside. Sew to the snowman’s face, using the picture as a guide.
- Using the black yarn, embroider each eye with a French knot and the mouth using stem stitch.
- Use a single strand of the sparkly white yarn to embroider French knots randomly on the snowman’s scarf.
- Place the three black knitted buttons on the front of the snowman, evenly spaced, and sew them into place.
- Using dark brown yarn, embroider the snowman’s arms using chain stitch.
- Run a length of yarn around the edge sts of the white bobble and gather slightly. Place a little toy filling inside. Position the bobble on the snowman’s hat using the picture as a guide and sew it into place.
Text copyright © Sue Stratford, Photographs by Paul Bricknell
Photographs and design copyright © Search Press Ltd. 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this extract, text, photographs or illustrations may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche, photocopier, internet or in any way known or as yet unknown, or stored in a retrieval system, without written permission obtained beforehand from Search Press.
ISBN: 9781782210115
Readers are permitted to reproduce any of the items/patterns in this book for their personal use, or for the purposes of selling for charity, free of charge and without the prior permission of the publishers. Any use of the items/patterns for commercial purposes is not permitted without the prior permission of the publishers.
