Knit Along with the Amber Pullover!

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November is National Knit a Sweater Month, and we’re kicking off our Amber Pullover Knit-along (KAL) on November 1! The Amber Pullover, from Quick + Easy Knits, is a slouchy, worsted-weight sweater with minimal shaping. It’s a cozy pullover with easy dropped-shoulder sleeves, and it’s sized up to 67″ finished chest circumference. Make one for yourself, or knit it as a gift for the sweater-worthy human in your life. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Amber Pullover KAL.

What do I need for this KAL?

The Pattern

Download the Amber Pullover here today, available for free, for a limited time.

Yarn

You’ll need 5–9 balls of Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Superwash. This is a worsted-weight yarn that’s easy-care; you can just throw it in the washing machine! It comes in 56 colors, so there’s sure to be something that fits into your wardrobe. 

Needles 

You need size 7 (4.5 mm) and 8 (5 mm) knitting needles of any style and a size 7 (4.5 mm) 16″ circular needle.* I recommend Clover knitting needles; they’re made from bamboo, so they have a little more grip than metal needles and the stitches won’t slip off the needle. 

(*You may need a different needle size; read up on swatching below.)

Tapestry needle

This is used to weave in ends and sew the pieces together once you’ve finished knitting. 

What do I need to do?

The KAL officially starts on November 1, so download and print your pattern and start gathering your yarn, needles, and other supplies. 

Also, make a gauge swatch! Swatching is crucial to ensuring sweater success. Here’s how to knit a useful swatch:

1. Cast on 31 stitches. Work in Broken Garter stitch (the directions are in the pattern) until your swatch measures at least 6″. Bind off.
2. Wash your swatch however you plan to wash your sweater. (I do hope you are planning to wash your sweater at some point during its lifetime.) Throw it in the washing machine or handwash it in the sink; it’s up to you. 
3. Dry your swatch however you plan to dry your sweater. If you want a truly easy-care sweater, throw your swatch in the dryer. (Put it in a lingerie bag or pillowcase so it doesn’t get lost.) If you’re planning to air dry your sweater, lay your swatch flat and let it dry. 
4. Lay your swatch flat and line up the “0” mark of your ruler (note that this may not be the end) with the edge of a stitch. Measure in the middle of your swatch; the edge stitches can be a little wonky and throw off your gauge measurements. How many stitches are there per 4″?

• If you have TOO MANY STITCHES per 4″ (in this case, more than 19 stitches), your gauge is too tight and you need to go UP a needle size. Repeat this whole process until you get 19 stitches over 4″. 
• If you have TOO FEW STITCHES per 4″ (less than 19 stitches), your gauge is too loose and you need to go DOWN a needle size. Repeat this whole process until you get 19 stitches over 4″.
• If you have 19 stitches per 4″, congratulations Goldilocks! Your gauge is just right.

Pro tip: You can use the sleeve as a swatch! Start the sleeve and work it until you have at least 6″ in the Broken Garter stitch section, either bind off the stitches or put them on waste yarn, then wash and dry it and check your gauge. If your gauge is correct, just pick out the bind off and/or slip the stitches back onto the needles and keep going. 

Who is this KAL for?

New Knitters

If you’ve only recently learned to knit but are eager to make something other than a scarf, this is a great introduction to sweaters! The body of the Amber Pullover is literally two rectangles, and the sleeves are basically rectangles with two simple increases (make 1 right and make 1 left) to make them arm-shaped. If you can knit a scarf or a washcloth, you can make this sweater.

People Who Are Afraid of Sweaters

Sweaters aren’t hard—really! Yes, there is more knitting, but it’s no more than making multiple scarves. If you’re nervous about fit, this is an easy-going, laidback sweater; it’s meant to be slouchy. No one will know if it’s slightly bigger or smaller than you intended. Plus, we’ll walk you through making a proper gauge swatch to help ensure your success.

People Who Just Want to Make a Sweater

Just finished your brioche cable sweater coat and need an easy project? In a sweatery mood but pandemic-brain is working against you? Just like KALs and think it’s a cute pullover? Join us! We’re always delighted to have knitters of all interests and experiences sharing their yarn choices, knitting tips, and gorgeous sweaters.

Follow us on Facebook and show off your sweater plans and progress. 

If you’d like to knit the Amber Pullover, it’s available as a single pattern download or in Quick + Easy Knits. We’ve got a lot of inspiration, tips, and tricks to help you along the way:

• About the Amber Pullover ← You are here!
• Getting Gauge
• Mistakes Were Made (And Fixed)
• Joining the Shoulder Seams
• A Trip to Sleeve Island
• Seaming the Sleeves to the Body
• (Mostly) Finished Objects!

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Want to learn more? Check out these resources: