Back in 2019, the idea of knitting a zero waste sweater came to me. I wanted to knit a sweater using only tiny yarn scraps, that would otherwise end up in the trash. The problem was that I hardly had any scraps – and certainly not enough to knit a sweater.
Enter my friend Alexa from Amilishly. (If you don’t know Alexa, you’re truly missing out. She designs the most adorable crochet dolls and has also published several stunning knitting patterns.) When I told Alexa about my plans for a scrap yarn project, she kindly gifted me a bunch of handdyed yarn scraps. Now I had enough materials to get started!
In December 2020 I finally started working on my scrap yarn sweater. This was most definitely my longest WIP ever. I generally finish all of my projects within a few months time at most, but knitting this sweater took me three years or so. Not so much because the knitting itself took a lot of time, but because the colors of my sample aren’t as random as they appear. I’m a huge perfectionist and it took me quite some time to pick the right color every time!
So, without further ado (I know some of you have waited long enough for the release of this sweater): meet the Scrapnificent Sweater! You can find the basic pattern for this sweater below for free. An ad-free, printable PDF version of the pattern can be purchased in English and Dutch in my webshop and on Ravelry. The paid version of the pattern also includes an exclusive (scrap) yarn guide in which I tell you exactly how I achieved the particular look of my own sample. I like to call it a “seamless multicolored look with tiny scraps”. The yarn guide also includes instructions for other color options, such as a striped version and a gradient striped version.
You can find the instructions for the basic pattern below.
SCRAPNIFICENT SWEATER
Knitting a sweater out of 6-10” yarn scraps takes slow fashion to a whole new level! Nevertheless, my Scrapnificent sweater has quickly become one of my favorite garments. Yarn-wise, the possibilities are endless: this is obviously a great project to use yarn scraps, mini skeins or advents. I made my sample using only scraps and leftovers, which I cut into 15-25 cm / 6-10” strands to achieve this particular look. That means that this can truly be a zero waste garment! Although this sweater would also look amazing in a solid color, I highly encourage you to approach this as a stash busting project and to use those yarn scraps that have been lying around forever.
Scrapnificent is worked in the round from the bottom up, then divided at the armholes to work front and back separately. The sleeves are worked in the round by picking up stitches around the armhole. Scrapnificent is designed to have some positive ease around the bust (approx. 0 – 10 cm / 0 – 4 inches).
SIZES
XS, (S, M, L) [XL, 2XL, 3XL] (4XL, 5XL)
GARMENT MEASUREMENTS
Measurements in cm:
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| A | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 160 |
| B | 70-80 | 80-90 | 90-100 | 100-110 | 110-120 | 120-130 | 130-140 | 140-150 | 150-160 |
| C | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 |
| D | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 35 |
| E | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| F | 60 | 60 | 60 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 63 |
Measurements in inches:
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| A | 31½ | 35½ | 39½ | 43½ | 47¼ | 51 | 55 | 59 | 63 |
| B | 28-32 | 32-36 | 36-40 | 40-44 | 44-48 | 48-52 | 52-56 | 56-60 | 60-64 |
| C | 7 | 7½ | 8 | 8½ | 9 | 9½ | 9¾ | 10½ | 11 |
| D | 16½ | 16 | 15½ | 15½ | 15 | 14½ | 14½ | 13¾ | 13¾ |
| E | 7 | 7½ | 7¾ | 8½ | 9 | 9½ | 10 | 10½ | 10¾ |
| F | 23½ | 23½ | 23½ | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24¼ | 24¼ | 24¾ |
A = Finished chest size;
B = Fits chest size;
C = Armhole depth;
D = Armpit to hip length;
E = End of sleeve circumference;
F = Total length.
MATERIALS
Knitting needles:
- 3.5 mm circular needle (US size 4, UK size 9) or other needle size that matches gauge. I recommend using an 80 cm or 100 cm circular needle for the body. The sleeves can be worked on DPNs or a 40 cm circular needle. If you decide to use the magic loop method, you can also use a longer circular needle.
- 3 mm 60 cm circular needle (UK size 11) for the neck ribbing, and 3 mm DPNs or circular needle for the sleeve ribbing. You can use DPNs or the magic loop method with a longer circular needle.
Yarn:
- Fingering weight yarn, approximately 1320, (1485, 1650, 1815) [1980, 2145, 2310] (2475, 2640) meters / 1444, (1624, 1804, 1985) [2165, 2346, 2526] (2707, 2887) yards.
Other tools:
Darning needle, scissors, stitch markers, measuring tape, scrap yarn OR extra cable.
GAUGE
27 sts x 36 rounds = 10 x 10 cm / 4 × 4”; on 3.5 mm / US size 4 / UK size 9 needles in stockinette stitch.
KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2TOG = Knit 2 together
Rep = Repeat
St(s) = Stitch(es)
BOR = Beginning of round marker
RS = Right side
WS = Wrong side
EXTRA INFORMATION
I joined every new color with a magic no-ends knot. You can find a video tutorial for this knot here:
PATTERN
Cast on 216, (244, 270, 298) [324, 352, 378] (406, 432) sts on 3 mm needles using the long tail cast on method. Join in the round and place BOR to mark beginning of round. Work in 1×1 rib (K1, P1) for 21 rounds, or until ribbing measures approx. 6 cm / 2¼”.
Work in stockinette stitch in the round until your piece measures approx. 42, (41, 40, 39) [38, 37, 37] (35, 35) cm / 16½, (16, 15¾, 15½) [15, 14½, 14½] (13¾, 13¾) inches from cast on edge, or desired length. You can adjust the length to your preference by working more or less rounds here. Keep in mind that changing the length of your sweater will affect the yardage!
FRONT PANEL
Next row: K 108, (122, 135, 149) [162, 176, 189] (203, 216) sts, leave remaining 108, (122, 135, 149) [162, 176, 189] (203, 216) sts on hold. Turn your work.
Work 27, (31, 35, 41) [43, 47, 49] (57, 59) rows in stockinette stitch, beginning and ending with a WS row and turning your work after every row.
SHAPING THE FRONT NECKLINE
Start shaping the neckline as follows:
K 44, (51, 57, 64) [70, 77, 83] (90, 96), bind off 20, (20, 21, 21) [22, 22, 23] (23, 24) sts, K 44, (51, 57, 64) [70, 77, 83] (90, 96). Turn.
From now on, both “fronts” are worked separately.
Right front
Continue working in stockinette stitch while binding stitches off on the RS rows to shape the neckline.
Bind off 4 sts once, 3 sts twice, 2 sts twice, 1 st four times, and 1 st every other RS row 4 times. You have bound off a total of 22 sts. You should now have a total of 22, (29, 35, 42) [48, 55, 61] (68, 74) sts. After the last bind-off row, work 1, (1, 1, 3) [3, 3, 5] (5, 5) row(s) in stockinette stitch (beginning and ending with a WS row).
Leave the sts on hold for a three needle bind off. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (approx. 7 times the width of your work).
Left front
Join yarn on WS.
Continue working in stockinette stitch while binding stitches off on the WS rows to shape the neckline.
Bind off 4 sts once, 3 sts twice, 2 sts twice, 1 st four times, and 1 st every other RS row 4 times. You have bound off a total of 22 sts. You should now have a total of 22, (29, 35, 42) [48, 55, 61] (68, 74) sts. After the last bind-off row, work 2, (2, 2, 4) [4, 4, 6] (6, 6) row(s) in stockinette stitch (beginning with a RS row and ending with a WS row).
Leave the sts on hold for a three needle bind off. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (approx. 7 times the width of your work).
BACK PANEL
Join yarn on RS and work in stockinette stitch for 40, (44, 48, 54) [56, 60, 62] (70, 72) rows, beginning with a RS row and ending with a WS row. Turn your work after every row.
SHAPING THE BACK NECKLINE
Start shaping the neckline as follows:
K 40, (47, 53, 60) [66, 73, 79] (86, 92), bind off 28, (28, 29, 29) [30, 30, 31] (31, 32) sts, K 40, (47, 53, 60) [66, 73, 79] (86, 92). Turn.
From now on, both “backs” are worked separately.
Left back
Continue working in stockinette stitch while binding stitches off on the RS rows to shape the neckline.
Bind off 4 sts once, 3 sts twice, 2 sts twice, and 1 st four times. You have bound off a total of 18 sts. You should now have a total of 22, (29, 35, 42) [48, 55, 61] (68, 74) sts. Work 5, (5, 5, 7) [7, 7, 9] (9, 9) rows in stockinette stitch after working the last bind off row, beginning and ending with a WS row.
Leave the sts on hold for a three needle bind off. Cut the yarn.
Right back
Continue working in stockinette stitch while binding stitches off on the WS rows to shape the neckline.
Bind off 4 sts once, 3 sts twice, 2 sts twice, and 1 st four times. You have bound off a total of 18 sts. You should now have a total of 22, (29, 35, 42) [48, 55, 61] (68, 74) sts. Work 6, (6, 6, 8) [8, 8, 10] (10, 10) rows in stockinette stitch after working the last bind off row, beginning with a RS row and ending with a WS row.
Leave the sts on hold for a three needle bind off. Cut the yarn.
SHOULDER SEAMS
Close the shoulder seams using a three needle bind off. The three needle bind off is worked on the WS.
NECK RIBBING
Pick up approx. 152, (152, 152, 154) [154, 154, 156] (156, 156) sts around the neckline using 3 mm needles. Place a marker to mark beginning of round and work in 1×1 rib (K1, P1) for 20 rounds. Loosely bind off all sts. Fold neckband inward to create a folded neckband and sew into place.
SLEEVES
Pick up 96, (100, 108, 116) [124, 132, 136] (144, 148) sts evenly divided around the armhole using 3.5 mm needles. Start your round mid underarm. Place a marker to mark beginning of round and work in stockinette stitch until sleeve measures approx. 48 cm / 19 inches from armhole, or desired length.
Next round: K2TOG around. You should now have a total of 48, (50, 54, 58) [62, 66, 68] (72, 74) sts.
SLEEVE CUFF
Switch to 3 mm needles. Work in 1×1 rib (K1, P1) for 25 rounds. Bind off all sts.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block your sweater to size.
I hope you’ll enjoy the process of creating your Scrapnificent Sweater and that it fits perfectly. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. For more inspiration, find me on Instagram (@chaicrafts). I would love to see your project, so please tag me @chaicrafts and #chaicrafts #ScrapnificentSweater.
Much love,
Sanne
Happy knitting!
Designed by Sanne de Niet / Chai Crafts. Copyright © 2024.
Please note: this pattern is for personal use only. This pattern is property of Chai Crafts. You may not redistribute, sell, or share this pattern in part or in whole, physically or electronically.
