Pattern: Adapted from Glampyre’s “Cozy V-Neck Pullover” in Fitted Knits

Yarn: Cascade Eco Wool. I really loved using this yarn. It was very squishy and smelled vaguely of sheep (in a good way!) and it is very soft. I was worried that it might be itchy but it’s not, I have been wearing this sweater next to my skin without any problem. There is also amazing yardage per skein - something like 400+ yards (can’t find the ball band right now) and I managed to knit this entire sweater from one skein. This project rang in at under $16 for an all wool sweater! Wow! I know, I know, it has short sleeves, but it’s such a thick warm sweater that I think it would be too hot for inside with longer sleeves anyways. Verdict=great yarn, soft, cheap, pretty, smelly and above all squishy. Absolutely amazing squish.

Modifications: I added a button placket, took out the deep ribbing, added waist shaping and shortened the sleeves and used a different yarn.

Close up of the buttons which I love:

Why is it called the “Cavalier Sweater”? Well, that is because of the way that I knit it. I was very bad and did not do a gauge swatch, or even measure anything. I just cast on as per the pattern, followed the instructions up to the last line of the v-neck and then just did whatever I thought would work and made it up as I went along. Normally, I don’t think this approach would work at all but my success was influenced by three factors:

1. Thick yarn means ripping out is not too painful. I didn’t actually have to rip anything out (except for 2 rows when I joined to knit in the round at the v-neck and managed to twist my knitting. Yeah, that was pretty dumb. It was finals week and I was sleep deprived) but I could have.

2. I tried it on a lot. I put the stitches on a holder and tried it on after each section (v-neck, placket, increases, decreases) to see how long the next sections ought to be.

3. Crazy, incredible luck. Yay!

I think this is my favorite sweater ever.

I will probably never take it off.