Knit a Striped Sweater with Mohair and Double-Knit Yarns

If you’ve been searching for a cozy and elegant project to elevate your knitting skills, this striped sweater tutorial is just what you need! Using two distinct types of textured yarn—double-knit bouclé and lace-weight mohair—this project allows you to create a stunning sweater with stripes that pop. Designed for both beginners and experienced knitters, the tutorial provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to crafting a stylish and functional garment. From learning the basics of gauge swatching to creating seamless panels, this project is the perfect opportunity to practice essential techniques while crafting a sweater that’s genuinely one of a kind.

Knit a Stunning Striped Sweater

What makes this striped sweater truly stand out is its innovative use of contrasting textures and colors. This Striped Sweater tutorial demonstrates a smart way to alternate rows of bouclé yarn for a cozy feel and mohair for a soft, luxurious finish—creating bold, eye-catching stripes with a harmonious balance. You’ll also learn clever techniques for joining in the round to keep your stitches untwisted and professional-looking, along with detailed instructions for seamlessly casting on, dividing the panel into front and back portions, and crafting a comfy sleeve design that complements the sweater’s overall aesthetic.

Pattern Highlights

• Combine two unique yarn textures—bouclé and mohair—for dynamic striped patterns with a polished look.
• Master the art of seamless circular knitting, learn to cast on without twisting, and tackle back-and-front panel separation with ease.

Credit Kenikse Crochet

Step-by-Step Pattern

Materials:

To knit this sweater, you’ll need the following:

• Yarn (2 types):
  • Double-knit yarn (e.g., bouclé).
  • Lace-weight mohair yarn.
• Circular knitting needles (6mm, cable included).
• Scissors.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers.

Stitch Guide:

A breakdown of the key stitches and techniques used:

1. Cast-On:
   Make a slipknot, then use your thumb and index finger to form loops for a long-tail cast-on. Ensure the stitches are even and not too tight.
2. Knit Stitch (K):
   Insert the needle through the front of the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle, and pull it through to create the “knit” texture.
3. Purl Stitch (P):
   Bring the yarn to the front, insert the needle from back to front, wrap the yarn, and pull it through to create a “purl” texture.
4. Joining in the Round:
   Once the stitches are cast on, transfer the first stitch to the other needle, loop over, and tighten to join.
5. Bind-Off:
   Work two stitches as instructed, and then pass the first stitch over the second to secure. Repeat to finish rows or panels.

Pattern Instructions:

Step 1: Cast-On

1. Make a slipknot on your needle with the double-knit yarn.
2. Using the long-tail cast-on method, cast on 140 stitches to create the sweater base. Add one extra stitch for the join. (Total: 141 stitches).
3. Ensure the stitches on the cable are straight and not twisted.
4. Join in the round: Transfer the first cast-on stitch to the opposite needle, loop it through, and tighten.

Step 2: Ribbed Hem (Bottom Edge)

1. Begin by working in purl stitches for the first 12 rows (using the double-knit yarn).
2. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each row as you knit in the round.

Step 3: Creating Stripes

1. Switch to the mohair yarn:
   • Cut the double-knit yarn, leaving a tail.
   • Join the mohair and switch to knit stitches.
   • Knit 12 rows for the contrasting stripe.
2. Alternate between the two yarns (purl for double-knit, knit for mohair), creating 12-row stripes.
3. Repeat until you’ve completed 5 sets of stripes. This marks the sweater’s waist portion.

Step 4: Divide for Front and Back

1. Place half the stitches (70 stitches) on one cable (back panel) and the other half on another (front panel).
2. Front Panel:
   • Work back and forth (not in the circle).
   • For mohair rows: Knit on the front and purl on the back.
   • For double-knit rows: Purl on the front and knit on the back.
   • Create 4 stripe sets (12 rows each).
3. Back Panel: Repeat the same process for the back.

Step 5: Shoulder Seams

1. Sew the front and back panels together at the shoulders using the tapestry needle. Sew across 16 stitches per shoulder. Ensure the neckline opening is wide enough for your head.
2. Hide the ends of the tails by weaving them into the rows.

Step 6: Sleeves

1. Flip the sweater wrong side out. Locate the armpit and pick up stitches around it to knit the sleeves. Cast on 60 stitches evenly around the armhole.
2. Stripe Pattern:
   • Use mohair for the first stripe: Knit stitches in the round (12 rows).
   • Switch to double-knit yarn for the next stripe: Purl stitches in the round (12 rows).
3. Continue until the sleeve is the desired length. (In this tutorial: 8 stripe sets per sleeve).
4. Bind off the sleeve using a purl or knit bind-off, depending on the row you finish on.

Step 7: Finishing Touches

1. Once both sleeves are complete, hide all the yarn tails using a tapestry needle.
2. Turn the sweater right-side out and give it a final finishing touch by gently blocking it to ensure evenness.

Pattern Question

Q: Do I need to adjust the pattern for different sizes?

A: Yes, adjusting the pattern for your desired size is essential! Create a gauge swatch to determine how many stitches you’ll need for your bust, then tailor the number of rows and stitches accordingly.

Video Tutorial