Any Yarn Will Do: Top down crochet sweater pattern

‘Any Yarn Will Do’ is a classic top-down round yoke crochet sweater pattern, designed with beginner garment crocheters in mind. If you’ve never made a sweater before, this one is for you.

But there’s something a little different about it too…

The pattern is designed to work with any of 5 yarn weights including 4ply / fingering / sock weight, double knit, aran or worsted, chunky and super chunky.

You are essentially getting 5 patterns in one.

So often crocheters become disenchanted with making garments because they cannot match the gauge or get the fit right.

The Any Yarn Will Do sweater aims to solve that issue by offering different gauge options to choose from. 

You can read more about what inspired this pattern and learn about what went into the design process here, or read on for the pattern details

Download the Any Yarn Will Do Sweater Pattern Now from Ravelry, Etsy or Love Crafts Crochet

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Skills Used

This pattern is suitable for adventurous beginners with some crochet experience. It uses simple stitches, basic increases and decreases and is crocheted in turned rounds.

The pattern has written instructions and notes which include a written description and link to a video tutorial for the extended single crochet stitch used to create the sweater.

In addition it has a photo guide which shows how to ‘split the yoke’, the main construction step in making a top-down jumper.

Top-down sweaters are worked in one piece with no seaming, so if that’s the thing that always put you off making a sweater then top-down is your friend.

There is also guidance on how to adjust top down garments for a customised fit, which you can read more about here.

I have also written a post sharing all my tips for crocheting top down yoke sweaters which you may find helpful.

The pattern is written in English using US standard crochet terms and also contains a schematic.

Yarn Weights

Yarn weight categories have so many variations across the globe that it’s hard to keep up with what qualifies as what category.

This issue was part of the inspiration behind this pattern (you can read the rest of the story here). I thought it would be more useful if you matched gauge with weight category being less important.

You can learn more about yarn weights here.

The pattern is written out separately for 5 yarn weights, but if the yarn you are using matches gauge for a different category than it’s label says, then go with gauge… always follow the gauge and the drape of the fabric.

If you haven’t yet learned the joy of swatching then this post will help you along.

For your information, I have outlined the yarns I used for the samples pictured below, but obviously any yarn will do…

Materials

You can use any yarn which meets gauge with a suitable drape for this project.

It’s a great way to use up yarn from your stash as stripes are so easy to work, so have fun getting creative, or just stick to a single colour!

The quantity of yarn will vary for each weight and size that you choose to make but I have outlined some guidance for each category below.

4 ply / Fingering / Sock (US category 2)

• 4mm crochet hook, or size needed for gauge
• Bergere de France Caline, 60% Acrylic 20% Wool 20% Polyamide. 50g = 180m / 197yds
• Shades: Limaille and Poudre
• Yarn Quantity: 920 – 1800m depending on size chosen

Double Knit (US Category 3)

• 4.5mm crochet hook, or size needed for gauge
• King Cole Sprite, 100% Acrylic, 100g = 300m / 328yds 
• Shade: Ibiza (shade now discontinued but yarn available in other colour ways)
• Stylecraft Life DK, 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool. 100g = 298m / 326yds
• Shade: Charcoal
• Yarn Quantity: 880 – 1670m depending on size chosen

Aran or Worsted Weight (US Category 4)

• 5.5mm crochet hook, or size needed for gauge
• Rico Creative Soft Wool Aran, 75% Acrylic 25% Wool. 100g = 300m / 328yds
• Shade: Turquoise (024)
• Yarn Quantity: 730 – 1410m depending on size chosen

Chunky / Bulky (US Category 5)

• 7mm crochet hook, or size needed for gauge
• Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky, 100% Acrylic. 100g = 136m / 149yds
• Shade: Sailor Blue (339) and Misty Grey (303)
• Yarn Quantity: 610 – 1100m depending on size chosen

With this sample I left the body and sleeves cropped, so used a smaller amount of yarn than indicated in the pattern (about 400g for the size Small).

Super Chunky / Super Bulky (US Category 6)

• 12mm crochet hook, or size needed for gauge
• King Cole Big Value Super Chunky, 100% Acrylic. 100g = 81m / 89yds
• Shade: Grey (024)
• Yarn Quantity: 360 – 710m depending on size chosen

Gauge

The gauge for each yarn weight category is listed in the pattern.

I strongly recommend you make a gauge swatch for this pattern so you can follow the instructions which most closely meet your gauge (not just your yarn category!)

I also encouraging washing and blocking your swatch and working with the blocked gauge. I’m an advocate for treating your swatch the way you would the finished garment for a more accurate approach.

I have listed the hook size I used to achieve gauge but you can change your hook to make the tension as needed.

This sweater is designed to be fairly loose fitting around the body and more fitted around the sleeves. So it is quite forgiving if your gauge is off a stitch or row (less so the thicker the yarn gets).

Top down sweaters are simple to adjust, so you can play with the fit at the point where you split the yoke.

You can ‘redistribute’ the stitches for a better fit if needed (e.g take some of the stitches from the bust and allocate them to the sleeves or work more stitches at the front for a fuller bust and narrow the back).

This post talks more about how to adjust top down yoke sweaters to fit.

Measurements and Finished Size

The pattern is written for 7 sizes, using women’s standard sizes XS to 3XL. It includes a schematic which gives various measurements for different areas of the garment (length, neckline, bicep, cuff etc.)

XS: 86cm, S: 96cm, M: 107cm, L: 117cm, 1XL: 127cm, 2XL:137cm, 3XL: 147cm

Note that whilst measurements are based on women’s sizes, this is a unisex / gender neutral design, so work with the bust / chest measurements over the size label if that works better for you!

Measurements are averaged out over the 5 pattern versions.

All the samples you see pictured here are made in a size small and worn by me – I’m 5’2” (just) and a UK dress size 8-10.

Download the full pattern now from Ravelry, Etsy or Love Crafts Crochet

For more information about the inspiration behind the any yarn will do sweater, how and why I designed it you might want to read this blog post.

Sharing your finished makes

I love seeing your finished makes – it gives me all the happy feels!

Here’s how you can share them on social media, if that’s your cup of tea!

• On Instagram, you can use the hashtag #DoraDoes or #AnyYarnWillDo or just tag me @doradexplored
• If you have the bug for creating garments, why not join my dedicated facebook group “My Crochet Wardrobe” and share them there?
• If Pinterest is your happy place, you can add them there too – check out my Pinterest account for lots more crochet inspiration from makers across the web!
• Sign up to the WiP Tip for weekly crochet chat, offers and exclusives straight to your inbox – click here to sign up

Happy Hooking

Dx

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