A little over a year ago I fell in love with Lion Brand’s Amazing Yarn.
I love the colors, the striping. Ombre yarns are my favorite. Knitting never gets boring as the patterns unfold like a story.
As I knitter, I have chronic A.D.D. I can power through and finish a project when it is kid sized. But when it’s adult sized, I seem to only get so far as a big long scarf. But the Amazing yarn inspired me to try something more. To make something for myself that was more garment and less accessory.
To be honest, I wasn’t even sure exactly what it would be in the end. I just knew it couldn’t be too complicated. So I worked without a pattern, making a large rectangle, and then inserting the sleeves after. My family thought I was knitting an Afghan. Or a snuggie. I sure showed them!
It only took me a year to complete.
Staying power isn’t usually my power but somehow I powered through on this one. I knit my way through Downton Abbey and Sherlock. I knit through Storage Wars and Game of Thrones. This project traveled far and wide with me and I didn’t sweat it, knowing it would be done, one day. I just tried to enjoy the colors as they unfolded and think happy thoughts. Knitting relaxes me. It’s the only way I can take a break and watch tv without a computer on my lap.
One day, just like that, I finished. My dreamcoat was done.
I’m so pleased with my simple, “Amazing” technicolor dream coat that I thought I’d share my recipe.
How to Make an Amazing Dream Coat
15 balls of Lion Brand “Amazing” yarn in Regatta
Sz 13 needles
Cast on 90-100 stitches (less if you’re short, more if you’re tall)
knit 2 purl two for the first two rows. Continue on in stockinette stitch save for the first three and last three stitches of every row which are always worked as knit stitches to create a garter stitch border.
Continue on for 20 inches or longer. Measure the space between your armpits.
Make First Arm Hole:
Knit 14. Break Yarn. Join a piece of scrap yarn in a contrasting color. I used a thick piece of purple roving yarn. Knit 22 stitches. Break contrasting yarn and re-join Amazing yarn
Continue knitting to complete the distance between your armpits. Make second armhole as the first.
Continue knitting until the distance from the second armhole to the end is equal to the distance from the beginning to the first, finishing with two rows of knit two, purl two and bind off.
Make Sleeves:
Pull out the scrap yarn and evenly pick up 43 stitches on a pair of sz 13 round needles. Knit in the round until your sleeve is the desired length. Finish with two rounds of knit two, purl two.
Foot Notes: I washed the completed sweater in warm water on a short cycle and then dryed on medium for 20 minutes, checking it regularly to be sure it did not shrink too much. This shrank it a little bit, which was a good thing as I’d made it a little too long. It also tightened up the stitches and fuzzed up the sweater in a good way.
Even if you’ve never made yourself something, this is possible. You don’t have to keep track of a lot of increases and decreases or do any complex cabling. It’s all in the yarn. It’s a perfect project for watching movies and unwinding, long winding road trips and chilly fall nights. I wish you luck and sweet dreams of your own!
I absolutely love it!
I’ve been inspired to make this and have a question! When you say “measure between your armpits” is that over your back or your front?
Measure across your back! You can also measure on a sweater that fits well.
Thank you for sharing