The Balloon Sweater is a modern, oversized knit featuring dramatic balloon sleeves that sit low on the shoulder and taper into close-fitting ribbed cuffs. The overall look is soft, relaxed and architectural — a great everyday sweater that still feels special.
The sweater is worked from the top down, allowing you to adjust length as you go. The neckline is shaped with a combination of shoulder increases and short rows, creating a comfortable fit without bulk at the front. After the yoke, the front and back are worked separately to the underarms, then joined to work the body in the round. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked downwards.
There is no finishing beyond weaving in ends, making this a satisfying project once the knitting is complete.
Size & Fit
The Balloon Sweater is designed to be worn with approximately 15 cm of positive ease (a relaxed, oversized fit).
Sizes: XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL
Bust circumference (finished garment):
99 (107) 110 (114) 124 (135) 143 cm
Length (mid back, excluding neck rib):
55 (56) 57 (58) 59 (60) 62 cm
Gauge
21 stitches × 28 rows = 10 × 10 cm
in stockinette stitch on 4 mm needles, after washing and blocking.
Needles
-
4 mm circular needles (40, 60, 80 or 100 cm)
-
3 mm circular needles (40 and 80 cm)
-
3 mm double-pointed needles (or Magic Loop)
Yarn Information (Substitution-Friendly)
This design is knitted using two strands held together throughout:
Strand 1 – Main Yarn
Choose a light fingering / 4-ply wool yarn with good structure.
Think smooth, springy fibres such as:
Target metreage: approx. 210–240 m per 50 g
Strand 2 – Halo Yarn
Choose a lace-weight mohair or alpaca blend to add softness and light halo.
Target metreage: approx. 210–230 m per 25 g
Yarn Quantity (by Metres)
Main yarn (4-ply / fingering):
-
XS: ~1,050 m
-
S: ~1,250 m
-
M: ~1,250 m
-
L: ~1,450 m
-
XL: ~1,450 m
-
2XL: ~1,550–1,700 m
-
3XL: ~1,700 m
Halo yarn (lace mohair / alpaca):
-
XS: ~1,050 m
-
S: ~1,260 m
-
M: ~1,260 m
-
L: ~1,470 m
-
XL: ~1,470 m
-
2XL: ~1,575–1,680 m
-
3XL: ~1,680 m
(Because fibres vary, always allow a small buffer if you are close to the upper end.)
Difficulty
★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)
Confident intermediate. Techniques include short rows, top-down construction, and knitting with two strands held together.
