I’m so excited to introduce the Waffle Top pullover, a sweater in which the side-to-side rows and the Waffle stitch combine for a lot of visual interest. “It’s a fun project to knit,” says my wife Pam and she has fallen in love with this colorway, Fresh Figs, of Universal Yarn Deluxe Stripes. This sweater only took 5 balls of yarn to knit. Yesterday, we cast on a modular blanket, and two days ago, I showed you how to knit the Waffle stitch pattern. I’m sure you’ll be ready to cast on this unisex pullover as soon as possible!
This modified drop-shoulder style gives a casual but not bulky fit to this pullover.
To knit this sweater, you’ll need to use a needle size that is several sizes larger than the US7 [4.5mm] recommended on the ball band. Pam knit with size US9 [5.5mm] needles to get a chunky gauge in order to give the resulting fabric some drape, and to keep the waffle stitch from becoming “stodgy”, too dense to wear comfortably. The gauge is 15 stitches and 21 rows per 4” over stockinette stitch. This pattern is written in one size (for a finished 45” chest) but modifying it for smaller or larger wearers is simply a matter of adding row repeats across the body pieces where there’s no armhole shaping. If you want the upper sleeves to be wider or narrow to accommodate different arm sizes, simply change the number of row repeats across the middle of the sleeve once there’s no sleeve cap or short row shaping. If you make the sleeves larger, you’ll need to also increase the depth of armhole shaping by adding multiples of 3 sts to maintain the waffle stitch pattern. If you’d like a longer torso, simply add more stockinette stitches to the lower half. If you’ve made modifications, be sure to pick up more stitches around the waist or the cuffs and across the neck-opening for the ribbing.
Deluxe Stripes creates an icicle look where the short-rows are used to shape the sleeve.
In the photo above, between where the blue-headed and red-headed blocking pins appear is the middle section of the sleeve knit side-to-side. In that section is where you can add more rows or remove them if you want to change the upper arm circumference of the sleeve.
The front and back of the Waffle Top pullover are knit the same. Add rows at the mid-point for a larger bust measurement or work fewer for a smaller one.
The shape of this sweater is still quite blocky, but I wanted to keep things simple, hence the modified shoulders and the boat neckline. The front and back of the sweater are knit exactly the same. Check the schematic below for how the pieces should be arranged before sewing, and before adding the ribbing at the neckline, the waist, and the sleeves.
Modify this sweater’s size easily by adding or removing rows and stitches in a few key places.
The boat neck ribbing bands overlap at the shoulder seam for a no-nonsense fit.
Pattern
materials
yarn
- 5 Balls of Universal Yarn Deluxe Stripes
needles
- US9 [5.5mm] needles
- US8 [5mm] circular needles for ribbing
gauge
15 stitches and 21 rows per 4” over stockinette stitch
abbreviations and special stitches
Knit-side shadow stitch (kshst) Insert RH needle tip into front leg of stitch below next stitch on LH needle and knit up a loop, place loop on LH needle. Turn work leaving these 2 loops emerging from the same stitch (called twin stitches) and remaining stitches unworked. Avoid tugging or stretching needles tips apart when turning.
Knit twin stitches together (ktwtog) Knit twin stitches together as one stitch.
Kfb Knit into front loop of next st without removing from LH needle, then knit into back loop of same st, removing all from needle.
K2tog Knit 2 stitches together, inserting RH needle tip in the 2nd stitch, then the first st.
P-st (Post Stitch) Insert RH needle between first and 2nd sts on LH needle; knit up a loop, knit first st, pass first loop over stitch just knit.
P1k1 Purl in next st without sliding from LH needle, knit in back loop of same st, sliding all of LH needle.
P2tog Purl 2 stitches together.
Sl1 wyif With the working yarn in front, insert the right needle into the next stitch as if to purl and transfer the stitch from the left needle to the right.
Back/Front: Make 2.
Cast on 49 sts.
Row 1: K41, pm, [p1, k1, p1]x2, k2.
Row 2: Cast on 2 sts, p1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, sm, purl across. 51 sts
Row 3: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x3, k1.
Row 4: Cast on 2 sts, p3, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, sm, purl across. 53 sts
Row 5: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x3, k3.
Row 6: Cast on 2 sts, p2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, sm, purl across. 55 sts
Row 7: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x4, k2.
Row 8: Cast on 2 sts, p1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, sm, purl across. 57 sts
Row 9: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x5, k1.
Row 10: Cast on 2 sts, p3, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, sm, purl across. 59 sts
Row 11: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, k3.
Row 12: Cast on 2 sts, p2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, sm, purl across. 61 sts
Row 13: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x6, k2
Row 14: Cast on 2 sts, p1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x7, sm, purl across. 63 sts
Row 15: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, k1.
Row 16: Cast on 2 sts, p3, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x7, sm, purl across. 65 sts
Row 17: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x7, k3.
Row 18: Cast on 2 sts, p2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x8, sm, purl across. 67 sts
Row 19: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x8, k2.
Row 20: Cast on 14 sts, p1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x13, sm, purl across. 81 sts
Row 21: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x13, k1.
Row 22: P1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x13, sm, purl across.
Row 23: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x13, k1.
Row 24: P1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x13, sm, purl across.
Rows 25-96: Rep Rows 21-24. (Extra rows can be added here for larger bust sizes)
Rows 96-99: Rep Rows 21-23.
Row 100: Bind off 14 sts purlwise ending with 26 sts total before marker, p1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x8, sm, purl across. 67 sts
Row 101: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x7, p1, k2tog, k2tog. 65 sts
Row 102: P3, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x7, sm, purl across.
Row 103: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x6, k1, P-st, k2tog, k2tog. 63 sts
Row 104: P4, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, sm, purl across.
Row 105: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x6, k2tog, k2tog. 61 sts
Row 106: P2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, sm, purl across.
Row 107: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, k1, p2tog, k2tog. 59 sts
Row 108: P3, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, sm, purl across.
Row 109: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x4, p1, k1, p2tog, k2tog. 57 sts
Row 110: P1, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, sm, purl across.
Row 111: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x4, p2tog, k2tog. 55 sts
Row 112: P2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, sm, purl across.
Row 113: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x3, k2tog, k2tog. 53 sts
Row 114: [P1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, sm, purl across.
Row 115: Knit to marker, sm, [k1, P-st, k1]x3, k2tog, k2tog. 51 sts
Row 116: p2, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, sm, purl across.
Row 117: Knit to marker, sm, [p1, k1, p1]x2, p1, sl 1, k2tog, psso. 49 sts
Row 118: Purl.
Row 119: Bind-off knitwise.
The modified drop shoulder and partial raglan shaped sleeve cap gives a non-bulky fit at the underarm.
Sleeves (Make 2)
Cast on 55 sts.
Row 1 (RS): [K1, p2]x2, k1, p1, pm, knit 47. 55 sts
Row 2: P47, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x2, p1, k1.
Row 3: K2 [k1, P-st, k1]x2, sm, knit across.
Row 4: P47, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x2, p1k1 in next st, kfb in last st. 57 sts
Row 5: K1, [p1, k1, p1]x3, sm, knit across.
Row 6: P47, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, p1k1 in next st. 58 sts
Row 7: K2, [k1, P-st, k1]x3, sm, knit across.
Row 8: P47, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, p1k1 in next st, kfb in last st. 60 sts
Row 9: K1, [p1, k1, p1]x4, sm, knit across.
Row 10: P47, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p1k1 in last st. 61 sts
Row 11 (short row): K2, [k1, P-st, k1]x4, sm, k7, kshst, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Row 12: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p1, kfb. 62 sts
Row 13 (short row): K3 [p1, k1, p1]x4, sm, k7, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 14: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p2, p1k1 in last st. 63 sts
Row 15 (short row): K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, sm, k14, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 16: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, p1k1 in last st. 64 sts
Row 17 (short row): K2, [p1, k1, p1]x5, sm, k21, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 18: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, kfb in next st, k1. 65 sts
Row 19 (short row): K3, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, sm, k28, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 20: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, p1, k1, p1k1 in last st. 66 sts
Row 21: K1, [p1, k1, p1]x6, sm, k35, ktwtog, knit rem sts across.
Row 22: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, kfb in last st. 67 sts
Row 23: K2, [k1, P-st, k1]x6, sm, knit across.
Row 24: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, p1, kfb in last st. 68 sts
Row 25: [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, knit across.
Row 26: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, p1, k1, p1k1 in last st. 69 sts
Row 27: K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, knit across.
Row 28: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x7, p1.
Row 29 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, k7, kshst, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Row 30: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x7, p1.
Row 31 (short row): K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, k7, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 32: Rep Row 30.
Row 33 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, k14, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 34: Rep Row 30.
Row 35 (short row): K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, k21, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 36: Rep Row 30.
Row 37 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, k28, ktwtog, k6, kshst, turn.
Row 38: Rep Row 30.
Row 39: K1 [k1 P-st, k1]x7, sm, k35, ktwtog, knit rem sts across.
Row 40: Rep Row 30.
Row 41: K1 [p1, k1 p1]x7, sm, knit across.
Row 42: Rep Row 30.
Row 43: K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, knit across
Row 44: Rep Row 30.
Rows 45-52: Rep Rows 41-44.
Row 53 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm k35, kshst, turn, leaving rem sts unworked.
Row 54: Rep Row 30.
Row 55 (short row): K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, k28, kshst, turn.
Row 56: Rep Row 30.
Row 57 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, k21, kshst, turn.
Row 58: Rep Row 30.
Row 59 (short row): K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, k14, kshst, turn.
Row 60: Rep Row 30.
Row 61 (short row): K1, [p1, k1, p1]x7, sm, k7, kshst, turn.
Row 62: Rep Row 30.
Row 63: K1, [k1, P-st, k1]x7, sm, k7, [ktwtog, k6]x4, ktwtog, knit across rem sts.
Row 64: Rep Row 30.
Row 65: Ssk, k1, p1, [p1, k1, p1]x6, sm, knit across. 68 sts
Row 66: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, p3.
Row 67 (short row): Ssk, k1, [k1, P-st, k1]x6, sm, knit 35, kshst, turn, leaving rem sts unworked. 67 sts
Row 68: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, p2.
Row 69 (short row): Ssk, [p1, k1, p1]x6, sm, knit 28, kshst, turn. 66 sts
Row 70: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x6, p1.
Row 71 (short row): Ssk, P-st, k1, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, sm, k21, kshst, turn. 65 sts
Row 72: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, p3.
Row 73 (short row): Ssk, k1, [p1, k1, p1]x5, sm, k14, kshst, turn. 64 sts
Row 74: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, p2.
Row 75 (short row): Ssk, [k1, P-st, k1]x5, sm, k7, kshst, turn. 63 sts
Row 76: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x5, p1.
Row 77: Ssk, k1, p1, [p1, k1, p1]x4, sm, k7, [ktwtog, k6]x4, ktwtog, knit across rem sts. 62 sts
Row 78: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p3.
Row 79: Ssk, k1, [k1, P-st, k1]x4, sm, knit across. 61 sts
Row 80: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p2.
Row 81: Ssk, [p1, k1, p1]x4, sm, knit across. 60 sts
Row 82: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x4, p1.
Row 83: Sl1, k2tog, psso, k1, [k1, P-st, k1]x3, sm, knit across. 58 sts
Row 84: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, p2.
Row 85: Ssk, [p1, k1, p1]x3, sm, knit across. 57 sts
Row 86: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x3, p1.
Row 87: Sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, [k1, P-st, k1]x2, sm, knit across. 55 sts
Row 88: Purl to marker, sm, [p1, sl1 wyif, p1]x2, p2.
Row 89: K1, p1, [p1, k1, p1]x2, sm, knit across.
Row 90: *P2tog, return st just worked to LH needle; rep from * across.
The ribbing edgings are applied after the separate parts are sewn together.
Assembly and Finishing
Block the 4 pieces to the measurements in the schematic and allow to dry thoroughly. With smaller needles pick up and knit a multiple of 4 stitches across the top of the Front. To do this evenly, [pick up in every row end for 3 rows, then skip the next row end] repeat across. Near the opposite edge, you can modify the rate of picking up slightly to achieve a multiple of 4. Knit the ribbing as follows:
Row 1 (WS): P3, [k2, p2] across to last st, p1.
Row 2: K3, [p2, k2] across to last st, k1.
Work for 1½” (or longer if this is where you want to modify the depth of the armhole opening).
Bind off. Repeat for the Back.
Lay the Back ribbing over the front ribbing and seam with the center 1½” across the top of each sleeve using mattress stitch seaming through both layers of ribbing to the one layer of the sleeve.
Seam the remaining edges of the sleeve caps to the armhole opening edges.
Seam from cuff to waist band on each side.
Beginning at one of the side seams, [pick up in every row end for 3 rows, then skip the next row end] repeat around the bottom edge of the body for the waistband. As you approach the starting point, you can modify the rate of picking up slightly to achieve a multiple of 4. Work k2-p2 ribbing around to the desired length. Repeat ribbing this way on bottom edge of each sleeve for cuffs.
Enjoy wearing the Waffle Top pullover this spring.
I hope you delve into knitting this pattern soon. Knitted at this looser gauge, it’s the perfect next-to-the-skin sweater for spring 2021. I’ve really enjoyed knitting with Universal Yarn Deluxe Stripes and I’m sure I’ll use this yarn again for more projects…maybe a Waffle Stitch hat to match!
This is part 5 of 5 in this series
Go back to part 4: Knitting a modular squares blanket with Deluxe Stripes