The Gemini Sweater

Work with multiple colors, but just one at a time.

#MyZodiacSweater

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Detailed PDF pattern

♊︎ Step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos

♊︎ Stitch charts, sweater diagrams for coloring in, detailed tutorial for the “join-as-you-go” method

Difficulty level

♊︎ Intermediate

Size-inclusive

♊︎ Pattern written for 10 sizes with instructions on customization

♊︎ Fits busts from 28″ to 70″

What you'll need

♊︎ Scheepjes Catona yarn or any sport or DK weight yarn you can meet gauge with, in the amounts shown below.

♊︎ Your 5.5 mm (main gauge) and 3.5 mm (secondary) hooks; For this granny square sweater I used my Furls Odyssey hook. 

♊︎ Tape measure, scissors, darning needle.

Pattern support

♊︎ For pattern related questions, please join my Facebook support group or contact me at thecrochethighway [at] gmail.com.

Join my Facebook support Group

I proud myself with writing ultra-detailed patterns for you, so that your crocheting experience is as smooth and seamless as possible. But whenever you have a pattern related question, my Facebook support group is the place to ask. There you can also share your WIPs and brag about your FOs with the community!

The Zodiac Collection

The Gemini Sweater is the fourth crochet sweater pattern published in the Zodiac Crochet Collection – a series of crochet garments and accessories that follow a common theme: colorwork made easy. Use hashtag #MyZodiacSweater when posting your makes on social media!

The designs in this collection use multiple colors for a contrasting effect, but the stitch patterns are carefully selected, so that you only have to work with one color at a time. The inspiration behind this collection is my original colorwork design, the Starry Yoke. Check out the other designs in the #MyZodiacSweater collection:

The story

For the Gemini star sign, it was clear to me from the start that I wanted to do a granny square sweater. I mean, what better way to capture the duality and playfulness of the Gemini than with a bunch of fun little, identical squares?

For a long time I had this vision of designing a crochet sweater made out of squares. But not just any granny squares, rather granny squares that employ a stitch pattern which, when joined together, create unexpected, continuous lines akin to an optical illusion: enter, the moss stitch! The easy, fun, and incredibly pretty moss stitch (also known as the crochet linen stitch) was the perfect candidate for this design.

Shop the same yarn on LoveCrafts or Amazon. Or check out the Furls Odyssey hooks to see if they’re in stock!

The Gemini

The Gemini Sweater is a crochet sweater made up of granny squares. Each square is worked individually using the beautiful moss stitch (or linen stitch) with two, alternating colors. When the squares are joined together, the two contrasting colors form unexpected lines and shapes, creating a gorgeous, eye-catching effect.

Depending on the color combination you pick (and the possibilities here are endless, just see my testers’ versions below!), you can create a retro sweater, an elegant off-the-shoulder garment for special occasions, or a wearable yet unique sweater for every-day wear. The sky is the limit, and you have the opportunity to let your imagination run wild! The pattern provides sweater diagrams so you can color in and plan your squares from the start.

Boat neck, crew neck, off-the-shoulder: you choose!

Off-the-shoulder neck by Pam @loveit_hookit

The two neckline options included in the pattern, as well as the instructions on customization, will make sure your Gemini Sweater will fit you perfectly, just the way you want it to!

Let’s talk sleeves: you know that type of granny square sweater where the sleeves are made up exclusively of granny squares, and the sleeve is bulky with no shaping? Well, I did not want that for the Gemini. For the Gemini Sweater I knew from the start I wanted to create something special for the sleeve: enter, the undersleeve panels! The top of the sleeves features the same granny squares as the body in order to keep the granny square vibes, BUT the underside of the sleeve is made up of a trapezoid-shape (the “undersleeve”) worked using only one color. This ensures the sleeve tapers in nicely, providing a great fit with very little bulk!

Like most CrochetHighway patterns, the Gemini comes with step-by-step instructions and tutorial photos including on how to crochet each square, how to complete the “join-as-you-go” joining method, and how to seam the undersleeve panels to the sweater panels.

The pattern calls for sport weight yarn (category 2), but some of my testers used DK weight (category 3) with great results. Check out the tester photo gallery where I share all the details on yarns and yardages from my testers!

Quick metrics from my testers:

  • Difficulty rating: 2.4 / 5
  • Average completion time: 37 hours

Designer sample

My sample uses Scheepjes Catona in color #110 Jet Black for the main color, and #105 Bridal White, #238 Powder Pink, #246 Icy Pink, #518 Marshmallow, #409 Soft Rose for the contrast colors. The WPI of this yarn is 13.5.

I have a 96 cm (38″) bust and I’m wearing size 3 with 5 cm (2″) of positive ease.

Blocking your squares

Here’s how I made a blocking board to block the granny squares for this pattern.

For a long time, I wanted to make a blocking board for myself, and this pattern was the perfect opportunity. And because I love to DIY whenever I can, I decided against buying a ready-made blocking board and instead made one myself.

I used a wooden chopping board as a base – these are easy to find at many stores, but I already had one on hand which was ever-so-slightly warped ever since I bought it, making it the perfect candidate for this project, since it would have been impractical to use for cutting anything on it.

I mapped out the holes grid using ruler and pencil, making sure to space them out evenly and at an appropriate distance (about half an inch from one another). Then I drilled the holes one by one, marking my drill bit accordingly to make sure I didn’t go through the wood all the way.

The dowels are a different story – I couldn’t find anything suitable to use as dowels, so I picked the longest nails I could find at the hardware store, cut off the nail head using heavy-duty pliers, then used sandpaper to smooth everything out. I coated each and every dowel with clear paint as an anti-rust treatment. For this I stuck the dowels into a piece of foamboard and spray painted them twice using automotive spray paint.

I made 8 dowels in total, which should be plenty for blocking 2 columns of granny squares at a time!

I used my blocking board to wet block my granny squares into a perfectly square shape before joining them together to create the Gemini Sweater ♊️ – watch me as I demonstrate how I use this blocking board!

Tester highlights

Scroll down for the complete tester lookbook, where you can find photos, yarn & yardage info from all my testers, as well as certain modifications they made to their sweaters for the perfect, customized fit.

Materials and yardage

Hooks: 5.5 mm (main gauge) hk, 3.5 mm (secondary) hk, or sizes needed to obtain gauge. I’m a tight crocheter, so you may have to go down in hook sizes.

Notions: Tape measure, scissors, darning needle.

Yarn: You’ll need at least two colors. A main color (MC), and a contrasting color (CC) of any (CYC 3) DK weight or (CYC 2) sport weight yarn you can meet gauge with. The approximate yardages required for all 10 sizes are:

Main Color:

(1075, 1160, 1265, 1300, 1420) (1505, 1630, 1675, 1815, 1910) m,

or (1175, 1270, 1385, 1420, 1555) (1645, 1785, 1830, 1985, 2090) yds

Contrast Color:

(485, 550, 570, 605, 630) (695, 715, 750, 770, 840) m,
or (530, 600, 625, 660, 690) (760, 780, 820, 840, 920) yds

These yardages are estimate and reflect a full-length sweater with long, tapered sleeves. See the exact yardages from my testers in the lookbook below.

Sizing

All my garment patterns are #sizeinclusive up to at least a 60” bust circumference.

Gemini Sweater bust sizing:

Size 1: 32″ (81 cm) bust
Size 2: 36″ (91 cm) bust
Size 3: 40″ (102 cm) bust
Size 4: 44″ (112 cm) bust
Size 5: 48″ (122 cm) bust
Size 6: 52″ (132 cm) bust
Size 7: 56″ (142 cm) bust
Size 8: 61″ (155 cm) bust
Size 9: 64″ (163 cm) bust
Size 10: 70″ (178 cm) bust

The measurements above reflect finished bust measurements.

This sweater is designed to be worn with up to 10 cm (4″) of positive ease around the bust. When choosing a size, find the bust measurement in this table that is closest to 10 cm (4″) larger than your actual bust measurement depending on your desired amount of ease and make this size. If in between sizes, size up.

Tried & tested substitution yarns

My testers used a variety of yarns for their sweaters, in a truly amazing variety of color combinations. Here’s a list of yarns recommended by them. The list is sorted alphabetically. If you’re looking for inspiration or a quick yarn substitution idea, this is the place to start!

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Tester lookbook

My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Swipe left & right for more photos of your favorite versions!

Want to test my future patterns? Check out how you can become a pattern tester for CrochetHighway!

Size 5, Wider neckline
Using 1130 yds (MC) and 720 yds (CC) of Lion Brand Truboo
Mods: None

Size 2, Narrower neckline
Using 516 yds (MC) and 378 yds (CC) of Namaskar Baby cotton 4ply
Mods: I made short sleeves and crop top length with only a single crochet round at the hem.

Size 4, Wider neckline
Using 1500 yds (MC) and 515 yds (CC) of Lion Brand Coboo
Mods: I made short sleeves, using 1 row of granny squares per sleeve.

Size 3, Wider neckline
Using 984 yds (MC) and 617 yds (CC) of Knitpicks Reverie
Mods: I made the undersleeve panel shorter by 12 rows.

Size 4, Wider neckline
Using 1346 yds of Sirdar Snuggly DK (MC) and 631 yds of Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend (CC)
Mods: My neckline squares turned out wider than expected, so I worked extra decreases around the collar, as well as one extra collar round.

Size 6, Wider neckline
Using 1480 yds (MC) and 680 yds (CC) of Knit Picks Brava Sport
Mods: None

Size 4, Wider neckline
Using 1250 yds of Mayflower Easy Care Classic (MC) and 1100 yds of Dyeing Wishes Yarn Co Decay DK (CC)
Mods: None

Size 5, Wider neckline
Using 1188 yds of Lion Brand Coboo (MC) and 772 yds of Lion Brand Truboo (CC)
Mods: None

Size 3, Wider neckline
Using 1558 yds of ThreeTreesFibreCrafts Ewe-ge Obsession DK (MC) and 645 yds of Wool and Works DK Superwash Merino & Blackwattle Yarn Blue Gum (CC)
Mods: None

Size 5, Wider neckline
Using 1267 yds of Cotton Kings Sultan (MC) and 830 yds of Hobbii Twister Solid (CC)
Mods: I made the undersleeve panel shorter by 8 rows and worked some extra decreases in the collar rounds.

Size 2, Wider neckline
Using 1077 yds (MC) and 689 yds (CC) of Scheepjes Catona
Mods: I used a 3 mm hook for all ribbing (instead of the recommended 3.5 mm hook). For the neckline ribbing, along the edges of the 3/4 and 1/2 squares, I did several SC2tog accompanied with some very tight SCs in order to keep the neckline a wide neckline (as opposed to the almost off the shoulder look that I have seen a couple of testers end up with who finished before me).

Size 2, Wider neckline
Using 1080 yds (MC) and 601 yds (CC) of Ashleys Crochets Combed Cotton
Mods: I made 3/4 sleeves, using 6 squares on each sleeve.
I adjusted the undersleeve length to 64 rows. I added one more round at the collar and decreased every 5th stitch.

Size 1, Wider neckline
Using 1100 yds of Knitcrate Knitologie Wisp (MC) and 351 yds of Retold Yarn Ladies Don’t Start Fights (CC)
Mods: I shortened the undersleeve panel and connected my last two squares of the sleeve around my wrist, as my wrist is very small. I decreased every 4 rows instead of 5 on the undersleeve panel. On the last few rows of the undersleeve, I decreased every row until I had one stitch left to prevent buldge when joining the square and the undersleeve.

Size 3, Wider neckline
Using 1189 yds of The Frosted Stitch Coastal (MC) and 735 yds of Estako yarn (CC)
Mods: I omitted one row of squares from the bottom of the body and the sleeves, using a total of 63 full squares and 3 half squares.

Size 1, Wider neckline
Using 980 yds of Loop’ncrafts Sundae (MC) and 510 yds of Papatya Mercerised Cotton (CC)
Mods: I removed 1 row of squares from the bottom of the sweater. I made 56 full squares instead of 64 and the sweater length is now 20.5″ which is perfect for me. I added 1 more round around the collar.

Size 4, Narrower neckline
Using 1390 yds of Scheepjes Softfun (MC) and 523 yds of The Frosted Stitch Icy DK/DFDK in Space Unicorn (CC)
Mods: None

Size 5, Wider neckline
Using 1364 yds (MC) and 1129 yds (CC) of Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop
Mods: I added an extra row of squares to the sleeves and the bottom of the sweater because I have longer arms and a long torso.

Size 2, Wider neckline
Using 836 yds of King Cole Cottonsoft DK (MC) and 726 yds of Suzhou Industry Garden Hongxiang Textile company 9 colours deer (CC)
Mods: I did 1 additional round for the collar, hem and cuffs. I worked extra decreases in the cuff and hem rounds. I used a smaller hook to work the ribbings.

Size 3, Wider neckline
Using 1250 yds of Stylecraft Special DK (MC) and 545 yds of The Wool Shed (CC)
Mods: None

Size 3, Wider neckline
Using 1013 yds (MC) and 632 yds (CC) of YarnArt Summer
Mods: I made short sleeves, using 2 rows of granny squares per sleeve.

Size 6, Narrower neckline
Using 1310 yds of Valley Yarns Huntingtons (MC) and 920 yds of Hobbii Dream Colour (CC)
Mods: None

Size 4, Wider neckline
Using 973 yds of Stylecraft Special DK (MC) and 525 yds of Cygnet Boho Spirit (CC)
Mods: None

Size 5, Narrower neckline
Using 986 yds (MC) and 432 yds (CC) of Crocheted by Carisse 12ply fine cotton
Mods: None

Size 5, Wider neckline
Using 1167 yds (MC) and 793 yds (CC) of Nako Elite Baby
Mods: None

Size 6, Wider neckline
Using 317 yds (MC) and 654 yds (CC) of Scheepjes Catona
Mods: None

Size 7, Wider neckline
Using 960 yds of Alize Cotton Gold (MC) and 902 yds of Alize Cotton Gold Batik (CC)
Mods: None

Size 7, Wider neckline
Using 1850 yds (MC) and 780 yds (CC) of Lion Brand Cuboo
Mods: I shortened the sleeves by removing 1 row of granny squares from each sleeve.

Size 2, Narrower neckline
Using 1000 yds (MC) and 600 yds (CC) of locally sourced yarn
Mods: I made shorter sleeves.

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