Cosmopolitan Sweater
The chic and comfy batwing sweater for year round wear.
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The inspo
I wanted to create a sweater that feels both elegant and comfortable, has both drape and texture, and feels like a big warm hug when worn. Enter, the Cosmopolitan Sweater!
This batwing sweater will make you feel both comfortable, and effortlessly elegant. With loads of positive ease at the bust, it provides warmth and comfort, and the stretchy ribbing hugs your hips and wrists, keeping everything in place. All the while the alpine stitch pattern works its magic and embraces you in waves upon waves of three-dimensional texture.
The design
Construction: This batwing is worked bottom-up in two, almost identical panels, which are then seamed together at the top and sides. The neckline, cuffs and hem are added last and are easily adjustable.
The center point of the design, the batwing construction, is gloriously highlighted by a carefully thought-out seam at the shoulders and top of arms, as well as delicate, faux-knit details around the neckline, hem and sleeves. The stretchy ribbing at the hem and cuffs graciously brings it all together for a timeless look. For best results, this sweater needs to be blocked.
Choose a warmer fiber such as wool or acrylic and make yourself the warmest winter sweater, or go for a plant-based fiber such as a cotton or bamboo blend to create a chic blouse perfect for date night or just lounging around in style.
So, grab your hooks and yarn, and get ready to create the ultimate combo of eye-catching textures to add to your handmade wardrobe!
Check out the #CosmopolitanSweater hashtag to see this design worked up in a bunch of different yarns, or visit the #CosmopolitanCrochetCollection hashtag to see more pieces in this collection ❤️
The pattern
The printable PDF pattern includes clear instructions and a bunch of tips & tricks and tutorial photos, leaving no guesswork for you.
Are you a more seasoned crocheter who doesn’t need all the tutorial pictures? I got you covered! All my patterns, including this one, also come with a Consolidated version. This is a section within the PDF which has all the information you need tightly packed and re-formatted in a way that saves most paper while printing! 😉
The pattern also comes with a helpful row tracker, laying out every single row and stitch count for each size separately. This way you can easily check your stitch count and track your progress at any time.
Texture, details & comfort
Detailed PDF pattern
25 pages of step-by-step instructions & tutorial photos
Row tracker with all row & stitch counts for every size
Consolidated pattern for environmentally friendly printing
What you'll need
DK weight yarn
6 mm (J) hook
Tape measure, scissors, darning needle, stitch markers, pins & blocking board
Size-inclusive
Written for 9 sizes (XS-5X)
Includes instructions on how to customize sweater height
Ribbed cuffs and hem easily adjustable
Pattern support
Please contact me at thecrochethighway [at] gmail.com for pattern related questions.
Yarn & yardage
This is a size-inclusive pattern written for 9 sizes (XS-5X). It has been tested for sizes 1-8.
You’ll need 1625 (1785, 1945, 2105, 2265) (2425, 2585, 2745, 2905) m or 1775 (1950, 2125, 2300, 2475) (2650, 2825, 3000, 3175) yards of DK weight yarn.
I used Schachenmayr Soft & Easy for sample 1, and Alize Lana Gold for sample 2.
Designer samples
Size 2
100% anti-pilling acrylic
11 WPI
100 g = 235 m / 257 yds
Size 3
51% acrylic, 49% wool
9 WPI
100 g = 240 m / 262 yds
Substituting yarn
There are many factors that will influence the drape and overall feel of your finished piece. Chief among them are yarn weight, the way the yarn is spun, how tightly it’s spun or if it’s spun at all, as well as fiber content. In this section we’ll focus on yarn weight.
In this pattern, yarn weight plays a big role in getting the drape just right. When substituting yarn, please bear in mind that the weight category advertised on the label may often be misleading. The best way to determine the true weight of your yarn is by measuring the WPI (wraps per inch). The recommended yarn (the Schachenmayr) sits at 11 WPI (standard DK weight).
Measuring WPI
Taking a proper WPI measurement is super easy. All you need is a ruler and an object to wrap your yarn around. This can be the ruler itself, a pencil, or anything that has a consistent circumference. I like to use a piece of thick cardboard that I cut out a 2” square out of. I also prefer taking the WPI measurement over 2 inches instead of just 1, for a more accurate result. It doesn’t matter how tall the cardboard is, just cut out exactly 1 inch (or 2 if you want to be more precise) to mark where you need to start and stop wrapping, and make sure this surface is straight and even.
Start by wrapping your yarn around the pencil or cardboard tool. The yarn should be snug, with the wraps sitting comfortably side by side with no overlaps or large empty spaces between the strands. Don’t pull the yarn too tightly – the tension shouldn’t change the natural thickness of the strand. Practice this technique using a yarn that you know the weight of. Once you finished wrapping, count how many strands fit into a 1-inch segment. If you’re taking the measurement over 2 inches, simply divide your result by 2 to get the final WPI.
Experimenting
I wanted to see how a different WPI value can change the overall look and feel of the Cosmopolitan sweater, so I decided to crochet a second sweater using a different yarn, which is ever so slightly thicker and has a low-loft fiber structure (meaning it contains more fiber than air, making it denser). As you will see, this small difference really adds up. Also worth mentioning is that I went up in size for my second sample, as I’m in between sizes and wanted to see the difference in fit. The Alize, my substitution yarn, is also a different fiber blend and feels coarser to the touch, as opposed to the Schachenmayr which has a buttery, silky feel to it.
Even though the yardage per 100 g is virtually identical in both yarns, the Alize is actually a thicker yarn. This fact becomes even more obvious when you sit down and take a proper WPI measurement (9 WPI vs. 11 WPI).
Below you can see the WPI of the Schachenmayr and the Alize side by side. I can fit a total of 22 wraps per 2 inches with the Schachenmayr, meaning the WPI of this yarn is 11. Because the Alize is thicker, I can only wrap it 18 times per 2 inches. The WPI of this yarn is 9.
Conclusion
I found that Sample 1 (the Schachenmayr – the original yarn I designed this in) is softer, shows better drape, and is overall a thinner fabric that flows more easily and drapes like a dream. Sample 2 (the Alize) shows improved stitch definition, but has less drape, and is overall a bulkier and stiffer fabric.
Therefore, when substituting yarn, in addition to gauge swatching, I strongly recommend you also check your yarn’s WPI and make sure it’s as close to 11 WPI as possible (standard DK weight), to ensure optimal drape of the final piece.
Tried & tested substitution yarns
Looking for inspiration or yarn substitution ideas? Here’s a list of yarns my testers used and loved for their Cosmopolitan Sweaters:
- 4 Seasons Marvel 8 ply
- Bella Baby Baby Wonder 8 ply held together with Vera Moda Faux Mo
- Ganga Soft N Strong
- Lion Brand Jeans
- Loops & Threads Cozy Wool Merino
- Loops & Threads Joy DK Solids
- Moda Vera Northcote Cotton
- Stylecraft Bellissima DK
- Valley Yarns Haydenville
- WeCrochet/KnitPicks City Tweed DK
- WeCrochet/KnitPicks Gloss DK
- WeCrochet/KnitPicks Provincial Tweed
- Yarn Bee Bamboo-tiful
When gauge swatching, always crochet a swatch bigger than 10×10 cm (4×4″) — the larger the swatch, the more accurate your results! You can also get an idea of the drape your yarn will create based off of your gauge swatch.
Sizing
Due to the large amount of positive ease at the bust, sizing for this design is based on hip measurements.
XS – 36.25”
S – 38.25”
M – 42.5”
L – 46.75”
XL – 50.75”
2X – 55.25”
3X – 59.25”
4X – 61.25”
5X – 65.75”
The sizing for this pattern is based on the standard Craft Yarn Council (CYC) measurements.
This sweater is designed to be worn with up to 14 cm (5½”) of positive ease around the hips. Measure around the belt line (at your hip bone) and add 14 cm (5½”) to this measurement. Choose a size that is closest to this number depending on your desired amount of positive ease. If you’re in between sizes, size up for a more relaxed fit, or size down for a more close-fitting sweater around the hips. Never choose a size with negative ease.
Shop the Cosmopolitan Crochet Collection
The Cosmopolitan Sweater is part of the Cosmopolitan Crochet Collection – a collection which stands out through texture and size inclusivity.
Check out this series of crochet patterns for garments & accessories specifically designed to go perfectly together! Check out the beanie, cowl, gloves, legwarmers & boot cuffs, earwarmer, and shawl!
Check out my testers' versions
My patterns would not be so smooth without the input of my team of talented testers. Scroll alllll the way to the end of this photo gallery for some inspiration on various colors. 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 1
60% acrylic, 40% nylon & 78% polyester, 22% acrylic
Size 5
68% baby alpaca, 32% pima cotton
Size 4
55% merino, 25% alpaca, 20% rayon
Size 3
55% merino, 45% acrylic
I’d LOVE to see your work, so be sure to shout out to me @CrochetHighway on Instagram and use the #CrochetHighway hashtag for a chance to be featured on my stories!
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