Foundation

Foundation is a simple, staple design. With easy drop shoulder construction, mix-and-match body and sleeve sizes for a perfect fit, and instructions to adjust the body length, sleeve length, and add waist shaping, it's the perfect base for something spectacular - whether that's the yarn, your own design idea, or you.

Whether you choose adventurous colours, marling techniques, or fade sets, Foundation will support whatever you want to build on top of it - and written at a gauge that can be achieved with many combinations of yarns, it's versatile, too. It's also a wonderful first garment pattern, if you want to start with something straightforward. What will you build?

About This Pattern

• written instructions
• charted instructions
• worked both flat (body) and in the round (sleeves)
• screen reader and print challenged accessible version

Materials

• approx. 1369 yards (1251 metres) to 3088+ yards (2823+) metres light fingering weight yarn, held double
• 4mm needles (or size needed for gauge) suitable for working both flat and small circumferences in the round
• stitch marker (optional,to note the beginning of the round when working sleeves)
• tapestry needle, to weave in ends and work seams
• spare yarn, cable, stitch holder, or other tool for putting stitches on hold
• pins, locking stitch markers, or other notions for holding pieces together while seaming
• your preferred blocking equipment

Using One Strand

Foundation can also be knit using a single strand of DK weight yarn. To do this, you will need approximately 50% of the yardage / metreage given.

Yarn Requirements

Foundation comes in 12 body sizes, 12 sleeve sizes, and 2 sleeve lengths, plus it includes instructions to adjust the length of both the body and sleeves. The requirements for each body / sleeve size combination are given in tables.

To calculate your sizes and yardage, please download the free preview document. The preview document includes the schematic, all measurements, and yardage breakdowns. It should be everything you need to work out which sizes will work for you, how much yarn you'll need, and which needles to use.

Sizing

Foundation comes in 12 body sizes and 12 sleeve sizes. You can mix and match any body size with any sleeve size for a custom fit.

Foundation is designed as a cropped jumper, but includes instructions to adjust the length to make it as short or as long as you'd like.

Schematic

Body Sizing

Foundation's body section comes in 12 sizes, 1-12.

Measurements are given as follows: (1, 2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7, 8] (9, 10, 11, 12).

Recommended body ease is around 6" / 15cm.

All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.

A - Bust / Waist Circumference
(36, 39, 42, 45) [48, 51, 54, 57] (60, 63, 66, 69)"
(91, 99, 107, 114) [122, 130, 137, 145] (152, 160, 169, 175) cm

B - Neck Opening
(11.5, 12, 12, 12.5) [12.5, 12.5, 13, 13] (13, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5)"
(29, 30, 30, 32) [32, 32, 33, 33] (33, 34, 34, 34) cm

C - Neck to Shoulder Seam
(4.25, 4.75, 5.5, 6) [6.75, 7.5, 8, 8.75] (9.5, 10, 10.75, 11.5)"
(11, 12, 14, 15) [17, 19, 20, 22] (24, 25, 27, 29) cm

D - Length, Shoulder to Hem
(17, 17, 17, 17) [17, 17, 19, 19] (19, 19, 19, 19)"
(43, 43, 43, 43) [43, 43, 48, 48] (48, 48, 48, 48) cm

Reminder: the pattern includes instructions to adjust the length.

E - Front Neck Drop
(1.6, 1.6, 1.6, 1.6) [1.6, 1.6, 2.6, 2.6] (2.6, 2.6, 2.6, 2.6)"
(4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 6.6, 6.6] (6.6, 6.6, 6.6, 6.6)cm

Sleeve Sizing

Foundation's sleeves come in 12 sizes, A-L.

Measurements are given as follows: (A, B, C, D) [E, F, G, H] (I J, K, L).

All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.

All sleeves are 20" / 51cm long as written; the pattern includes instructions on adjusting the sleeve length.

Armscye Depth
(5, 6, 7, 8) [9, 10, 11, 12] (13, 14, 15, 16)"
(12.7, 15.2, 17.8, 20.3) [22.9, 25.4, 27.9, 30.5] (33, 35.6, 38.1, 40.6) cm

Bicep Circumference
(10, 12, 14, 16) [18, 20, 22, 24] (26, 28, 30, 32)"
(25.4, 30.5, 35.6, 40.6) [45.7, 50.8, 55.9, 60.1] (66, 71.1, 76.2, 81.3) cm

Wrist Circumference
(6, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5) [9, 9, 9, 10.5] (10.5, 10.5, 12, 12)“
(15, 19, 19, 19) [22.5, 22.5, 22.5, 26.5] (26.5, 26.5, 30, 30) cm

Construction

Foundation is a drop shoulder garment. The back is knit first, then stitches are picked up at the shoulders to work the front. After blocking the sides are seamed, which is what allows the sizing to be mix and match; you can choose to seam more to create a smaller armscye and accommodate a narrower sleeve, or less to create a deeper armscye and accommodate a wider sleeve. Stitches are then picked up to work each sleeve and the neckband.

You can watch a video explaining this construction method below.

Accessible Version

The accessible version of this pattern is included with your download. It has been formatted to suit low vision / print challenged knitters and to be compatible with screen readers.

Specifically, the pattern has:

• 24 point sans-serif font (Arial) throughout
• Fully saturated black text on white background
• Single column layout
• Left-aligned text
• No italics
• No header or footer – just page numbers (bottom left)
• Consistent use of heading tags for easy navigation
• Internal links to aid navigation
• All instructions written out in text without reliance on diagrams or charts
• All words written out in full (i.e. no abbreviations)
• No bulleted lists
• No tables*

In addition, the main version of the pattern has been checked to ensure that any charts, diagrams, or other visual instructions are suitable for colour-blind readers.

All of my patterns have been tech edited, and include details of how to contact me should you need pattern support.

Please note that patterns are for personal use only. If you would like to use one of my patterns to make items to sell or for teaching a class, please get in touch. Yarn store owners, dyers, etc are very welcome to make samples.