I can't remember the day I bought this sweater. It was probably something I added to an armful of clothes on my way to the register at H&M, thinking it would be a good staple.
I do remember where and when I've worn it: absentmindedly pulling it on during late nights at the office, squinting more closely at my screen. On a plane to Paris, where I washed it in our apartment's machine (which, in my memory, took about six hours to complete a cycle). Over baggy t-shirts, as my newborn and I navigated nursing while the sun rose.
I was sad when the elbows finally started to wear thin (particularly the left one; I like to lean it on my desk at work). Really, it couldn't have cost more than $25 originally, and probably about that to buy a newer version, but I feel sentimental about this sweater! I am attempting to knit one that could replace it, but...we'll see. I was inspired by this book [affiliate link] and this Instagram post to knit elbow patches in the meantime. I wrote out what I did, so you can use it as a pattern too if you'd like.
The yarn was from my stash; I believe it's a light worsted. I did the following on size US 6 straight needles:
Cast on 9 stitches.
- P across
- K across, knitting twice into the first and last stitches
- Purl all
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have 17 stitches, ending with right side facing.
- K across, slipping the 1st stitch
- Purl across, slipping the 1st stitch
- K across, knitting twice into the first and last stitches
- Purl across, slipping the 1st stitch
- K across, slipping the 1st stitch
- Rep. rows 4 and 5 until work measures 4.5" from cast-on edge, ending with wrong side facing
- Ssk, K until 2 sts remain, K2tog
- Purl across
- Knit across
- Purl across
- Ssk, K until 2 sts remain, K2tog
- Purl across
- Rep. rows 11 and 12 until 9 sts remain
- Bind off in pattern
Repeat for second elbow patch.
I used contrasting embroidery thread and a darning needle to stitch each patch on, after having Kristie model the sweater so I could safety-pin the patches in place. I'm glad this sweater can keep joining me on more adventures. My elbows feel warmer already.
