Take it back to the days of Friday night football games and pep rallies with the new Varsity Hoodie, made with the super cozy Jeans Yarn by Lion Brand. If you've been following me for a while then you know I'm in love with this yarn - partly because it comes in some of my favorite shades of blue, and partly because it's one of the softest acrylics I've ever used. It is easy to work with and creates such beautiful pieces. Read on for more about my inspo for this piece and the free pattern, or click here for the ad-free, printable pattern. You can also purchase a kit for the hoodie from Lion Brand here!

When designing this piece I was inspired by summertime in between school years and the excitement that comes with a new start in fall. There is always a spark in the air at that time of year. It is just starting to get chilly in the evenings and school spirit is in full force. It's a super nostalgic time for me and I wanted to create something that would capture that feeling.

I love that this hoodie transitions from summer to fall so easily. It's the perfect summer companion to a cozy morning or evening on the couch, and makes layering for fall even more fun. The best part is, the only skills you will need to make your own Varsity Hoodie are the basic knit and purl stitches, the SSK and K2tog decreases, the S2KP two stitch decrease, the KFB increase, picking up stitches, and the kitchener stitch grafting method. The easiness of the pattern and the doubling up of the yarn makes this project super fast and fun!

MATERIALS:

5 (6, 7) skeins Lion Brand Jeans in Classic or approx. 1230yds/1125m (1476yds/1350m, 1722yds/1575m) of another worsted weight, cat. 4 yarn for color A
3 (4, 5) skeins Lion Brand Jeans in Faded or approx. 738yds/675m (984yds/900m, 1230yds/1125m) of another worsted weight, cat. 4 yarn for color B
Size US 11 (8mm) circular knitting needles, at least 29”/ 75cm long
Stitch holder
Tapestry needle

FINISHED SIZE:

Width across back: 18”/46cm (XS/S), 20”/51cm (M/L), 23”/58cm (XL/XXL)
Length: 22”/56cm (XS/S), 23”/58cm (M/L), 25”/64cm (XL/XXL)

GAUGE:

12 sts x 17 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette

ABBREVIATIONS:

*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms*

CO - Cast on
K - Knit
KFB - Knit front and back
K2tog - Knit 2 together
P - Purl
Rep - Repeat
RS - Right side
S2KP - Slip 2, knit 1, pass slipped sts over
SSK - Slip, slip, knit
St(s) - Stitch(es)

Note: Two strands of yarn are held together throughout. Pattern is worked from the bottom up for back and front pieces and from the top down for sleeves. Be sure to follow the pattern for the size you are creating: XS/S (M/L, XL/XXL).

BACK:

With two strands of color B held together, CO 54 (60, 70) sts.

Rows 1-6: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Change to color A, continuing to hold two strands together.

Row 7 (RS): K.

Row 8: P.

Rep rows 7 and 8 until work measures 14.5”/37cm (15”/38cm, 15.5”/39cm), ending with a wrong side (even) row.

Shape armholes:

Next row: Bind off 5 (5, 6) sts, K to end of row. (49, 55, 64 sts)

Next row: Bind off 5 (5, 6) sts, P to end of row. (44, 50, 58 sts)

Continue on in stockinette, knitting each right side (odd) row and purling each wrong side (even) row until work measures 7.5”/19cm (8”/20cm, 9.5”/24cm) from armhole bind off rows, ending with a wrong side (even) row.

Shape neckline:

Next row: K 14 (16, 20) and place sts just worked on stitch holder, bind off next 16 (18, 18) sts, K to end of row. (14, 16, 20 sts)

Working with sts remaining on needle, complete left shoulder:

Next row: P.

Next row: K 1, SSK, K to end of row. (13, 15, 19 sts)

Bind off remaining sts on needles.

Place sts from holder onto needles and join yarn at neck edge to complete right shoulder:

Next row: P.

Next row: K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (13, 15, 19 sts)

Bind off.

FRONT RIGHT:

With two strands of color B held together, CO 28 (32, 36) sts.

Rows 1-6: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Change to color A, continuing to hold two strands together.

Row 7 (RS): K.

Row 8: P.

Rep rows 7 and 8 until work measures 14.5”/37cm (15”/38cm, 15.5”/39cm), ending with a right side (odd) row.

Shape armholes:

Next row: Bind off 5 (5, 6) sts, P to end of row. (23, 27, 30 sts)

Continue on in stockinette until work measures 5”/13cm (5.5”/14cm, 7”/18cm) from armhole bind off rows, ending with a wrong side (even) row.

Shape neckline:

Next row: Bind off 6 (8, 7) sts, K to end of row. (17, 19, 23 sts)

Continue on in stockinette, working each right side (odd row) as follows:

Sl 1, SSK, K to end of row.

Continue working in this manner, decreasing 1 st per right side row until you have 13 (15, 19) sts.

Bind off.

FRONT LEFT:

With two strands of color B held together, CO 28 (32, 36) sts.

Rows 1-6: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Change to color A, continuing to hold two strands together.

Row 7 (RS): K.

Row 8: P.

Rep rows 7 and 8 until work measures 14.5”/37cm (15”/38cm, 15.5”/39cm), ending with a wrong side (even) row.

Shape armholes:

Next row: Bind off 5 (5, 6) sts, K to end of row. (23, 27, 30 sts)

Continue on in stockinette until work measures 5”/13cm (5.5”/14cm, 7”/18cm) from armhole bind off rows, ending with a right side (odd) row.

Shape neckline:

Next row: Bind off 6 (8, 7) sts, P to end of row. (17, 19, 23 sts)

Continue on in stockinette, working each right side (odd row) as follows:

Sl 1, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1.

Continue working in this manner, decreasing 1 st per right side row until you have 13 (15, 19) sts. End with a wrong side row.

Bind off.

SLEEVES:

With two strands of color B held together, CO 46 (50, 58) sts.

Row 1: K.

Row 2: P.

Rows 3-20: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Change to color A.

Rows 21-24: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Change to color B.

Rows 25 and 26: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 27: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (44, 48, 56 sts)

Row 28: P.

Change to color A.

Rows 29-32: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Change to color B.

Rows 33 and 34: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 35: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (42, 46, 54 sts)

Row 36: P.

Rows 37-42: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 43: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (40, 44, 52 sts)

Row 44: P.

Rows 45-48: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 49: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (38, 42, 50 sts)

Row 50: P.

Rows 51-54: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 55: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (36, 40, 48 sts)

Row 56: P.

Rows 57-60: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 61: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (34, 38, 46 sts)

Row 62: P.

Rows 63-66: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 67: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (32, 36, 44 sts)

Row 68: P.

Rows 69-72: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 73: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (30, 34, 42 sts)

Row 74: P.

Rows 75-78: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 79: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (28, 32, 40 sts)

Row 80: P.

Rows 81-84: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Size XS/S only:

Change to color A.

Row 85: K.

Rows 86-90: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Bind off.

Size M/L only:

Row 85: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (30 sts)

Change to color A.

Row 86: P.

Rows 87-91: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Bind off.

Size XL/XXL only:

Row 85: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (38 sts)

Row 86: P.

Rows 87-90: Rep rows 1 and 2.

Row 91: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (36 sts)

Change to color A.

Row 92: K.

Rows 93-97: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.

Bind off.

CONSTRUCTION:

Block each piece to reduce curling. Seam the two front pieces to the back at the shoulders. With front/back pieces laying open and unfolded at the shoulders, use the tapestry needle to seam the top of each sleeve first at the horizontal underarm, then up and around the shoulder, then at the underarm on the other side.

Fold sweater at shoulders. Leaving approx. 3-4”/8-10cm un-seamed at side bottom edges to create side vents, seam up each side to the underarm and then down the length of the sleeve.

HOOD:

Starting at front right neck shaping and using two strands of color A, pick up and knit 15 (17, 17) sts along front right neckline, 22 (24, 24) sts along back neckline, and 15 (17, 17) sts along front left neckline for a total of 52 (58, 58) sts.

Row 1: P.
Row 2 (RS): K across row, increasing 12 sts evenly with KFB. (64, 70, 70 sts)

Continue on in stockinette until work measures 12.5”/32cm (13”/33cm, 13.5”/34cm) from neckline, ending with a right side (even) row. Do not bind off. Use kitchener stitch to graft the top of the hood together.

COLLAR/HOOD EDGING:

Starting at bottom right center front edge and using two strands of color B, pick up and knit sts evenly (approximately 3 sts for every 4 rows) up the right center front edge, around the edge of the hood, and down the left center front edge, ending with a multiple of 2 sts.

Rows 1-4: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to end of row.
Bind off loosely. Secure and weave in all ends.

POCKET:

With two strands of color B held together, CO 11 (13, 15) sts.

Row 1: *K 1, P 1, rep from * to last st, K 1.

Row 2: *P 1, K 1, rep from * to last st, P 1.

Row 3: Rep row 1.

Row 4 (RS): K.

Row 5: P.

Size XS/S only:

Rows 6-11: Rep rows 4 and 5.

Row 12: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (9 sts)

Row 13: P.

Rows 14-17: Rep rows 12 and 13. (5 sts)

Row 18: K 1, S2KP, K 1. (3 sts)

Size M/L only:

Rows 6-13: Rep rows 4 and 5.

Row 14: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (9 sts)

Row 15: P.

Rows 16-19: Rep rows 12 and 13. (5 sts)

Row 20: K 1, S2KP, K 1. (3 sts)

Size XL/XXL only:

Rows 6-15: Rep rows 4 and 5.

Row 16: K 1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K 1. (9 sts)

Row 17: P.

Rows 18-21: Rep rows 12 and 13. (5 sts)

Row 22: K 1, S2KP, K 1. (3 sts)

All sizes:

Cut tail and thread onto tapestry needle. Draw tail through remaining sts. Sew pocket to left breast where desired. Secure and weave in all remaining ends.

Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.

Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.

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