INTRODUCTION

Seafroth

by Stephanie Shiman

When I set out to design this sweater, I wanted it to be the perfect blend of playful, approachable, and endlessly wearable—a project that keeps your needles moving without being fidgety. It's the kind of knit that's fun and engaging, but still relaxing and simple enough for those dipping their toes into sweater-making for the first time. And of course, it needed to be flattering and fabulous on every body.

This long-sleeve beauty has effortless drape and a touch of slink, making it feel as good to wear as it does to knit. The magic happens with our Colorburst Yarn—a hand-dyed yarn with bursts of contrasting hues. The real fun begins when you reach one of these colorful sections: a few well-timed yarn overs combined with dropped stitches on the following row create a fabric scattered with playful scribbly details. It's satisfying to hit the burst of color and watch as it leaves its own little signature on your sweater.

Whether you're a seasoned knitter or tackling your very first sweater, you'll love how these playful scribbles transform a simple pattern into something fun and unique.

model: Maise Sperling

photos: Grace Stamper

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
Shown in size S with 11 inches/28 cm of ease at chest.

Note: Designed for approximately 10 inches/25 cm of positive ease, go up or down a size if more or less ease is desired. The sweater can be knit longer or shorter, but keep in mind you may need more yarn than listed if making a longer sweater.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  38.25[41.75, 46.25, 50, 54.5, 58.25, 61.75, 66.25, 70] inches/ 97[106, 117.5, 127, 138.5, 148, 157, 168.5, 178] cm
Length:  21.5[22, 22.5, 23, 24, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5] inches/ 54.5[56, 57, 58.5, 61, 63.5, 65, 66, 67.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Wonderland Yarns Mary Ann [85% fine superwash merino, 15% nylon; 475yd/m per 4 oz/113g skein]; color: Running Barefoot Along the Shore; 4[4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
This sweater was designed and knit with Wonderland Yarn's 'Colorburst' yarn which is dyed with a 7-9 inch/18-23 cm section of another color(s). For this pattern you will be working the Colorburst Fun pattern (see Pattern Notes) at the sections of contrasting color(s). If substituting yarn, choose a yarn with similar color chunks. Mary Ann is a not-too-tightly plied sock yarn. Knitting it on larger than usual needles allows for a slinky, drapey gauge.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #4/3.5mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm in length
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 16 inches/20 cm in length
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm in length
1 set (4-5) US #5/3.75mm double pointed needles

Notions
darning needle
waste yarn or stitch holders
stitch markers (1 unique to mark beginning of round)

GAUGE

22 sts/28 rows/rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern, after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction Method: This top is worked in the round, in one piece, up to the underarms, then divided for back and front. Shoulders are seamed and stitches are picked up for sleeves and neckband.

Colorburst Fun pattern: The top is worked mainly in stockinette stitch. When you come to a Colorburst section in the working yarn, work as follows: *k1, yo (*p1, yo on WS rows if working flat); repeat from * until you have worked through the Colorburst section. For the sample, this was about 8 repeats each time. Repeat this pattern each time you get to a Colorburst section. When you come back to yos on the next row/round, drop the y0 and work the stitches as usual.

On occasion your Colorburst Fun sections will overlap—meaning that you will be dropping yos from the previous round/row when you come to the Colorburst Fun section in the current round/row. What you do here is up to you: you can treat them as you usually would and work the yarn overs as usual, or you can work the Colorburst Fun section as normal until after you've worked through the previous Colorburst Fun section and then begin the pattern. Either way creates a similar effect, as the extra yarn from the elongated stitches will even itself out.

When you encounter Colorburst Fun sections in increase or decrease sections, work the increase/decrease as usual, working the pattern before and/or after the increase/decrease.

Don't work the Colorburst Fun in the ribbing (hem, cuff, neck), armhole edging, or shaping of the front neck.

Since there will be sections when you can't work the Colorburst Fun, you may wish to work as usual (regular stockinette stitch) through every 4th or 5th burst to create the same effect all over.

Note: Work from 2 skeins so that any patterning/pooling will be less apparent.

DIRECTIONS

With smaller gauge needle in longer circulars, use your preferred foundational cast-on (such as long-tail) and CO 210 (230, 255, 275, 300, 320, 340, 365, 385) sts. Place BOR m and join for working in the round.

Broken Ribbing Bottom Hem
Note: The Colorburst Fun pattern is not worked in this section.
Round 1: *K2, p3; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: Knit.
Work ribbing for approximately 3 inches/7.5 cm. On the last round, decrease 0[0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1] st at the end of the round. 210[230, 254, 274, 300, 320, 340, 364, 384] sts.

Switch to larger needles, begin Colorburst Fun pattern and work in stockinette stitch (knitting every round) until piece measures 15 inches/38 cm from the cast-on edge.
Note: You can make your sweater long or shorter, just keep in mind a longer sweater will require more yardage than stated.

Divide for Back and Front:
Continue working Colorburst Fun pattern in this section and for the rest of the pattern, unless noted.
Next round: K 105[115, 127, 137, 150, 160, 170, 182, 192] sts, slip remaining 105[115, 127, 137, 150, 160, 170, 182, 192] sts to waste yarn or stitch holder for the back.
Note: The front and back are worked flat in stockinette stitch (knitting on the RS, purling on the WS) for the rest of the top.

Front
Continue working in pattern until the armhole measures 1.75[1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.25] inches/ 4.5[4.5, 5, 6.5, 7.5, 9.5, 10, 11, 11] cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Neckline:
Row 1 [RS]: Work the first 45[49, 55, 60, 66, 71, 76, 82, 86] sts, place the next 15[17, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20] sts on a stitch holder or waste yarn for the neckline, and work the remaining 45[49, 55, 60, 66, 71, 76, 82, 86] sts.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3: Bind off 4 sts, knit to end of row. 41[45, 51, 56, 62, 67, 72, 78, 82] sts
Row 5: Bind off 3 sts, knit to end of row. 38[42, 48, 53, 59, 64, 69, 75, 79] sts
Row 7: Bind off 2 sts, knit to end of row. 36[40, 46, 51, 57, 62, 67, 73, 77] sts
Row 9: Bind off 1 st, knit to end of row. 35[39, 45, 50, 56, 61, 66, 72, 76] sts
Repeat last 2 rows 9[9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11] more times. 26[30, 36, 40, 46, 51, 55, 61, 65] sts.

Work even until armhole measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 15[16.5, 18, 19, 21.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm, ending with a WS row.

Next row [RS]: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21] sts, knit to end of row. 17[20, 24, 27, 31, 34, 37, 41, 44] sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22] sts, purl to end of row. 8[10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22] sts.

Join yarn to second side and mirror shaping, as below:
Row 1 [WS]: Bind off 4 sts, purl to end of row. 41[45, 51, 56, 62, 67, 72, 78, 82] sts.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 [RS]: Knit.
Row 3: Bind off 3 sts, purl to end of row. 38[42, 48, 53, 59, 64, 69, 75, 79] sts.
Row 5: Bind off 2 sts, purl to end of row. 36[40, 46, 51, 57, 62, 67, 73, 77] sts.
Row 7: Bind off 1 st, purl to end of row. 35[39, 45, 50, 56, 61, 66, 72, 76] sts.
Repeat last 2 rows 9[9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11] more times. 26[30, 36, 41, 46, 51, 55, 61, 65] sts.

Work even until armhole measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 15[16.5, 18, 19, 21.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm, ending with a RS row.

Next row [WS]: Bind-off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21] sts, purl to end of row. 17[20, 24, 27, 31, 32, 37, 41, 44] sts.
Next row [RS]: Purl.
Next row: Bind-off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22] sts, purl to end of row. 8[10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22] sts.
Bind-off remaining stitches on next RS row.

Back
Rejoin yarn and continue working flat in stockinette stitch until the armhole depth measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches/ 15[16.5, 18, 19, 21.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulder:
Row 1 [RS]: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21] sts, knit to end of row. 96[105, 115, 124, 135, 143, 152, 162, 171] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21] sts, purl to end of row. 87[95, 103, 111, 120, 126, 134, 142, 150] sts.
Row 3: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22] sts, knit to end of row. 78[85, 91, 98, 105, 109, 116, 122, 128] sts.
Row 4: Bind off 9[10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22] sts, purl to end of row. 69[75, 79, 85, 90, 92, 98, 102, 106] sts.
Bind off remaining stitches on next WS row.
Seam the shoulders using mattress stitch or your preferred seaming method.

Sleeves
With shorter circular needle, starting at the bottom of the armhole, pick up and knit 66[72, 77, 82, 93, 104, 110, 114, 121] sts around the armhole opening. Join in the round and place beginning of round marker.
Decrease round: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, ssk. 2 sts decreased.
Switch to double-point needles when necessary and repeat Decrease round every 10[8, 6, 6, 5, 3, 3, 3, 2] rounds 10[7, 4, 10, 14, 13, 14, 25, 10] times, then every 0[10, 8, 8, 6, 4, 4, 4, 3] rounds 0[5, 10, 6, 7, 13, 14, 5, 23] times. 44[46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 52, 53] ) sts.

Continue knitting every round until the sleeve measures 16.5[16.5, 16.5, 16.75, 16.25, 15.5, 15, 14.5, 14.25] inches/ 42[42, 42, 42.5, 39.5, 39.5, 38, 37, 36] cm, stopping Colorburst Fun pattern for the last couple of rounds. Decrease 0[2, 3, 0, 1, 2, 0, 0, 1] st(s) at end of last rnd. 44[44, 44, 48, 48, 48, 52, 52, 52] sts.

Work a k2, p2 ribbing for 2 inches/5 cm.

Bind off loosely or with your favorite stretchy method. Repeat for second sleeve.

Neckline
Don't work Colorburst Fun pattern in this section.
With shorter circular needle, pick up stitches around the neckline (including held stitches) to get approximately 136[140, 140, 144, 144, 148, 148, 152, 152] sts.

Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 0.5 inches/1.5 cm. Bind-off loosely or with your favorite stretchy method.

FINISHING

Weave in all ends. Block sweater to measurements.

A – Chest circumference at underarm: 38.25[41.75, 46.25, 50, 54.5, 58.25, 61.75, 66.25, 70] inches/ 97[106, 117.5, 127, 138.5, 148, 157, 168.5, 178] cm
B – Body Length: 15 inches/38 cm
C – Total Length: 21.5[22, 22.5, 23, 24, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5] inches/ 54.5[56, 57, 58.5, 61, 63.5, 65, 66, 67.5] cm
D – Upper arm circumference: 11.5[12.5, 13.5, 14.25, 16.25, 18, 19, 19.75, 21] inches/ 29[32, 34.5, 36, 41.5, 45.5, 48.5, 50, 53.5] cm
E – Wrist circumference: 7.75[8, 8.25, 8.25, 8.5, 8.75, 9, 9, 9.25] inches/ 19.5[20.5, 21, 21, 21.5, 22, 23, 23, 23.5] cm
F – Neck circumference: 24.75[25.5, 25.5, 26.25, 26.25, 27, 27, 27.75, 27.75] inches/ 63[65, 65, 66.5, 66.5, 68.5, 68.5, 70.5, 70.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Stephanie is the owner of frabjous fibers and Wonderland Yarns. She's recently opened a yarn shop in an idyllic, artsy town in southern Vermont. When she's not playing with yarn, she enjoys foolishness with her daughters, junk shops, making pottery, and all manner of fiber crafts.

She lives with her darling, daughter, and dogs in Marlboro, Vermont.

Pattern & images © 2025 Stephanie Shiman