Designing a Pool Ball Sweater

 I've had this sweater idea in my head for a while now: a deep green base, like a pool table, with graphic pool balls scattered across it. I imagine it like one of those bold 90s graphic sweaters. It seemed like the kind of sweater that would already exist somewhere—but I couldn’t find anything like it in knitting patterns. So I figured I’d design it myself, and it felt totally on brand for me (see dartboard blanket pattern).

The plan is an oversized drop-shoulder with plenty of positive ease. Once it’s knit up, I’ll add the pool balls with duplicate stitch. I figured that would be easier than trying to plan everything out in intarsia. This way I can just knit the body and sleeves in the round and then place the graphics wherever I want afterward.

Here’s the general vibe I’m going for:

For yarn, I wanted something fairly easy to care for that came in the green I was picturing. I landed on Cascade 220 Superwash Merino for all the great things I’d heard about it—softness, durability, and machine-washability. Plus, the Verdant Green color is just right for the pool table base I had in mind. This is my first time using it and so far, it's definitely living up to the hype in terms of softness. The stitches have great definition and seem like they’ll be a perfect base for duplicate stitch. It does split a bit, but overall it’s been really pleasant to work with.

For the graphic pool balls, I’m planning to use cotton/acrylic sport weight. I wanted something a bit thinner than the DK base so the balls will sit nicely on the stitches without looking bulky, and it comes in lots of colors to match the different pool balls. I also wanted a yarn that wouldn’t fuzz up more than the base, so the graphics should hopefully stay looking clean on the slightly fuzzier green base.

I’m still working on the yoke at the moment. I’m shaping it with short rows on both the front and the back so that it stays roomy without looking overly boxy, and so it sits comfortably around the neck. I’m most likely going to finish it with a folded rib neckline, but I haven’t gotten that far yet—still figuring out the details as I go. It’s been fun experimenting with shaping, and I’m really happy with how it’s turning out so far.

Here’s a peek at my progress:

I’m excited to keep working on this sweater and will be sharing updates as it comes together. If all goes well, a pattern might follow—so stay tuned if you’re interested!