Whimsy Fancy

Whimsy Fancy is a sweater designed to bring a little joy to your everyday wardrobe. With its eye-catching yoke of bubbly textures and playful colour combinations, it balances sweet whimsy with timeless style. Inspired by vintage fabric with carefree use of colours, this top-down circular yoke sweater is a dream to knit, pairing your favourite main colour with mini skeins or a delightful mix of leftover yarns.

This pattern has been test knitted and tech edited.

NOTES AND TECHNIQUES

This seamless sweater is worked top-down, beginning with a ribbed neckline. The yoke is shaped with short rows and shoulder increases, then the body and sleeves are divided for working in the round separately to the hem and cuffs. The instructions include options for short sleeves and long sleeves. A photo tutorial guides you through the key steps of the bubble stitch pattern.

On the sample, the yoke is knitted using 10 colours, inclusive of the main colour, from the Parkour Kitties Kebaya 2025 Collection mini skeins set. The estimated amount of yarn for each colour is listed for reference. Feel free to substitute with fingering weight yarns in your stash. Each round of the yoke is worked holding only one strand of yarn, making this an easy colourwork pattern, even for beginners. The body finishes with a coordinating band of bubble stitch pattern and ribbing.

Tubular cast-on and bind-off are used in the sample. If you prefer, you may cast on using the regular long-tail method. You can also bind off the cuffs and hem using any preferred method of binding off.

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE

Size 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9)
78.5 (89.5, 101, 110.5, 121.5)(131, 138.5, 150.5, 163) cm /
30¾ (35¼, 39¾, 43½, 47¾)(51¾, 54½, 59¼, 64¼)“

The sample is knit in Size 2 and worn with 5 cm / 2” positive ease at bust. Suggested ease at bust: 5 to 10 cm / 2 to 4” positive ease.

YARN

MC
Fingering weight
Parkour Kitties Sock Yarn
(425 m / 465 yds per 100 g skein, 75% superwash fine merino wool, 25% nylon)
Sample colour: Creamy Vanilla

Short Sleeve Version

520 (610, 695, 785, 885)(980, 1055, 1165, 1285) m /
570 (665, 760, 860, 970)(1070, 1155, 1275, 1405) yards
2 (2, 2, 2, 3)(3, 3, 3, 4) skeins

Long Sleeve Version
750 (840, 950, 1045, 1170)(1290, 1375, 1510, 1645) m /
820 (920, 1040, 1145, 1280)(1410, 1505, 1650, 1800) yards
2 (3, 3, 3, 3)(4, 4, 4, 5) skeins

CC for Both Versions

CC (for Bubble Stitch)
Fingering weight
Parkour Kitties Kebaya 2025 Collection mini skeins
(85 m / 93 yds per 20 g skein, 75% superwash fine merino wool, 25% nylon)

Sample colours: Pink, Turquoise, Pumpkin Orange, Moss Green, Sky Blue, Chartreuse, Lavender Frost, Pink Orchid, Silver Gray

The amount of yarn required for each colour ranges from approximately 3 g to 12 g, depending on the size you knit. Refer to the yardage below for each part of the yoke.

Note that MC used in Bubble Stitch on the yoke and hem is excluded in the list. It is included in the yardage listed for MC.

To substitute CCs with other fingering weight yarns, you will need the following estimated quantity:

Bubble Stitch Part 1

Background in C1 (Moss Green)
18.5 (18.5, 20, 20, 21.5)(21.5, 22.5, 22.75, 24) m / 20.5 (20.5, 22, 22, 23.5)(23.5, 25, 25, 26.5) yds

Bubbles in C2 (Pink)
9.5 (9.5, 10, 10, 10.5)(10.5, 11.5, 11.5, 12) m / 10 (10, 11, 11, 11.5)(11.5, 12.5, 12.5, 13) yds

Bubble Stitch Part 2

Background in C1 (Turquoise)
28 (28, 30, 30, 32)(32, 34, 34, 36) m / 30.5 (30.5, 33, 33, 35)(35, 37.5, 37.5, 39.5) yds

Bubbles in C2 (Chartreuse), C3 (Lavender Frost) and C4 (Pink Orchid)
14 (14, 15, 15, 16)(16, 17, 17, 18) m / 15.5 (15.5, 16.5, 16.5, 17.5)(17.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19.5) yds
(each colour)

Bubble Stitch Part 3

Background in C1 (Pink)
37.5 (37.5, 40, 40, 42.5)(42.5, 45.5, 45.5, 48) m / 41 (41, 44, 44, 47)(47, 49.5, 49.5, 52.5) yds

Bubbles in C2 (Sky Blue), C3 (Silver Gray), C4 (Pumpkin Orange)
18.5 (18.5, 20, 20, 21.5)(21.5, 22.5, 22.75, 24) m / 20.5 (20.5, 22, 22, 23.5)(23.5, 25, 25, 26.5) yds
(each colour)

Bubble Stitch Part 4

Background in C1 (Lavender Frost)
32.5 (32.5, 35, 35, 37.5)(37.5, 39.5, 39.5 , 42) m / 36 (36, 38.5, 38.5, 41)(41, 43.5, 43.5, 46) yds

Bubbles in C2 (Chartreuse)
23.5 (23.5, 25, 25, 26.5)(26.5, 28.5, 28.5, 30) m / 25.5 (25.5, 27.5, 27.5, 29)(29, 31, 31, 33) yds

Bubble Stitch at Hem

Background in C1 (Silver Gray)
20.5 (23.5, 26.5, 29, 31.5)(34, 36, 39, 42.5) m / 22.5 (25.5, 29, 31.5, 34.5)(37.5, 39.5, 43, 46.5) yds

Bubbles in C2 (Pink Orchid)
12.5 (14, 16, 17.5, 19)(20.5, 21.5, 23.5, 25.5) m / 13.5 (15.5, 17.5, 19, 21)(22.5, 23.5, 26, 28) yds

NEEDLES

One 3 mm / US 2½ circular needle, 40 cm / 16” or longer
One 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle, 60 cm / 24” or longer
One (set) each 3 mm / US 2½ and 3.5 mm / US 4 preferred needles for working sleeves in the round.
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

GAUGE (after blocking)

25 sts and 35 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette st with 3.5 mm / US 4 needle.
25 sts and 48 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Bubble Stitch with 3.5 mm / US 4 needle.

TAG

We would love to see your work! Please share pictures of your knitting with the hashtag #whimsyfancytee.

SPECIAL THANKS

Deep gratitude to a team of kind and committed test knitters who offered their time and resources to work through the pattern to make sure that it is as clear and error-free as possible: Pilar, Elodie, Susie, Dorthe, Monica, Qiu Fang, Uiko, Yuki, Lois, Motoko, Cecelia, Christi, Caroline, Natalie, Sonoka, Selma, Roby, Chikoko and Anna.

Special thanks to Naoko Ogawa (Strands of Life) for tech editing.

PHOTO CREDIT

Photos 1, 11-19 are kindly taken by @amelia_put and modeled by Kim @shirasuboshii.

The pattern is also available on Ravelry.com