Welcome to the final week of the Ulysses KAL!

This week, we will make Ulysses’ sweater, and I love making little sweaters. Love, love, love.

For those who follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that I refurbish old teddy bears from time to time. One of my favorite ways to dress them up is with a simple sweater and scarf combo–and I make most of them just like this one.

Ulysses’ sweater is made from the top down. If you can make this sweater, you can make your own sweater in the same way.

For this pattern, you will need a set of double pointed needles size 4 or 5 (whichever you used for this project), or two sets of circular needles of the same size, stitch markers (see note below cast on), a darning needle, an embroidery needle (the darning needle will work if it is sharp enough, or use a regular sewing needle with a larger eye), purple yarn, white felt, embroidery floss (see Hacks at the bottom of page).

Let’s get to the pattern!

Ulysses Sweater-

Key- Knit, Purl, 1×1 ribbing (K1,P1), M1R (make one right), M1L (make one left), PM (place marker), SM (slip marker)

-CO 28, join to knit in the round

*Important note: For those working with double pointed needles, I’d encourage you to place your stitches as follows to make the increases a little more seamless: 4 sts on first needle, 10 sts on second, 4 sts on third, and 10 sts on the fourth. Because you’ve divided the sleeves from the front and back of the sweater, you’ll eliminate your need for stitch markers in this pattern. If you are using two circular needles, go as follows.

 

Sweater cast on with DPN (L) and circular (R) needles.  

1-3- Knit each round in 1×1 ribbing (K1, P1 around)

4- Knit one round

5– Begin raglan shaping- K1, M1R, K2, M1L, K1, PM, K1, M1R, K8, M1L, K2, M1R, K2, M1L, K1, PM, K1, M1R, K8, M1L, K1 = 36 sts

6-7– Knit both rounds

8– K1, M1R, K4, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K10, M1L, K2, M1R, K4, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K10, M1L, K1 = 44 sts

9-10– Knit both rounds

11– K1, M1R, K6, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K12, M1L, K2, M1R, K6, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K12, M1L, K1 = 52 sts

12-13– Knit both rounds

14– K1, M1R, K8, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K14, M1L, K1, K1, M1R, K8, M1L, K1, SM, K1, M1R, K14, M1L, K1 = 60 sts

15-16– Knit both rounds

-Stitches that are underlined in last increase line are your sleeve stitches. Divide sleeve stitches from front and back stitches. Place sleeve stitches on waste yarn and move off needles. Join front and back panels to knit in the round. Remove markers as you go. = 36 sts

17– K1, M1R, K16, M1L, K2, M1R, K16, M1L, K1 = 40 sts

18- 29 – Knit each round

30-34– Knit each round in 1×1 ribbing, and bind off in pattern.

Sleeves

Pick up the 12 sts from waste yarn and 4 more stitches in the armpit area. Join to knit in the round. = 16 sts

1-12– Knit each round

13– Knit 3 rounds in 1×1 ribbing, bind off in pattern. Repeat for second sleeve.

Weave in all ends, your sweater is almost complete.

For those with the kit or written pattern, you are given a template for your felt C. For those without, click here — Cornell C_Ulysses Sweater

To sew on your C, I suggest placing a small piece of paper board- a bit of cereal box will do- inside your sweater to prevent you from sewing the two sides together in this process.

Helpful cereal box blockade

Place your felt C on the sweater. You can use sewing pins to keep it in place if that helps. Sew around outer edge of C with your purple embroidery floss using satin stitch or your preferred method. When you are done, fasten embroidery floss underneath and remove paperboard.

Your sweater is complete.

Fitting Ulysses’ sweater on can be a bit squishy for him. Don’t worry about this too much- he’s a stuffed animal. He can take it. I usually put his nose through the neck line first, followed by individual horns. His arms are another matter- they usually need a little tug through the sleeves. All of that said, it all fits together quite well in the end.

You can personalize your Ulysses with a scarf, or a bow tie maybe. A hat? I’d love to see a hat. I made one Ulysses-style sheep with converse style sneakers by simply changing color before the heel turn so that her whole foot/hoof was one color, and adding laces at the top. One particular admissions counselor owns an extra sweater for his Ulysses – with stripes!

I hope you’ve had fun with this project! If you are not a knitter but would like a Ulysses, I will be placing a few finished in my Etsy shop which can be found here.

Hacks– If you do not have purple embroidery floss, you can use your purple yarn (this often works a little better, actually). I would suggest separating two strands of yarn for sewing on the C.

If you do not have a way to print the template for the C, the size is 4.5 cm tall X 3.5 cm wide.

Thanks for participating! Go Rams!