Sweater No. 33 by My Favourite Things: The Complete Guide to Knitting Your New Favourite Pullover

There are certain knitting patterns that arrive quietly and then proceed to take over your project queue entirely. Sweater No. 33 by My Favourite Things Knitwear is one of those patterns. From the moment you cast on, you begin to understand why knitters everywhere have made it a staple in their Ravelry libraries and a perennial favourite in their knitting baskets. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for a satisfying weekend project or someone just stepping into the world of garment knitting, this sweater has a way of pulling you in and not letting go.

In this complete guide, we are going to look at everything you need to know about Sweater No. 33 — what makes it special, how to approach the knitting process, tips for sizing and yarn selection, finishing techniques, and how to make the pattern your own. By the time you finish reading, you will have a clear picture of what to expect and why so many knitters keep coming back to this design again and again.

What Is Sweater No. 33?

My Favourite Things Knitwear is a Danish design studio known for creating patterns that are clean, wearable, and deeply satisfying to knit. Their aesthetic tends toward the minimal and the modern — think relaxed silhouettes, thoughtful construction, and a certain Nordic ease that makes their garments look effortlessly stylish whether you are wearing them with jeans on a Saturday afternoon or layered over a dress in the cooler months.

Sweater No. 33 fits perfectly within this design philosophy. It is a classic pullover with a relaxed, slightly oversized fit that flatters a wide range of body types. The silhouette is generous without being shapeless — there is structure here, just worn loosely and comfortably. The neckline is typically a simple round neck or a modest scoop that sits beautifully without requiring a great deal of fussy finishing. The sleeves are set-in, which gives the sweater a polished, tailored look that distinguishes it from more casual drop-shoulder designs, while the overall construction is well within reach for anyone who has knitted a garment or two before.

What really sets Sweater No. 33 apart is its versatility. This is not a sweater that shouts for attention. Instead, it is the kind of piece you reach for constantly because it works with almost everything in your wardrobe and looks like it belongs there naturally. It is the sweater equivalent of a white t-shirt — foundational, timeless, and endlessly adaptable.

Why Knitters Love This Pattern

Ask any knitter who has made Sweater No. 33 what they love about it, and you will likely hear a few themes repeated. The first is that the construction is logical and enjoyable. The pattern guides you through the process in a way that makes sense at every stage, and there are very few moments where you feel lost or confused about what comes next. For newer garment knitters especially, this clarity is a genuine gift.

The second thing knitters consistently mention is the fit. My Favourite Things Knitwear designs with real bodies in mind. The sizing range in patterns from this studio tends to be inclusive, and the ease built into the garment means there is some room to move and breathe. This is not a sweater that requires you to nail your gauge to within a millimetre or risk ending up with something that does not fit. The relaxed silhouette absorbs a small amount of gauge variation and still looks wonderful.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, the finished object is genuinely beautiful. This sounds obvious — of course you want the finished object to be beautiful — but it is worth saying explicitly, because not every pattern delivers on its promise. Sweater No. 33 does. The proportions are balanced, the seaming (for those who knit it flat) adds a subtle structure that enhances the overall look, and the simplicity of the stitch pattern means that the yarn you choose becomes part of the design in a meaningful way.

Yarn Selection: Choosing the Right Fibre for Your Sweater No. 33

One of the most exciting and occasionally overwhelming parts of starting a new sweater pattern is choosing the yarn. With Sweater No. 33, you have a great deal of flexibility because the design is essentially a canvas. The stitch pattern is largely straightforward, which means a highly textured or busy yarn will read well, but so will a smooth, plied yarn that shows off the stitch definition.

The pattern specifies a gauge that typically falls into the DK or light worsted weight range, though it is worth checking the specific requirements carefully before you purchase. Because the silhouette is relaxed and somewhat substantial, you want a yarn with enough body to hold its shape over time. Limp or overly drapey yarns can make a sweater like this feel shapeless after a few wears and washes, whereas a yarn with a bit of structure — good twist, some elasticity — will maintain the sweater’s form beautifully.

For a classic, timeless version of this sweater, a smooth merino wool or a merino blend is hard to beat. These fibres have excellent stitch definition, a lovely natural warmth, and they tend to soften beautifully with washing. Brands like Sandnes Garn, which is well-loved in the Scandinavian knitting community that My Favourite Things speaks to, offer wonderful options at accessible price points. Camac, Drops, and several of the Istex yarns from Iceland are also worth considering if you want something with a bit more rustic character.

If you are knitting for someone with a wool sensitivity, or if you want a year-round sweater rather than a purely winter garment, look for a cotton-linen blend or a cotton-acrylic mix that has good recovery and body. These yarns tend to be a little less forgiving of gauge errors because they lack elasticity, but they produce a sweater with a wonderful cool-weather spring or early autumn feel that pure wool cannot quite replicate.

For those who enjoy the luxury end of the yarn spectrum, a cashmere blend or a fine alpaca mix would make this sweater feel truly special. Bear in mind that very soft, loosely spun luxury fibres can pill more quickly than a well-twisted wool, so consider a yarn that blends alpaca or cashmere with a more durable companion fibre like merino or nylon. Your sweater will thank you in the long run.

Getting Your Gauge Right

Every knitting pattern worth its salt will remind you to swatch, and this is especially true for garments. Sweater No. 33 is a wearable piece with specific measurements, and being even slightly off your gauge will affect the final dimensions significantly over the length and width of a full sweater.

The good news is that gauge swatching does not have to be a chore. Make it part of the process rather than an obstacle before the process. Knit a swatch of at least fifteen centimetres square, wash it and block it as you plan to treat the finished sweater, and then measure it when it is completely dry. This wet-blocked gauge is what matters, not the gauge you measured before washing.

If your gauge is off, adjust your needle size rather than your tension. Going up a needle size will give you larger stitches and a looser fabric; going down will tighten things up. Many knitters find that they need a different needle size for their swatches than the pattern recommends, and this is completely normal. Trust your swatch, not the needle size suggestion.

It is also worth noting that your gauge can shift slightly over the course of a large project as your hands relax into the rhythm of the pattern. If you notice that your fabric seems different at the end of a sleeve than it did at the beginning, take a moment to measure. Some knitters start a project a little more tightly when they are anxious about a new pattern and loosen as they grow more comfortable. This rarely causes a dramatic problem with a relaxed-fit sweater, but it is something to be aware of.

Understanding the Construction

Sweater No. 33 is typically worked in pieces — a front, a back, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together. For knitters who have come up through the world of seamless top-down raglan sweaters, this approach can feel unfamiliar or even daunting. But pieced construction has real advantages, and once you understand them, you may find yourself converted.

Seamed sweaters generally have better structure than seamless ones. The seams add a small amount of stability to the shoulders and sides, which helps the garment hold its shape over time and during wear. Set-in sleeves, which are a feature of this sweater’s design, also require this kind of construction — they cannot be worked seamlessly in the same way as a raglan or a yoke sweater, and the effort of working them flat and seaming them in is rewarded with a beautifully fitted sleeve cap that sits exactly where it should.

If you are newer to seaming, Sweater No. 33 is an excellent pattern to learn with. The mattress stitch is your friend here, and there are many excellent video tutorials available that walk you through the technique step by step. Practice on a small swatch before you begin seaming your actual sweater pieces, and you will quickly find that the process is more satisfying than it initially appears. There is something deeply pleasing about bringing the pieces of a garment together and watching a sweater emerge.

Sizing and Fit Considerations

My Favourite Things Knitwear typically offers a generous range of sizes, which is one of the reasons their patterns are so popular among knitters of all body types. Before you cast on, take your measurements carefully and compare them to the finished garment measurements rather than the size labels. Sweater patterns are sized by the chest circumference of the finished garment, not by your actual chest circumference, and the difference between the two numbers — the ease — tells you how the sweater is intended to fit.

Sweater No. 33 has a relaxed, slightly oversized fit. This means the pattern has positive ease built in. The intended look is a sweater that skims rather than clings, with a little extra room across the shoulders and chest for comfortable layering. If you prefer an even more oversized look — a very popular styling choice right now — you can size up one size. If you prefer something closer to your body, sizing down is also an option, though you will want to be careful not to go so small that the sweater loses its ease-forward character.

Pay particular attention to sleeve length and body length. These are often the measurements that need adjustment for individual fit, and both are relatively easy to modify in a pieced construction. Simply work more or fewer rows before you begin your sleeve cap shaping or your armhole shaping, keeping in mind that changes to the sleeve will affect how it fits the armhole.

Blocking and Finishing: Making Your Sweater Shine

Blocking is the final and often most transformative step in the life of any knitted garment. For Sweater No. 33, wet blocking is generally the best approach. Submerge your finished pieces (before seaming, if you prefer to block flat pieces) or your completed seamed sweater in cool water with a small amount of wool wash for around twenty minutes. Gently press out the excess water without wringing, then lay the garment flat on a blocking mat and pin it to the correct measurements.

The change that blocking produces can be remarkable. Stitches even out, the fabric relaxes and blooms, and the sweater takes on the professional, finished quality that makes it look like something you bought rather than something you made — though of course, knowing you made it is the best part.

Allow the sweater to dry completely before wearing it. Depending on the weight of the yarn and the humidity in your environment, this can take anywhere from several hours to a full day. Patience here is well rewarded.

Styling Your Sweater No. 33

Part of what makes this sweater so beloved is how easily it integrates into an existing wardrobe. Worn over a crisp white shirt with the collar peeking out at the neck, it has a preppy, collegiate elegance. Tucked loosely into wide-leg trousers with a pair of leather loafers, it feels polished and intentional. Thrown on over a floral dress with ankle boots, it bridges the seasons in that particular way that only a well-proportioned knit can manage.

In lighter yarns — a soft ecru, a pale grey, a dusty sage — Sweater No. 33 feels airy and modern. In deeper, richer tones — forest green, navy, a warm rust or terracotta — it becomes something substantial and cocooning. The simplicity of the design means the colour you choose does a great deal of the expressive work, so take your time with this decision and let yourself be guided by what genuinely excites you rather than what seems practical.

Making the Pattern Your Own

One of the joys of a pattern as clean and well-structured as Sweater No. 33 is how readily it accepts modification. If you want to add a gentle tuck at the waist for a more fitted silhouette, the math is simple: decrease gradually on the sides of the front and back, work a few straight rows, then increase back out before the underarm. If you want to extend the hem into a longer tunic-length sweater, simply work more rows before beginning the armhole shaping.

You might experiment with a contrast colour for the ribbed cuffs and hem, creating a subtle detail that makes your version distinctive. Or try working a single contrast stripe across the chest for a nod to vintage sportswear aesthetics. The stitch pattern can also be switched out — a simple seed stitch or moss stitch instead of stockinette will give the sweater a more textural, artisanal quality while keeping the construction exactly the same.

These modifications are part of what makes hand knitting so satisfying. You are not just following a pattern — you are making a garment that reflects your taste, your colour sense, your sense of how a sweater should feel and function in your life. Sweater No. 33 gives you a brilliant foundation to build on.

Final Thoughts

Sweater No. 33 by My Favourite Things Knitwear is the kind of pattern that earns its place on your permanent list. It is the pattern you return to when you want something reliable and beautiful, the one you recommend to friends who are making their first garment, the one you cast on in a new colourway every autumn because you simply cannot resist. Its combination of clear construction, flattering fit, and quiet elegance makes it one of the more enduring designs in the contemporary knitting landscape.

If you have been on the fence about starting it, consider this your sign. Pick a yarn that excites you, take your measurements carefully, swatch with intention, and enjoy every row. The finished sweater will be worth every stitch — and knowing you made it with your own hands will make wearing it something close to a joy.