This is a reworking of a favorite sweater from the 1990s. It’s a giant, boxy drop-shoulder mohair number that was actually a gauge disaster, but turned into a rather fun statement piece. It’s short and ridiculously wide. I adore it and I do wear it, but it’s not perfect, and every time I wear it I want to make some tweaks. The problem is not in the 50-inch body circumference, but that the sleeves that are too wide, and the cowl that is shorter than I’d like.

This version modernizes the design a bit, and makes the tweaks I’ve been wanting: it’s still an oversized drop-shoulder worn cropped, but it’s not so wide, and the sleeves are much slimmer. The cowl is significantly longer for fun and coziness. I’ve also added a few of my favorite details from current fashion: there’s a high-low hem, curved with short rows, and the sides are open a little.

This is a layering piece, designed to be worn with a longer shirt underneath. The proportions are very deliberate: any longer and it would be a giant puffy unflattering box. I’m modelling it with about 10 inches of positive ease around my upper bust circumference; go bigger if you’d like, but either way I’d strongly advise against adding significant length.

The key to wearing a garment like this is balance – if some elements are oversized and exaggerated then err in the other direction for the other elements. To balance the oversize body and exaggerated cowl, I’ve kept the body cropped. The looser you wear it, the more important that shortness is.

The yarn is fantastic, an absurdly light and warm blend of wool and cashmere. Treat yourself! (It does shed a little, so keep a lint brush at hand.) Mohair would be a very good substitute.

The body pieces are worked separately and seamed, but the sleeves are picked up at the shoulder and worked in the round, so there’s not too much sewing overall, and what’s there is straightforward. Don’t be tempted to work the body in the round: the lack of seams would cause the garment to sag and stretch. The seams are there for a reason!