In September 2018, I walked out of my local yarn shop with a sweater quantity of yarn and a familiar feeling. You know the one: that on-the-brink of starting something new, creative juices flowing, and endless possibilities feeling that only a maker can know. I didn’t have a pattern in mind, but I knew that this yarn would become something special.

Then something funny happened: I kept unintentionally sketching the same design. A pullover with cabled panels, a rounded neckline, “cold” shoulders, and set-in armholes appeared eight times, to be exact, on different days and in separate sketchbooks. It was almost as if the yarn was telling me, “This is what I want to be.”

Now with a clear vision in mind, I started swatching. The yarn by itself was beautiful, soft, and airy with fantastic drape, but it lacked the cozy factor I was going for. When I paired it with a mohair/silk blend, the fabric transformed. It had depth and warmth, and it felt like kittens and clouds—exactly what I wanted.

In late 2019, I cast on and quickly realized that top-down construction wasn’t practical for the design I had sketched, so I restarted from the bottom up. When I tried it on for the first time, something was off. I frogged back and reknit the yoke. Still not right. I frogged again. And again. I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. All I know is that I was feeling pretty deflated. The yarn was practically begging me to stop frogging and reknitting it, and I needed a break.

Apparently, a three-year break.

Over those years, thoughts of “needing to finish that sweater” hung over my head. Would I ever finish? Had I failed? But while the sweater waited, I kept learning—about fit, grading, size inclusivity. I poured that knowledge into other patterns. And each time I released something new, I’d pull this sweater out with renewed determination. Yet I still didn’t have the answer.

It finally hit me in fall 2023. What if I changed everything? V-neck instead of scoop neck. Closed shoulders instead of open. Raglan sleeves instead of set-in. The revisions came together perfectly, and when I finally tried it on again … it worked!

This design challenged me more than any other. There was a span of time where I didn’t think I could finish it. But things got easier—things fell into place—when I stopped trying to force an idea and let the design take me where it wanted to go all along. In hindsight, it feels a little like serendipity.

It was, simply, “Meant to Vee.”

Read the full behind-the-scenes story in this blog post →

What makes it special

• Cables and lace in balance. Textured cable and lace panels run down the center front and each sleeve. Simple stockinette on the sides keeps the pace manageable.

• Size-inclusive, modular sizing. Pick different sizes for your bust, hips, and sleeves to create a sweater that fits you. Optional vertical and horizontal bust darts let you fine-tune the fit even further.

• Shaping made simple. Interactive shaping trackers organize “at the same time” instructions so you don’t lose your place.

• Plush, drapey fabric. DK held with lace mohair or worsted weight alone creates depth and warmth without bulk.

• Seamless construction. Bottom-up raglan with only two grafted seams at the underarms.

• For intermediate knitters. A satisfying project with a clear progression from sleeves through body to yoke.

Want the same techniques, different silhouette? The Bestie Vestie uses the same central cable and lace panel, shaping, and bottom-up construction as Meant to Vee but in a sleeveless, shorter package.

What’s included

• Instant PDF download – Fully written instructions, charts, and detailed schematics.

• 13 sizes, properly graded to fit real bodies – Finished bust circumferences ranging 26.5–63.5” or 66.5–158.5 cm.

• Video support – Step-by-step tutorials for key techniques so you can reference them as needed.

• Detailed fit customization guidance – Worksheets and comprehensive directions make modifying lengths or mix and matching hip, bust, and sleeve sizes easy.

• Interactive shaping trackers – Track your progress through increases and decreases and always remember where you left off.

• Optional bust darts – Instructions for vertical and horizontal bust darts for a truly personalized, custom-fit sweater.

I talk all about this pattern and what it includes in this YouTube video:

The Knitty-Gritty

Description
Meant to Vee is a cozy yet refined, highly customizable compound raglan pullover knit seamlessly from the bottom up using either one strand each of DK and lace weight yarn held together or a worsted weight yarn on its own.

You’ll start your adventure with squishy, long sleeves featuring mirrored cables and faux seams before moving on to the body. The knitting remains easy yet engaging as you incorporate subtle waist shaping and optional bust darts. Next, you’ll join the sleeves and body to work the yoke—saving the most exciting part for last! The rows become shorter and shorter while a classic V neckline emerges organically from the striking cable and lace panel and the sweater takes its final shape. It all culminates in a lovely twisted rib edging finished with a tubular bind off.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) [6, 7, 8, 9] {10, 11, 12, 13}

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCES

• In Inches: 26.5 (29.75, 33, 36.25, 39.5) [41.5, 44.5, 47.75, 50.5] {53.75, 57, 60.25, 63.5}“
• In Centimeters: 66.5 (74.5, 82.5, 90.5, 98.5) [103.5, 111.5, 119.5, 126.5] {134.5, 142.5, 150.5, 158.5} cm

Pullover is intended to fit with 2–3” (5–7.5 cm) of negative ease at the full bust. Sample shown in size 3 with 3” (7.5 cm) of negative ease and no bust darts.

YARN
Plied, DK weight yarn and lace weight mohair or suri/silk blend or plied, worsted weight yarn in the following amount(s):

• Yards: 977 (1076, 1165, 1265, 1367) [1452, 1571, 1662, 1754] {1875, 1997, 2139, 2250} yards
• Meters: 894 (984, 1065, 1157, 1250) [1328, 1437, 1520, 1604] {1714, 1826, 1956, 2057} meters

Sample shown in Malabrigo Dos Tierras [DK weight; 50% merino wool, 50% baby alpaca] in colorway ‘Teal Feather’ held together with Jorstad Creek Isle of Skye [lace weight; 70% superkid mohair, 30% mulberry silk] in colorway ‘Capriccio Teal.’

NEEDLES

• US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 24” (60 cm), or needle size .5 mm smaller than gauge needle
• Circular needles in both sizes, 32” (80 cm) or longer, as appropriate for body circumferences of the size chosen
• Appropriate needle(s) in both sizes for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round
• Circular needle in larger size, 40” (100 cm) or longer, to comfortably accommodate the yoke circumference when body and sleeves are first joined
• (2) spare interchangeable needle cords or circular needles in size identical or similar to gauge needle, for placing sleeve stitches on hold

GAUGE
20 sts and 30 rows/rounds = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using larger needles, blocked

NOTIONS

• (1) Stitch marker, unique, for beginning of round
• (6) Stitch markers, color A, for cable and lace panels
• (4) Stitch markers, color B, for side and raglan lines
• (1) Locking stitch marker
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

#sizeinclusive #vanessasmithdesigns #meanttovee