Fair Isle Bookworm Cat Sweater Free Knitting Pattern
Introduction
This cozy little tube sweater is made for the cat who supervises your reading pile from the arm of the sofa. Worked seamlessly in bulky lavender wool, it features a single Fair Isle band of mint books with dark purple quills marching around the chest — a tiny nod to dark academia that looks far more complicated than it is. The bulky yarn and simple stockinette cylinder mean it knits up quickly, while the contrast ribbed neck and short ribbed sleeves keep it snug and comfortable. Slip it on and your bookworm will look like the most scholarly creature in the house.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Bulky weight (weight category 5) wool, approximately 150 yards total: 100 yards lavender (A), 30 yards mint (B), 20 yards dark purple (C).
- Needles: 6.0 mm (US 10) circular needle, 16" length, plus a set of 4 double-pointed needles in the same size for the sleeves.
- Notions: Stitch marker, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, scissors.
- Finished size: Chest circumference 14 inches, back length 10 inches, neck circumference 9 inches, sleeve length 2 inches.
Abbreviations
- st(s): stitch(es)
- CO: cast on
- BO: bind off
- k: knit
- p: purl
- rnd(s): round(s)
- pm: place marker
- rep: repeat
- A, B, C: lavender, mint, and dark purple yarns
Gauge
14 sts and 18 rnds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch in the round (or flat and measure the knit side) and adjust your needle size if your stitch count differs, since the finished chest measurement depends on it.
Tips Before You Start
- Measure your cat's chest before you begin. If your cat is larger than 14 inches around, go up one needle size rather than adding stitches, so the 12-stitch book chart still repeats evenly four times.
- Wind off a small separate ball of mint and dark purple for the colorwork band so the strands don't tangle with your main lavender ball.
- Keep your floats loose across the back of the Fair Isle band — you should be able to stretch the fabric comfortably without the mint and purple strands pulling tight.
- Try the tube on your cat (carefully!) after Round 30, before dividing for the sleeves, to check the chest fit.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Body
With A, CO 48 sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist, and pm at the beginning of the round.
Rnds 1-5: [k2, p2] rib (48 sts)
Rnds 6-10: k all sts (48 sts)
Rnd 11: k all sts with B (48 sts)
Rnds 12-15: Work Book Chart (12-st rep, 4 times) with B and C (48 sts). The chart shows mint books with dark purple quills; carry the unused color loosely across the back.
Rnd 16: k all sts with B (48 sts)
Rnds 17-30: k all sts with A (48 sts)
Rnd 31 (divide for sleeves): k8, BO 4, k16, BO 4, k16 (32 sts remain live). Place the first 8 sts on a holder for the back, the next 16 sts on a holder for the front, and the last 8 sts on a holder for the back.
Sleeves (make 2)
With A, pick up and knit 4 sts along each underarm BO edge (8 sts total), then knit the 16 sts from the front and back holders (24 sts total). Join in the round.
Rnds 1-4: k all sts (24 sts)
Rnds 5-7: [k2, p2] rib (24 sts)
Next rnd: BO all sts.
Repeat for the second sleeve.
Neck Edging
With A, pick up and knit 36 sts evenly around the neck opening. Join in the round.
Rnds 1-4: [k2, p2] rib (36 sts)
Next rnd: BO all sts.
Assembly and Finishing
This sweater is seamless, so there is no seaming to do — the sleeves and neck are worked directly onto the body. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, taking care to secure the colorwork floats so they don't shift. Block lightly: mist the sweater with water, shape it to the finished measurements (14-inch chest, 10-inch back, 9-inch neck, 2-inch sleeves), and lay it flat to dry away from direct heat.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the mint and dark purple for any two contrasting colors to match your cat's coat or your favorite bookshelf palette.
- For a warmer sweater, work the sleeves an extra 2 rounds in stockinette before the ribbing.
- Add a second Fair Isle band just above the ribbed hem for a bolder, more graphic look — just keep the 12-stitch repeat even around the 48-stitch tube.
