I love a good hoodie, so in 2024, when I came across the Pattern Test of the Optic Hoodie, I jumped on it. This was the first pattern that I tested for White Owl Crochet Co. It was a fantastic experience. I love Mollie’s patterns so much, that I actually tested for her again in 2025 (the Honey Cruller Cardigan).
Details
Yarn
I always sign up for pattern tests with the idea that I’m going to use my stash yarn. However, I want to make the designers pattern really shine, so of course I end up buying new yarn. This pattern is designed for worsted weight yarn. I have a large stash of Lion Brand Wool Ease, but not a sweater’s quantity of any single colour, so I was going to do something colour blocked. I swatched and got started but quickly realized I didn’t want this colour blocked. So I actually ordered the yarn that Mollie used, which was Knit Picks Heatherly Worsted. I’m so glad I did. This yarn is so soft and bouncy and draped perfectly for the Optic Hoodie. I went with the colourway Bedtime.
Pattern
The Optic Hoodie pattern was so easy to follow and provided some new techniques for me. I have never knit a hoodie, so I enjoyed that part of the process. In fact, the hoodie is oversized, which I do like. Mollie lays out information beautifully and always provides resources which make perhaps more advanced patterns more easily approachable for beginners. The Optic Hoodie is worked top down starting with the collar, ending with beautiful slipped ribbing for hem and wrists and the hoodie is worked up last. There is a zipper opening as well as a drawstring opening which were both new to me in knitting. I loved working on this project and it went quick quickly as it’s worked up in worsted weight yarn.
Finished Project
I’m absolutely in love with my Optic Hoodie. At first I decided to not add in a zipper, but I found with the weight of the oversized hoodie, the garment kept sliding backwards and when it wasn’t sliding backward the zipper opening sat a little low for my liking. So I added in a metal zipper and it’s perfect now. The pattern includes instructions for an icord drawstring, which I did not make. I just used a drawstring from another hoodie as a temporary measure. It is a little short, so one day I will get around to making a drawstring for this. Since I had originally wanted to do colourblock with this sweater, I ended up adding a pop of colour in Lion Brand Wool Ease on the inside of the drawstring casing. I love how this turned out! If I made this again, I might try decreasing the size of the hood a little.
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