The Influencer Sweater Just Got the Update It Deserved
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
I want to tell you a story about growth, because that's really what this re-release is about.
The Influencer Sweater was my first ever Tunisian crochet sweater design. At the time, I'd only designed three crochet sweaters, period. I was still a baby designer, still figuring out what I was doing.
Right before I started this one, I'd just finished the Explorer Sweater, and my tester struggled hard to meet the gauge I'd written. I ended up rewriting that entire pattern because of it. So when I sat down to design the Influencer Sweater, that experience was fresh in my mind, and I didn't fully trust myself yet. I changed the gauge, thinking it would make the pattern easier for people to meet.
It did make it easier. It also made the sweater heavier, and it lost the drape I actually wanted it to have.
At the time, I told myself that was just how Tunisian crochet was. Heavier fabric, less movement, that's the trade-off. I didn't know enough yet to question it.
What Changed
In the years since, I've designed a lot more. I've learned more about how Tunisian crochet fabric behaves, what makes it drape beautifully instead of sitting stiff, and how to write a gauge that doesn't sacrifice the things that make a garment feel good to wear. Most importantly, I learned to trust myself in the design process again.
Once I understood what had happened with the original gauge, I couldn't unsee it. I knew this pattern wasn't my best work, and I hated that it was still out there. I wanted to fix it properly, not just patch it. That took longer than I meant it to. If you've followed me for a while, you know I get excited about new patterns easily, and this update kept getting pushed down the list. But it never left it.
The update is finally here, and the drape is everything I wanted it to be the first time around.
If You Already Own the Pattern
Check your inbox. You should have received an email with a link to download the updated pattern, along with a code for a free copy of any pattern in the shop. That's my way of saying thank you for trusting me and sticking around while I was still learning to trust myself. If you don't see that email, check your spam folder, and reach out if it's still not there.
If You've Never Made It
Now is a great time to start. The pattern is live with the improved gauge and drape, ready to go.
One thing that sets the Influencer Sweater apart from the Oblique Sweater is construction. The Influencer Sweater is worked flat, in simple panels, and seamed together. No intarsia in the round to manage, which makes it a friendlier project if you're newer to Tunisian crochet sweaters.
Why This Matters to Me
Every pattern I design teaches me something. This one taught me that trusting my own instincts matters more than trying to make things easier at the expense of what actually makes a garment special. I'm proud of what the Influencer Sweater has become, and I'm grateful to everyone who owned it in its earlier form and stuck with me anyway.
Final Thoughts
If you already own the Influencer Sweater, the updated pattern and your thank you code are sitting in your inbox right now. If you have never made it, this is a good time to start. The drape is finally what I wanted it to be from the beginning.
Thank you for growing with me.
