I just finished knitting the Norma Sweater by My Favourite Things, and I have a lot to say about it — not just because it turned out gorgeous (it did), but because the whole project was a great reminder of what makes a sweater yours: the choices you make along the way.
Let's talk about it.
About the pattern
Norma is part of the Isager Archives Collection. It's a classic raglan with a high mock neck, knit top-down, with a simple-but-distinctive multicolored yoke pattern that nods to 60s and 70s knitting traditions. The fit is oversized and meant to be worn with about 9¾" of positive ease — basically, a big cozy sweatshirt of a sweater.
The pattern is easy to follow, the colorwork repeats are small and rhythmic, and because it's worked top-down, you can try it on as you go. (More on why that mattered for me in a minute.) Ravelry pattern link.
The yarn swap: why I didn't follow the pattern
The original Norma calls for an Isager sport weight held together with a strand of mohair to get a worsted-weight gauge. That's a beautiful combo — but I wanted to try something different.
I went with Rowan Kid Classic, a single worsted-weight yarn that's a blend of wool and mohair.
Here's why that worked:
The mohair is already spun into the yarn, which means I got the same soft halo and fuzzy haze as the original — without the fiddle of holding two strands together. Same look. Same drape. Same cozy feel. Fewer ends, fewer tangles, and one less ball to keep track of in my lap.
How to think about substituting yarn (the real lesson)
This is the part I want every knitter to hear: substituting yarn isn't just about matching gauge. It's about matching fabric.
When you swap yarns, ask yourself:
- What's the fiber content? Wool, alpaca, mohair, cotton, silk — they all drape and bloom differently. A pattern designed for mohair-blend softness will look wildly different in pure cotton.
- What's the construction? A plied yarn behaves differently than a single. A loosely spun yarn blooms more than a tightly spun one.
- What does the original yarn give you? Halo? Drape? Stitch definition? Match the quality, not just the weight.
For Norma, the original was soft, hazy, and drapey. Kid Classic gave me all three. ✔️
The swatch saga (yes, I swatched — and yes, you should too)
I cast on, swatched, and immediately wasn't thrilled with my color combo. So I swapped Color A. Still not loving it. Swapped Color C. Closer. Changed another color. Yes.
My final swatch was 12.5 inches long with four color combinations on it. No regrets. That swatch saved me from knitting an entire sweater I didn't love.
If you take nothing else from this post, take this: the swatch is where you make your mistakes, not the sweater.
Fit notes: sizing for your body
I have a 42" bust and chose to knit the size with a 48" finished circumference — slightly less positive ease than the pattern recommends. Why? I'm short. A 9¾" oversized fit on someone tall reads "cozy and effortless." On me, it would have read "drowning."
This is the other big takeaway: patterns give you guidelines, not laws. If you're shorter, smaller-framed, or just don't like that much ease, size down. Knit top-down sweaters like Norma make this even easier because you can try as you go and adjust sleeve and body length on the fly.
The verdict
Two thumbs up. The colorwork is satisfying, the construction is smart, the fit is forgiving (and adjustable), and the Rowan Kid Classic was the perfect yarn match. I'd make this sweater again in different colors tomorrow.
If you want to cast one on yourself, we've got Rowan Kid Classic in plenty of colors at the shop and online — and we're happy to help you pick a palette. Just ask. That's what we're here for.
Happy stitching, Marilyn & Amy
