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Looking for the treesweater backstory? Read it here!
Note: if you are making a treesweater for a public tree, I recommend that you make the seams VERY sturdy. When people encounter the treesweater, their first reaction is often to tug very hard on the sweater. You will want your seams to withstand this kind of treatment.
First, find a good tree, then find a good branch on the tree. Ideally, the sweater will sit at eye level, and will have only one “arm.” (The topography of knitting a sweater for more than one branch is tricky, although not insurmountable.) Measure:
1. The circumference of the tree
2. Circumference of the branch
3. Distance between the top of the branch (the “shoulder”) and the next branch up, and the distance between the bottom of the branch (the “armpit”) and the next branch down. These numbers let you know how much room you have to work with at top and bottom.
This pattern is sized for a tree that is 7 inches in circumference, with a 2 inch branch, and has at least 4 inches between the “arm” branch and the next one up. If the configuration of the arm branch is such that you won’t be able to pull the sleeve over it, follow the variant instructions in italics. The pictures reference the standard version – in the variant, the slit for the arm basically goes all the way down.
GAUGE
4 stitches x 6 inches = 1 x 1 inches on US 8/5mm needles
BODY
1. CO 26 and work 4 rows in k2p2 rib. CO 13 and work 4 rows in k2p2 rib.
2. Increase 6 stitches across the row (*k2, kfb* 6 times). (32 stitches). Increase 3 stitches across the row (*k2, kfb 3 times*)
3. Knit for 2 more inches (total 3 inches).
4. Divide the stitches in half, by putting 16 on a stitch holder (or spare DPN). Knit 6 rows on each half, then rejoin by putting all the stitches on one needle, and knitting all across. You should end up with a slit an inch and a half high. Repeat rows 1 through 3 to make a second section, then put all the stitches on one needle and knit across.
5. After knitting across, start your collar. For the pictured treesweater, I switched to reverse stockinette for 4 rows, to make a mock turtleneck. You can also work the collar in garter stitch, k2p2 ribbing, or the collar of your choice.
SLEEVE
1. CO 12 and knit 6 rows (or the desired length of sleeve).
2. Seam the length of the sleeve, then attach it to the slit. Do not seam the sleeve, but attach it to the top of the slit.
ATTACHING THE TREESWEATER
1. Slip the sleeve over the branch, and stitch a mattress sleeve up the side. Seam the sleeve, too.
Here the treesweater is being modeled by a plastic knife taped to a water bottle. (The bulge in the stitches is caused by the end of the knife, and a big wad of tape.) You get the idea.
Take lots of pictures, and share them with the world!
Comments (0)
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A friend sent it to me as a “must see.” I sent it to my friends–I love it!
Comment by Annette Cutrono —
April 1, 2006 @ 9:44 am
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Thanks for making my day! I’m searching for the appropriate tree as we speak.
Comment by Lorie —
April 2, 2006 @ 1:38 pm
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What an Idea! Your photos are so cool
Just love it, and the Australian Autumn is starting to bite, so a terrific idea totally crazy!
Nice colour pink too
Comment by Yvonne —
April 3, 2006 @ 4:56 am
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[...] diez comme j’ai pu enfiler le “Tree Sweater” à mon petit frêne ? Très simple ! Le pull a une ouverture sur le côté opposé
Pingback by Blog Tricofolk » Cardage en suint —
April 5, 2006 @ 6:19 am
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OMGs! I love this idea! I have recuited my two hippy friends and shall be teaching them to knit with tree sweaters we will make for all our leafy friends ^_^ Thank you SO much!
Besides, the little guy in front of my trailer looks a little chilly…
Comment by Mango —
April 10, 2006 @ 10:35 am
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God, you’re so cute & creative! I just wanna eat ya!
Comment by Marie —
April 15, 2006 @ 10:10 pm
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You know putting a sweater on a tree and leaving it will damage the tree.
Comment by Ilea —
April 16, 2006 @ 10:28 pm
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It’s so cute. We need more people as caring as you are.I’m going to be looking for a tree near me
Comment by Anonymous —
April 17, 2006 @ 8:40 am
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With Arbor Day coming up this is a wonderful idea to raise awareness! Thanks for sharing
Comment by Michelle —
April 17, 2006 @ 9:53 am
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Found your site in a round-about-way through Crochet Partners. Your tree Sweater is quite interesting. Your blog reflects Seattle very well. I am a life long Seattlleite.
Comment by Janet —
April 17, 2006 @ 11:22 am
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Erika: Cool idea! I’ll have to check it out, since I live in Seattle.
llea: I don’t see why the sweater would damage the tree as long as it’s large enough to accomodate growth, and/or if Erika makes a new one when this one starts to get to small.
Comment by Norah —
April 17, 2006 @ 11:42 am
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I too found your site from Crochet Partners. I thought at first that it was a dumb idea, but I got to thinking… dangerous… A lot of times I will take something to wedge in the branch to make it grow straight or the direction I want it to go rather than crossing. This might work. At least it will have stretch and can be loosend if needed and eventually set free.
Comment by Lori —
April 17, 2006 @ 4:44 pm
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I, also, found your site through Crochet Partners. What a delightful, and thoughful, idea. Who knows, the tree may be smiling now instead of shivering. This inspired my 16 yr-old grand-daughter, who just learned to knit last year, to make these for our 3 new ‘baby’ trees. She intends to share this idea with her 4-H group this summer at camp.
Comment by Dianne —
April 18, 2006 @ 5:43 am
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I liked your treesweater the moment I saw it! Thanks for the pattern, and keep the (just a bit but just okay but…., we are civilised women, but….)anarchy knitting going!
Comment by froukje —
April 26, 2006 @ 12:41 pm
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I love the idea of a sweater for trees! It is so cute. Maybe my sister could knit one. You should sell them in bulk. That would be cool. TREE SWEATERS ROCK!!!
-Justice
Comment by Justice —
May 16, 2006 @ 5:40 am
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I have a couple of lonely trees that need some lovin’… now I just need to get some knitting supplies!
XOXO to little tree buddies.
Comment by Ahz —
May 16, 2006 @ 7:50 am
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Love it! I have been reading another blog in which people have been making pole sweaters in this persons paticular town also….
Comment by Teresa —
August 2, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
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The reason that the sweater would damage the tree is:
It invites bugs and parasites to make their homes under it.
Trees have bark for a reason. The sunlight needs to have access – leaving anything on the trunk for an extended period of time will cause it to rot or a fungus to develop. This could kill the tree.
However, if you are planning to only have it on the tree for a certain event I can see no harm in short periods.
Comment by angela —
August 20, 2006 @ 7:38 pm
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Just caught your site today, and I will be looking for a tree this weekend to make a sweater for!
I will take pics and also makes sure that it will be on there for a short period of time so that it will not harm the tree.
Comment by Debbie —
April 13, 2007 @ 8:53 am
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I would love to see more recent pictures of the tree sweater. Please?
Comment by Beverly —
April 23, 2007 @ 5:36 am
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the tree sweater is fabulous – love the orange!!!
Comment by Barbara —
May 24, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
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love the tree sweater. i knit a fair isle version for the tree in front of my favorite yarn store. i don’t see how a knit sweater can hurt a tree. i don’t think the sweater will last on the tree long enough to ,potentially, become too snug. keep up the great work.
Comment by nancy —
June 4, 2007 @ 7:59 am
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this is what I call a hit! you had the most wonderful idea!!
Comment by Sara —
December 26, 2007 @ 3:46 am
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Get a life!
Comment by Lena —
January 5, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
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OMG that is genius and funny as… I will never look at a small tree the same way ever again. lol
Comment by Kirsty —
March 18, 2008 @ 8:21 am
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Please remember to remove these from trees after your event to prevent damaging trees. Or make a street post sweater instead!
Comment by Anonymous —
March 31, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
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In 2005 I crocheted a Tree Cozy for a public art project in Cleveland Heights, OH … check it out… never created a happier project. Since then I’ve crocheted several other trees — one in India and several palm cozies in Florida. All the best!
Comment by Carol Hummel —
May 13, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
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Oops! didn’t know I had to include website here… http://www.carolhummel.com
Comment by Carol Hummel —
May 13, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
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[...] Pattern can be found here. [...]
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December 24, 2008 @ 4:06 am
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