Once upon a time long ago I was in the middle of a daydream of sorts… when in my mind’s eye I saw a giant white stag walk up behind me and place his forehead against my back. When he did this his antlers wrapped around me in a protective embrace. I felt so safe and comforted by this vision. It often comes to mind when I am feeling vulnerable or afraid. I’ve wanted to represent an antler hug in a sweater ever since. I give you Patronus! The protective (and surprisingly comfy) hug from your own loving stag.
Patronus sweater knitting pattern BUY IT NOW or CLICK HERE for more details!
This sweater has been such a labor of love… I began my first version of him in 2012! What a journey. 100’s of failed charts (curving antlers are surprisingly hard to represent!) Several yarn choice switches. 2 sweaters knitted and set aside. Attaching antlers and then ripping them off… again, and then again! A few tears… LOTS of procrastination. A dash of “i give up” followed by a cup of “no, let’s keep going!” And finally lots of jumping up and down for joy. It is finished! I couldn’t be happier with the results. Once I found the perfect yarn (Brooklyn Tweed Quarry – i LOVE THIS YARN,) and settled in on a sweater shape it was time to wrap it up! No Christmas pun intended. 😀
This is a box sweater! I always hesitate to knit box sweaters because they seem so simple from a design standpoint… but they are TRULY so flattering and roomy! The body of the sweater is a box (with pretty scoopy shaping for the neck – cause I don’t love wool right up against my neck.) This means that it fits in a way that doesn’t hug you too tightly. In fact, I’ve included 10-12 inches of positive ease. That means lots of the baggy ROOM. Just the kind of room I’m looking for when I’m shopping for fall sweaters in the men’s department! (The arms do have quite a bit of shaping though to give the right fit.) Available in sizes XS – 5X. Also! The neck is knitted like a large smooshy cowl. It is knitted loosely and with larger needles and it barely hugs the neck at all… so no tight itchiness!
I hope you will love getting an antler hug! Also I know a lot of you have been asking for videos! I want to make them SO MUCH but its gotten increasingly challenging to make them since kiddo stopped napping. Woweeeee he runs in asking for this or that about every 5 minutes most days.. so its really hard to get videos done! I promise when things calm down around here I’ll be able to make lots more… cause I miss chatting!
happy knits! love, stephanie xoxo
ps. if you like the hat its the *wolfpup hat* pattern available here CLICK.
YAY! the WINNING comment has been chosen (by random number generator) and the free pattern goes to:
Kimberly Drake says:
November 26, 2018 at 9:29 am
Love your creativity and your persistence! Count me in!
ill be sending you an email! hugs to everyone and thank you SOOOO much for taking time out of a crazy cyber monday to leave a sweet comment. i read them all and they always make me smile and im usually crying by the end in gratitude! XOXO









































































Lovely! Such a nice design.
Love your outdoorsy/ fantastical themes!
I love the antlers! Very cool design.
Cozy sweater! No stopping those little boys once they get going! As a mom of 3 boys, I’d be happy to see your little owlet popping in and out of frame, but I can understand wanting to wait.
This is a lovely sweater!
Yay, You! Thank you for not giving up even though it seemed a long birthing process for Patronus-it is stunning!!
I love the neck!
I haven’t ever knitted an adult sized sweater but seeing this one makes me want to try it! What a gorgeous result. Thank you for sticking with it! Happy Christmas and New Year to you and yours.
Your patterns are so magical and lovely just like you! Your Patronus pattern is amazing. Thanks for including larger sizes!❤️
I get happy when I hear from you… as so many of my evenings my hand comfort is hexie puffs and felted leaves… the knitting version of eating peanuts..
I hope you are well…I miss your dear (aww..deer) videos…
That’s a beautiful sweater. I love antlers!
Stay warm & cozy.
I’m so happy you’re back with such great patterns! Also I can’t imagine life without a bag of hexipuffs in progress. 🙂
So glad you stayed with it—it’s a gorgeous sweater!! Your designs always have just the right amount of whimsy and style that make me want to cast on right away! 🥰
I adore the antlers ❤️ and all the sweet animals ❤️
So excited to see this new beautiful pattern and reading of your incredible journey that has brought Patronus for us today 💕 Keep on dreaming sweet girl !
I would love to win one of your patterns! I’ve been following you for years now, feels like being in a great big family!
What an amazing pattern!
So good to hear a hoot from you! I’ve had my eye on the Tree Cowl ever since I ordered the MotherLoad a month prior to its release! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
This sweater (and the story behind it) is so beautiful. And I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the inclusive size range ❤
I am in love with this sweater! Sadly, it will have to wait until after I’m done with holiday gift knitting. This gives me something to look forward to in January.
Where I live in California it doesn’t get cold enough to wear a sweater like this more than, say, once every five years, so I’ve been a frustrated knitter of mondo sweaters. But let’s hear it for millenials: my California-born son moved to western Massachusetts some years ago and I now have a lot more scope for big knits. I need to find out how he feels about antlers.
This looks so warm and cozy and I love the idea of being safe and snug enclosed in antlers!
So happy to have even more new tiny owl knits patterns! Oh deer, I just love how cozy the boxy shape and neck look.
You’re patterns are my favorites, and I so look forward to your emails ❤
Love your patterns. I haven’t got around to knitting any yet but keep buying them.
I work in a woodland here in England, I also knit and your patterns connect the two in a wonderful way.
Another gorgeous design! I just wish I had someone to knit them for me, I’m not that great!
Congrats on another lovely pattern! I’ve been following you for years because I love your take on finding inspiration in nature and translating it into your whimsical, romantic style 🙂
That’s a lovely sweater, it is definitely going on my to-knit list. 🙂 I feel you on the no napping kid front, mine is only 8 months and refuses to nap, so nothing gets done!
Love it. Love your patterns. I’ve just finished making your hood pattern. Can’t wait for it to get cold enough to be able to wear it ❤
I love your new jumper, perfect for keeping cosy in Winter! 😍
Ooh love the new pattern! There’s a 3-point stag living in the woods just behind my house and he visits from time to time. Reminds me of him.
This is beautiful, and the story gives it so much meaning! I could feel the stag hug as I read it. Thanks for not giving up completely.
Your patterns are so very original I am very much in awe of your creativity. Especially as you manage to do it as well as being mum to a small child – that’s hard work!
So well worth your effort! It’s so perfect and cute! Thank you!
Your patterns are so unique, and I love hearing the story behind the pattern! Thanks for sharing your creativity with the world!
Lovely pattern as usual ❤
I love the pattern ❤ it looks so nice and cozy.
A hug from a stag sounds wonderful!!!🦌
Lovely pattern, as are they all. I am such a fan!
Enchanting and frustrating to live with a small child — hang in there and love every moment that you can.
Great pattern! Absolutely like the Harry Potter themed ones. And this one is oh so practical! Here’s rather selfish advice from a wise old owl: Stuff kiddo in this with favourite cookies until he’s munched them all or hang up on antler hooks and in this blissfull silence, get us some videos done! Please!
What a great sweater to wear to follow the deer trods to celebrate the herds and our ancestors who followed them for survival. Sacred. I’ve never made a sweater. Hats, hoods, shawls, slippers and seed pods. Love my seed pod, so very much. Spun her wool out of herdwick and Lincoln sheep. I have to make this sweater. Young and smart daughter will help. Really great to have the cowl neck.
My daughter just asked me for a very large sweater, she would love that one! And I would love to win it!
Love this ✨ & Love that your patterns always have a deeper meaning behind them ♥️
I love your work, your esthetic, your imagination, and all the lovely things you share with us. There’s a little big of sparkly magic in all of it.
Perfect sweater for a long gold winter!
Love every thing do! I’m knitting the moon scarf! Love it!!!
I have not knit a sweater yet! Patronus will be perfect for my granddaughter! She can wear it with her magical creatures charm bracelet😍
How delightful this design is and I love the magical story behind it – deer hugs…..so comforting. Thank you for sharing the journey with us!
That is a beautiful sweater
Your pattern designs have appealed to me for years.I think it’s time to knit another one.
Beautiful pattern, as always 🙂 You are a master of ethereal knits with fantasy and natural themes!
I am in love with this sweater, it is just what I was looking for. Now to get motivated.
Such a beautiful sweater! I never cease to be amazed by your creativity.
I Love antlers!
Lovely pattern! This looks sooooooo cozy!
A new pattern! Yay! What a beautiful sweater, I’ve never managed to knit a sweater…yet. You do such cozy magic in this world, thank you!
Love your creativity and your persistence! Count me in!
I love your designs! 😍
Your imagery is beautiful in describing the genesis of this sweater. Thanks for sharing.
They all look so lovely, it is hard to choose which one to knit first! ☺
I love your patterns – the whimsy of nature!
You are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing such magical beauty with the world, in all ways! 🙏
Love the sweater and the hat
I love your antlers jumper. Ive knitted a couple of your designs before so know this would be a great pattern too I would to win this pattern
Hi ! I m such in love of your work ! Thanks a lot.
I fall a bit in love with each and every pattern you post. Such creativity! My pets, my gardens, mystical magical things and the woods out back are all among my favorite things and your patterns speak right to that part of my soul.
Thank you!
Love, love, love the new sweater design!
Hello .. just love reading about all your creations you are so full of joy xx
Hello Stephanie, Wow!!!! You are so creative, I love patterns your fairy tale world, your appreciation of nature. I love looking at every part of your Tiny Owls site. It’s so magical. It makes me happy. Thank you. 🙏🏻💕
As a bigger girl, I’m a fan of positive ease 😉 Love this !
Yet another inspiring pattern is there no end to your talent. They are all so unique & different from the run of the mill patterns. My next project will be Robin wristees – so irresistible and just right for this time of year and not too big a project. Thank you Stephanie for your constant inspiration to knitters/crocheters far and wide.
This jumper reminds me of just how important self-care is, how we all should stop and give ourselfs a giant cozy antler hug every now and again, especially at this time of year when the craziness on the holidays is fast approaching and deadlines at work are drawing near. Thank you for yet another truly beautiful pattern! x
Love it!
Adorable!!! I think I have to make it for my sister to wear when her husband and boys are out hunting!!
I have to say, when I first read that the sweater was named Patronus, I was a bit confused given the picture you posted of it on instagram where it looked very comfortable/nature-themed rather than mystical and phantasm-like. But goodness me was it a great surprise! I love all things Harry Potter and magical, so I’m loving the patterns you’ve been releasing recently, and as a new knitter I definitely aspire to one day complete all of the patterns you’ve released thus far. Keep on doing what you’re doing, because it’s absolutely amazing!
What a gorgeous pattern!
I also miss your videos.
You are a beautiful lady,with an excellent talent!
Hope to see you soon!
Susan
i think Harry Potter would love this as a present under the Christmas tree!
Lovely pattern!
I love your work, very inspirational, well done with persevering with your gorgeous jumper and getting it finished, especially as you have a little one running around
Hunting the perfect stag for years really paid off !
You’re designs are truly magical xx I’m making bluebell scarf next xx