Tick Tick Boom is a free, top down, colorwork sweater that is custom-sized to your specific measurements.  It’s also an annual experiment!  Last year I designed the TannenBOOM sweater to use a yarn advent calendar I purchased and challenged myself to write the entire design before I saw any of the yarn.  I released the pattern before I opened my yarns (or knit my prototype) so that other folks could knit along with me. It was so much fun I decided to make it an annual tradition!

Like last year, 25 different sock yarn colors are used in the design’s yoke, cascading in a riot of color throughout. Similar to TannenBOOM, after the yoke is completed, remaining yarn is used for the rest of the garment, making stripes, fades, or anything else you like.  It’s flexible based on each knitter’s personal taste as well as how much of each color remains. 

No countdown/advent calendar?  No problem!  Dive into your sock yarn scraps or use any minis you have in your stash.

What’s a mystery-ish KAL?

To make this a mystery-ish knitalong, I’ve separated out all of the colorwork charts into separate files. Open them all at once OR gradually as you go, depending on your mystery preferences!

Advent vs. Countdown?

I grew up (very) christian and celebrating christmas. However, I absolutely am no longer. While you may see me use the word advent occasionally, or see my christmas decor because I still love it for nostalgic reasons, I want to be VERY clear that this pattern is absolutely for everyone of all traditions! Like last year, there will be nothing christmas-themed in the pattern or colorwork itself!

Sizing Info

Like all Swanky Emu Knits patterns, Tick Tick Boom is size inclusive and has absolutely no upper size limits. It’s custom-fit based on your unique measurements.

The pattern asks you to input 8 of your body measurements (in inches or cm) and then calculates the pattern from there.

Note that because of the colorwork, there are lower size limits to the yoke depth. At the loosest row gauge (40 rows = 4” or 10cm), it cannot be sized smaller than an 8” yoke depth. At the tightest gauge (56 rows = 4” or 10cm), it cannot be sized smaller than a 6” yoke depth (approximately an adult women’s XS).

Gauge and Yarn information

25 colors of sock weight yarn suitable for colorwork.

To ensure a precise fit, gauge is important for this project. Using your sock yarn, choose a needle size and gauge that you like and select it from the dropdown boxes on your spreadsheet. Stitch gauge may be anywhere from:

28 to 36 stitches and 40 to 56 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch

When in doubt, especially if you have a shorter upper body, go with a tighter gauge.

Pattern Downloads - PDF, spreadsheet, and colorwork

Pattern includes both PDF and its accompanying spreadsheet as well as colorwork charts, make sure to download all files! The PDF has an overview, methods, and finishing instructions. The spreadsheet file will take your personal body measurements and automatically do the rest of the pattern grading math for you, giving you a completely custom-sized sweater!

I can’t wait to see everyone’s sweaters, please share your photos with us on social media and Ravelry (if possible/accessible)!

-Sarah, Swanky Emu Knits

Yardage Info

As so many parts of the pattern are customizable, both for size and preference, yardage can be really challenging to give. For last year’s TannenBOOM, which I made for my 49” chest circumference and with short sleeves and a cropped 11” length, I used 1,560 yards of sock weight yarn.

I began with 1 100g full skein and 24 20g mini skeins. When I was done, you can see below how much the use of each color varied! 6 of those mini skeins were completely used up while as much as 17g of other mini skeins remained.

File Downloads

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