knitting pattern
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The Alex sweater is worked in the round, from the top down. The yoke is shaped with short rows.
Sizes
Chest circumference of the finished garment:
- Size 1 – 83 cm [32½”]
- Size 2 – 90 cm [35½”]
- Size 3 – 97 cm [38″]
Fit: the sweater is designed to have 1 cm [½″] of negative ease.
Choose the size according to your chest circumference plus the desired ease.
You will need
Yarn: DK (11 wpi).
- Colour A – white. Approx. 260(340-420) m [284(371-459) yds].
- Colour B – light brown. Approx. 200(260-320) m [218(284-349) yds].
- Colour C – blue. Approx. 365(445-525) m [399(486-574) yds].
Circular knitting needles 4 mm [US 6], 80 cm [32″] and 40 cm [16″] long.
Double pointed knitting needles 4 mm [US 6].
8 stitch markers.
Sewing needle.
Waste yarn.
Row counter.
Suggested yarn:
NAKO Calico
Gauge
In Stockinette stitch:
10 cm [4”] = 22 stitches, 29 rows.
Instructions
The instructions are written for the smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus (). Example: size 1(size 2-size 3). If there is only one number given, it applies to all sizes.
Work in pattern (as established) means that you will work as previously stated, without changing the position of the pattern.
BOR – beginning of the round.
K – knit.
K2togL – knit 2 stitches together left leaning.
K2togR – knit 2 stitches together right leaning.
M1L – increase 1 stitch left leaning.
M1R – increase 1 stitch right leaning.
MDS – make a double stitch (for German short rows).
P – purl.
PM – place the stitch marker.
RS – right side.
SM – slip the marker.
WS – wrong side.
2×2 ribbing: P2, K2. Repeat to the end of the round.
Stockinette stitch:
- RS – K;
- WS – P.
Collar
With 40 cm [16″] circular needles and colour A (white), cast on 88(88-104) stitches. Join for working in round and place BOR marker.
Work 2.5 cm [1″] in 2×2 ribbing (approx. 9 rounds).
Yoke
Next round: SM, * P2, K2, P2, PM, K6(6-10), PM, P2, K2, P2, PM, K26(26-30) *, PM, repeat from * to * 1 more time.
Note: 6 stitches located between the markers are the raglan stitches, you will always work them in pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls).
Short rows:
MDS – make a double stitch:
- RS: slip the first stitch knitwise to the right needle. Pull the yarn up and bring it to the front of the work, making a double stitch;
- WS: slip the first stitch purlwise to the right needle. Pull the yarn up and bring it to the back of the work, making a double stitch.
Note: here is a video tutorial on how to work with double stitches.
Row 1 (RS): M1R, * SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, M1L, K to the marker, M1R *, repeat from * to * 2 more times, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, M1L, K1, turn the work.
Note: here is a video tutorial on how to increase stitches.
Row 2 (WS): MDS, * P to the marker, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM *, repeat from * to * 3 more times, P2, turn the work.
Row 3 (RS): MDS, * K to the marker, M1R, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, M1L *, repeat from * to * 3 more times, K to the double stitch, K double stitch, K1, turn the work.
Row 4 (WS): MDS, * P to the marker, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM *, repeat from * to * 3 more times, P to the double stitch, P double stitch, P1, turn the work.
Repeat rows 3-4 5 more times.
Next row (RS): MDS, * K to the marker, M1R, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, M1L *, repeat from * to * 3 more times, {K to the double stitch, K double stitch} repeat 1 more time, K to the marker.
Now, you will work in round again:
Round 1: * SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, K to the marker *, repeat from * to * 3 more times.
Round 2: * M1R, SM, work the raglan stitches, SM, M1L, K to the marker *, repeat from * to * 3 more times.
Repeat rounds 1-2 until you have 70(74-80) stitches for back and front, and 50(54-60) stitches for both sleeves (not including the raglan stitches).
Change to colour B (light brown).
Work 4 rounds in colour B (repeat rounds 1-2).
Change to colour A (white).
Work 4 rounds in colour A.
Change to colour B (light brown).
Continue working as established in colour B until you have 84(88-94) stitches for back and front, and 64(68-74) stitches for both sleeves.
Repeat round 1 1 more time.
Separate back, front and sleeves
The markers can be removed.
K3.
Using the sewing needle, place next 70(74-80) stitches on hold onto a waste yarn (i.e. 3 raglan stitches, 64(68-74) stitches of the sleeve, 3 raglan stitches).
Cast on 4(8-10) stitches (use the Backward loop method).
K90(94-100) (i.e. 3 raglan stitches, 84(88-94) stitches of the back, 3 raglan stitches).
Place next 70(74-80) stitches on hold onto a waste yarn.
Cast on 4(8-10) stitches.
K94(102-110).
Place BOR marker.
188(204-220) stitches on the needles.
Body
Work 18 rounds in Stockinette stitch.
Change to colour C (blue).
Work 4 rounds in colour C.
Change to colour B (light brown).
Work 4 rounds in colour B.
Change to colour C (blue).
Work in Stockinette stitch until the sweater is 5 cm [2″] shorter than the desired length.
Then, work 5 cm [2″] in 2×2 ribbing (approx. 18 rounds).
✓ Italian bind off:
Round 1: * K1, slip 1 stitch with yarn in front *, repeat from * to * to the end of the round.
Round 2: * slip 1 stitch with yarn in back, P1 *, repeat from * to * to the end of the round.
Leave the tail approx. 3-4 times longer then the bind off edge, cut the yarn. Thread the tail into a tapestry needle.
- Insert the tapestry needle into the first knit stitch, from the back to the front, slip that stitch from the main needle, pull the yarn.
- Insert the tapestry needle into the next purl stitch, from the back to the front, slip that stitch from the main needle, pull the yarn.
- Insert the tapestry needle into the slipped knit stitch, from the front to the back, and into the next knit stitch, from the back to the front, slip the stitch from the main needle, pull the yarn.
- Insert the tapestry needle into the slipped purl stitch, from the front to the back, and into the next purl stitch, from the back to the front, slip the stitch from the main needle, pull the yarn.
- Repeat steps 3-4 to the end of the round. ✓
Note: here is a video tutorial on Italian bind off.
Sleeves
You can work with double pointed needles or with the circular needles, using the magic loop method.
With RS facing place 70(74-80) held stitches back onto the needles.
Join the yarn (colour B).
Pick up and knit 2(4-5) stitches from the body at underarm.
Place BOR marker.
Pick up and knit 2(4-5) stitches from the body at underarm.
74(82-90) stitches on the needles.
Work 6 rounds in Stockinette stitch.
Next round (decrease): SM, K1, K2togR, K until you have 3 stitches before the marker, K2togL, K1. Repeat the decreases every following 8(6-5)th round until you have 52(56-60) stitches left.
Work in colour B until you have 18 rounds from the underarms.
Change to colour C (blue).
Work 4 rounds in colour C.
Change to colour B (light brown).
Work 4 rounds in colour B.
Change to colour C (blue).
Work 56(52-48) rounds in colour C.
Change to colour A (white).
Work 4 rounds in colour A.
Change to colour C (blue).
Work 4 rounds in colour C.
Change to colour A (white).
Work in colour A until the sleeve measures 7 cm [2¾”] shorter than the desired length.
Work 7 cm [2¾”] in 2×2 ribbing (approx. 22 rounds).
Repeat from ✓ to ✓ as given for the body.
Weave in the loose ends.
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