Double-Take Tunic

Double-Take Tunic



Walk down the street in this showstopper and everyone will do a double take, asking "Did you make that yourself?" Why yes, of course!

Sizes: Woman's small/medium (large/X-large, 2X-large/3X-large) Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements

Chest: 38 (48, 54) inches

Length: 261/2 (29, 30) inches

Materials

Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton (worsted weight; 75% recycled cotton/25% acrylic; 180 yds/100g per skein): 3 (4, 5) skeins earth #855 (MC); 1 (2, 2) skein(s) each ochre #485 (A) and avocado #549 (B)

Size 8 (5mm) 16- and 24-inch circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge: 16 sts and 22 rows = 4 inches/10cm in St st. To save time, take time to check gauge.

Special Abbreviation

Make 1 (M1): Inc by making a backward loop on RH needle.

Slip, slip, purl (ssp): Slip next 2 sts kwise, 1 at a time, from LH to RH needle; slip these sts back to LH needle keeping them twisted; p2tog-tbl.

Pattern Notes

Body of tunic is worked in 1 piece, beginning at bottom of front and ending at bottom of back. Side panels are knit separately. One is worked with main color and A, and the other is worked with main color and B. Work in diagonal stripe pattern throughout. Diagonal line of color moves from left to right on the front and from right to left on the back. Color changes are worked using intarsia method. Work increases and decreases 1 stitch in from the edge.

Front

With MC and longer circular needle, cast on 76 (96, 108) sts.

Row 1-3: Knit.

Row 4 (RS): K74 (94, 106) A, k2 MC.

Row 5: P2 MC, p74 (94, 106) A.

Row 6: K73 (93, 105) MC, k3 B.

Row 7: P3 B, p73 (93, 105) MC.

Rows 8-97: Continue in established stripe pat, moving 1 st to the right every 2 rows.

Shape Armhole & Sleeve

Inc row (RS): Maintaining color pat, k1, M1, knit to last st, M1, k1—78 (98, 110) sts. Rep Inc row [every RS row] 6 (8, 8) times, ending with a WS row—90 (114, 126) sts. Cast on 25 (27, 29) at beg of next 2 rows—140 (168, 184) sts. Work even until sleeve measures approx 61/2 (8, 9) inches from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Neckline

Next row (RS): K48 (62, 70), p44, k48 (62, 70).

Next row: P48 (62, 70), join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off 44 sts for neck, purl to end—48 (62, 70) on each side. Mark last row as shoulder.

Back

With MC and shorter needle, cast on 44 sts. Knit 2 rows, leaving sts on needle.

Joining row (RS): Reversing direction of stripe pat, k48 (62, 70), work 44 sts from separate needle, k48 (62, 70)—140(168, 184) sts.

Shape Sleeve & Armhole

Continue in pat until back sleeve measures 61/2 (8, 9) inches from shoulder marker, ending with a WS row. Bind off 25 (27, 29) sts at beg of next 2 rows—90 (114, 126) sts.

Dec row (RS): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—88(112, 124) sts. Rep Dec row [every RS row] 6 (8, 8) times—76 (96, 108) sts. Work even until 74 MC sts and 2 B sts rem. With MC, knit 3 rows. Bind off all sts. Weave in ends.

Side Panel

Make 1 with MC and A, & 1 with MC and B

Notes: Dec on RS rows by working k1, k2tog at beg of row and ssk, k1 at end of row. Dec on WS rows by working pi ssp at beg of row and p2tog, p1 at end of row. Stripe pat on side panel is 2 rows A or B, 2 rows MC. With MC cast on 48 (52, 52) sts. Knit 3 rows. Beg with A or B and working in stripe pat, dec 1 st at each edge [every 5 rows] 8 (12, 12) times, [every 4 rows] 5 (3, 3) times, and then [every 3 rows] 9 times—4 sts. Bind off rem sts.

Sleeve Edging

With MC, RS facing and shorter needle, pick up and knit at a rate of 3 sts for every 4 rows around sleeve opening. Join and work 3 rows in garter st. Bind off all sts.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block pieces. Sew in side panels from lower edge to underarm. Sew sleeve seams.