Women's sweater: free knitting pattern
SIZES
To fit: 81[86:91:97:102:107]cm (32[34:36:38:40:42]in)
Actual measurement: 78.5[86:94:94:103:112]cm (31[34:37:37:40.5:44]in)
Length to shoulder: 55[55.5:56:56.5:57:57.5]cm (21.5(22:22:22.5:22.5:22.5]in)
Sleeve length: 46cm (18in)
Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes: where there is only one set of figures this applies to all sizes.
YOU WILL NEED
Millamia Naturally Soft Merino 4 ply 100% Merino wool (approx 125m per 50g)
7[7:8:8:8:8] x 50g balls 101 Midnight (A)
6[6:7:7:7:7] x 50g balls 144 Peacock (B)
1 pair 3.25mm needles
Stitch holders
Stitch markers
Row counter
Note: Yarn amounts given are based on average requirements and are approximate.
TENSION
28 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over Rib Patt using 3.25mm needles.
Use larger or smaller needles if necessary to obtain correct tension.
ABBREVIATIONS
s2kpo = slip next 2 sts together knitwise, kl, pass 2 slipped sts over.
PATTERN NOTES
Diagonal Rib Patt
Row 1: Using A, (k6, p6) to end.
Row 2: Using A, p1 (k6, p6) to last 11 sts, k6, p5.
Row 3: Using B, k4 (p6, k6) to last 8 sts, p6, k2.
Row 4: Using B, p3 (k6; p6) to last 9 sts, k6, p3.
Row 5 and all following rows: Continue alternating 2 rows A and 2 rows B, and working pattern one st further to the right on RS of work and one st further to the left on WS of work.
BACK
Using 3.25mm needles and A, cast on 110[122:134:134:146:158] sts.
Row 1 (RS): (K2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (WS): (P2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep these 2 rows until Back meas 6cm (2.5in) ending on a WS row.
Next row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 108[120:132:132:144:156] sts.
Next row: Purl.
Work in Diagonal Rib Patt until Back meas 38cm (15in) ending on a WS row.
Shape armhole
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 102[114:126:126:138:150] sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of every row to 100[110:118:122:130:130] sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of next and every alt row to 88[96:100:104:108:112] sts.
Work straight until armhole meas 17[17.5:18:18.5:19:20]cm (6.5[7:7:7.5:7.5:8])in from beg of armhole shaping ending on a WS row.
Shape shoulders
Cast off 6[7:6:6:8:8] sts at beg of next row, patt 17[20:23:23:23:23] sts, turn and place rem 64[68:70:74:76:80] sts on holder.
Cont to cast off 6[7:6:6:8:8] sts every alt row until all sts have been cast off.
With RS facing, place end 24[28:30:30:32:32] sts from holder onto LH needle, rejoin yarn and patt to end.
Work second side to match the first reversing shaping.
FRONT
Work as given for Back until 7cm (2.75in) less than Back to start of shoulder shaping.
Shape left neck
Next row: Patt 35[39:41:43:45:46] sts, k2tog turn.
Leave rem 51(55:57:59:61:64] sts on holder.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on every row to 34(38:40:42:44:45] sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on every alt row to 24(28:30:30:32:32] sts.
Work straight until armhole meas 17[17.5:18:18.5:19:20]cm (6.5[7:7:7.5:8:8])in from beg of armhole shaping ending on a WS row.
Shape shoulders
Cont to cast off 6[7:6:6:8:8] sts at beg of next and every alt row until all sts have been cast off.
Shape right neck
With RS facing, leave centre 14[14:14:14:14:16] sts on holder and place rem 37[41:43:45:47:48] sts onto LH needle.
Work second side to match the first, reversing shaping.
SLEEVES
Using 3.25mm needles and A, cast on 50 sts.
Row 1 (RS): (K2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 (WS): (P2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep these 2 rows until Sleeve meas 6cm (2.5in) ending on a WS row.
Next row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 48 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Work in Diagonal Rib Patt, inc 1 st at each end of foil 9th[9th:7th:7th:5th:5th] row and then every foll 10th[10th:8th:8th:6th:6th] row to 52(52:68:68:60:60] sts.
Inc 1 st at each end of every foil 12th[12th:10th:10th:8th:8th] row to 72[72:80:80:84:84] sts. Work straight until Sleeve meas 43cm (17)in ending on a WS row.
Shape top
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows 66[66:74:74:78:78] sts.
Break off B and cont in A only.
Next row (RS): (K2, p2) to last 2 sts, k2.
Next row: (P2, k2) to last 2 sts, p2.
These last 2 rows form rib patt.
Cont in rib patt dec 1 st at each end of every row to 58[58:62:62:64:64] sts.
All sizes
Dec 1 st at each end of every alt row to 24 sts ending on a WS row.
Next row: K2tog to end. 12 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog to end. 6 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog to end. 3 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Cast off.
NECKBAND
Press pieces lightly according to ball band and darn in loose yam ends.
Join shoulder seams.
With RS facing and using 3.25mm needles, pick up and k4 sts down right back neck, k40[40:40:44:44:48] sts from back holder, 4 sts up left back neck, and 21 [21:21:23:23:26] sts down left front, 14[14:14:14:14:16] sts from Front holder, 21[21:21:23:23:26] sts up Right Front.
PM and join for rnd. 104[104:104:112:112:124] sts.
Work 8 rnds in k2, p2 rib. Cast off loosely in rib.
SHOULDER PADS (MAKE 4)
Using 3.25mm needles and A, cast on 3 sts. Work in g-st throughout.
Next row: Inc 1 st at each end. 5 sts.
Inc 1 st at each end of every alt row to 21 sts ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K9 sts, s2kpo, k to end.
Inc 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until 25 sts ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K11 sts, s2kpo, k to end. 23 sts. Inc 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until 29 sts, ending on a RS row.
Next row (WS): K13 sts, s2kpo, k to end. 27 sts. Cast off loosely.
TO FINISH OFF
Pin and sew Sleeve heads in place along armhole. Join side and Sleeve seams.
Using mattress stitch and matching yarn, sew 2 shoulder pads together to make a pair instead of 4. Pin the shoulder pads to the inside of the top of each Sleeve cap making sure the point of the pad is placed at the top of the Sleeve cap where it meets the shoulder seam. Slip stitch the sides and top of the pads only into place around armhole seam.