Design by Britt Schmiesing
Sizes
Woman's X-large (2X-large, 3X-large, 4X-large, 5X-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: 47 (51, 55, 59, 63) inches
Length: 25 3/4 (26 3/4, 27 1/4, 28, 28 1/2) inches
Materials
Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (DK weight; 50% superfine alpaca/50% Peruvian wool; 144 yds/50g per hank): 11 (12, 13, 15, 16) hanks steel cut oats #4214
Size 4 (3.5mm) 16-inch circular needle
Size 5 (3.75mm) 32-inch circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers
Stitch holders or scrap yarn
Gauge
24 sts and 30 rows — 4 inches/10cm in St st (blocked).
To save time, take time to check gauge.
Special Abbreviation
Slip marker (sm): Slip marker from LH to RH needle.
Pattern Notes
Top is worked in pieces and then seamed.
The empire waist is set off with a row of purl stitches.
Work armhole and sleeve decreases 2 sts in from edges. On right-side rows, work k2, ssk at beginning of row and k2tog, k2 at end. On wrong-side rows, work p2, p2tog at beginning of row and ssp, p2 at end.
Back
With larger needle, cast on 211 (229, 247, 265, 283) sts.
Knit 3 rows.
Beg with a RS row, work in St st until piece measures 12 3/4 (13, 13, 13 1/4, 13 1/4) inches or to desired length to end just under bust, ending with a RS row.
Dec row (WS): P1, *p2tog, p1; rep from * to end—141 (153, 165, 177, 189) sts.
Continue in St st for 4 (4 1/2, 4 1/2, 5, 5) inches, or to desired length to armholes so that Dec (purled) row is aligned just below bust.
Shape Armholes
Bind off 9 (12, 15, 15, 18) sts at beg of next 2 rows—123 (129, 135, 147, 153) sts.
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 0 (0, 2, 6, 8) rows and 2 sts at beg of next 2 (4, 4, 4, 4) rows—119 (121, 121, 121, 121) sts.
Dec 1 st each side [every RS row] 7 (6, 6, 5, 5) times—105 (109, 109, 111, 111) sts.
Work even until armholes measure 8 1/4 (8 3/4, 9 1/4, 9 3/4, 10 1/4) inches, ending with a RS row.
Shape Neck & Shoulders
Division row (WS): P39 (40, 40, 41, 41); join 2nd ball and bind off 27 (29, 29, 29, 29) neck sts; purl to end.
Shape shoulders as follows: at each armhole edge, bind off [8 (9, 9, 10, 10) sts] once and [9 sts] 3 times.
At the same time, shape back neck as follows: at each neck edge, dec 1 [every RS row] 4 times.
Front
Work as for back until armholes measure 4 1/4 (4 1/4, 5, 5 1/2, 5 3/4) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape Neck
Division row (RS): K43 (44, 44, 45, 45); join 2nd ball and bind off 19 (21, 21, 21, 21) neck sts; knit to end—43 (44, 44, 45,45) sts each side.
Working both sides at once with 2 balls of yarn, at each neck edge, bind off [3 sts] 4 times and [2 sts] twice—35 (36, 36, 37, 37) sts each side.
Work even until armholes measure 8 1/4 (8 3/4, 9 1/4, 9 1/4, 10 1/4) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape shoulders as for back.
Sleeves
With larger needle, cast on 89 (101, 110, 119, 125) sts.
Knit 3 rows.
Work in St st until sleeve measures 6VA (7, 7, 7 1/4, 7 1/4) inches, ending with a WS row.
Shape Cap
Bind off 9 (12, 15, 15, 18) sts at beg of next 2 rows—71 (77, 80, 89, 89) sts.
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 0 (0, 2, 6, 6) rows and 2 sts at beg of next 2 (4, 2, 0, 0) rows—67 (69, 70, 71, 71) sts.
Dec 1 steach side [every RS row] 17 (16, 13, 10, 8) times and [every 4 rows]
0 (1, 3, 5, 7) time(s)—33 (35, 38, 41, 41) sts rem.
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows— 21 (23, 26, 29, 29) sts Bind off rem sts.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Block pieces to measurements. Sew shoulder seams.
Using mattress st, sew sleeves invisibly into armholes.
Sew sleeve and side seams.
Neck Edging
With RS facing, using smaller needle and beg at right back neck, pick up and knit 1 st for every bound-off st along back neck, 3 sts for every 4 rows along side neck, 1 st for every bound-off st along front neck and 3 sts for every 4 rows along side neck; pm for beg of rnd and join.
[Purl 1 rnd, knit 1 rnd] twice, purl 1 rnd.
Loosely bind off pwise.