The black of the turtlenek is mirrored in the hem and sleeve bands. This balances the busy pattern nicely.

Size: 48/50, 52/54, and 56/58. Figures for sizes 52/54 and 56/58 are given in parentheses, in ascending order, separated by a dash. If only one figure is given, it applies for all three sizes.

Materials: Schoppel Wolle “Reggae” (100% virgin wool, approx. 100 m/110 yds/50 g) 400 (450-500) g of natural, col 980, and 550 (600- 650) g of black, col 880; addi knitting needles, sizes 7 mm, 8 mm, and 9 mm (US 10V2,11, and 13), and 1 circular needle, size 8 mm (US 11), 40 cm/ 16" long.

Rib pattern: k 1, p 1 alternately.

Stocking stitch: with size 8 mm needles, k RS rows and p WS rows.

Slip stitch pattern: Use size 9 mm needles. Row 1 = RS row: selvage st, * p 1, slip 3 sts with the yarn in front of the work, rep from * cont, and end with p 1, selvage st. Row 2 = WS row: selvage st, * k 1, p 3, rep from * cont, and end with k 1, selvage st. Rep rows 1 and 2 cont, holding the yarn loosely and evenly while slipping the 3 sts in the 1st row.

Stripe order for back and front: Work alternately 16 rows of slip stitch pattern and 20 rows of stocking stitch.

Stripe order for sleeves: Work alternately 16 rows of slip stitch pattern and 14 rows of stocking stitch.

Tension gauges: 10.5 sts and 15 rows of stocking stitch with 8 mm needles = 10x10 cm/4" x 4"; 12 sts and 18 rows of slip stitch pattern with 9 mm needles = 10x10 cm/4"x 4".

Attention: Always use 2 strands of yarn!

Back: With size 7 mm needles and 2 strands of black, cast on 63 (67-71) sts. Work rib pattern for the hem band, beginning with 1 WS row. When rib pattern measures 8 cm/3¹/₄" = 13 rows, change to 9 mm needles and use 1 strand of black and 1 strand of natural to work slip stitch pattern. Work a total of 16 rows of slip stitch pattern, then change to 8 mm needles and work stocking stitch, in the 1st row k every 7th and 8th sts tog = 56 (59-63) sts. Work 19 rows of stocking stitch. In the foll WS row, make 1 (= pick up horizontal thread and p 1 tbl) to replace each dec 1. To do this, make the 1st st after the 7th (4th-8th) st of the row, then make 1 st after every 7th st = 63 (67-71) sts. Work these decs and incs at beginning and end of every stocking stitch stripe to even out the difference in tension gauges. When work measures 45 (44-43) cm/17_³/₄" (17¹/₄"-17") = 74 (72-70) rows, cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows, for armholes = 55 (59-63) sts of slip stitch pattern and 49 (52-56) sts in stocking stitch stripe after decs. When work measures 23 (24-25) cm/9" (9¹/₂"-10") = 38 (40- 42) rows after begin of armholes, in the 5th row of the slip stitch pattern, cast off the centre 13 (17-21) sts, for back neck, and complete each half separately, shaping neck as foll: at neck edge in the 2nd foll row, cast off 2 more sts, then in the foll RS row, cast off remaining 19 shoulder sts. Complete 2nd half in same manner, reversing shaping.

Front: Work as for the back, but for the lower neckline, cast off the centre 5 (8-12) sts when work measures 15 (16-17) cm/6" (6³/₈"-6³/₄'') = 26 (28-30) rows from begin of armholes, in the 12th row of the stocking stitch stripe, and complete each half separately, shaping neck as foll: in every 2nd row, cast off 2 sts 2 more times and 1 st once = 17 shoulder sts in 19th row of stocking stitch stripe. In this row, inc 2 sts on each shoulder. To do this, make 1 (= pick up horizontal thread and p 1 tbl) after every 7th st = 19 sts. After 8 rows of slip stitch pattern, cast off the 19 sts at same level as for back. Complete 2nd half in same manner, reversing shaping.

Sleeve: With size 7 mm needles and 2 strands of black, cast on 35 (39-39) sts. Work rib pattern for the hem band, beginning with 1 WS row. When rib pattern measures 8 cm/3¹/₄" = 13 rows, change to 9 mm needles and use 1 strand of black and 1 strand of natural to work slip stitch pattern. Work a total of 16 rows of slip stitch pattern, then change to 8 mm needles and work stocking stitch, in the 1st row k every 7th and 8th sts tog = 31 (35-35) sts. Work 13 rows of stocking stitch. In the 3rd row of the stocking stitch stripe, inc 1 st on each side, to shape sleeve, then inc 1 st on each side of every 6th row 11 (10-11) more times = 59 (61-63) sts of slip stitch pattern and 52 (54-56) sts of stocking stitch stripe. Incorporate the inc sts in each pattern, for the slip stitch pattern sometimes slipping only 1 or 2 sts on the edge, as needed. Please remember to work the decs and incs at beginning and end of every stocking stitch stripe, as for the back, to even out the difference in tension gauges. Work a total of 3 slip stitch pattern stripes, of 16 rows each, and 3 stocking stitch stripes, of 14 rows each, then cast off all sts. Make 2nd sleeve identically.

Finishing: Block pieces, dampen, and let dry. Sew shoulder and side seams. For the rolled collar, use the 8 mm circular needle and 2 strands of black, to pick up 64 (70-78) sts from the neck edge. Work rib pattern in rnds for 22 cm/8³/₄" = 32 rows, then cast off all sts loosely. Sew sleeve seams. Set in sleeves.