Ladies Pullover. With a knit-in tartan plaid. Lends itself to a college-look pleated skirt or sports pants, as shown here.

Size: 34/36, 38/40 and 42/44.

Instructions are given for first size. Figures in parentheses refer to larger sizes. When only one figure is given, it applies to all sizes.

Materials: "Merino Extrafine 120" (100% pure wool, approx. 120 m/50 g): 450 (500-550) g in Gentian, col 00153, 100 g in Teal, col 00169, and 50 g in White, col 00101; size 3.5 and 4 mm Prym needles; size 3.5 mm circular needle, 40 cm/16" long.

Edging: Row 1 (WS): K all sts. Rows 2 + 3: P all sts.

Rib pattern A: K1, p1.

Rib pattern B: Row 1 (RS): K all sts. Row 2: K1, p1. Repeat rows 1 + 2 throughout.

Stockinette: K on RS, p on WS.

Plaid pattern: Work in Stockinette in Fair Isle technique according to chart. Work RS rows from right to left and work WS rows from left to right. 1 square = 1 st and 1 row. Follow chart key for colors used. Very loosely carry strand not in use across WS of work. When there are more than 4 sts between color changes, weave yarn not in use over and under the sts until used again. Work white vertical stripes in Intarsia technique, working each stripe with separate ball of yarn. Position sts as given in instructions. Repeat rows 1 - 36 throughout.

Tension: 24 sts and 26 rows = 10 x 10 cm/4" x 4" in plaid pat on size 4 mm needles; 23 sts and 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm/4" x 4" in rib pat B on size 4 mm needles.

Front: With size 3.5 mm needles and Gentian, cast on 96 (106-118) sts and work the 3 edging rows. Change to size 4 mm needles and work in plaid pat according to chart as foll: Work 6 (11-17) sts between arrow a (b-c) and first double arrow, work 28-st pat rep between double arrows 3 times, work 6 (11-17) sts between 2nd double arrow and arrow a (b-c). Work in pat as established until front measures 30 cm/12" = 78 rows from edging.

Shape armholes: Bind off 4 (5-6) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 1 st at beg of next 8 (10-12) rows = 70 (76-84) sts. Cont in pat until armhole measures 13 (14-15) cm/5 1/4" (5 1/2"-6") = 34 (36-38) rows from beg.

Shape neck: Bind off center 12 (12-14) sts. Working each side separately, bind off 4 sts at each neck edge once, then 2 sts once, then 1 st every other row twice. Cont in pat until armhole measures 18 (19-20) cm/7" (7 1/2"-8") = 46 (50-52) rows from beg. Bind off remaining 21 (24-27) sts for each shoulder.

Back: Back is 5 cm/2" longer and 4 cm/1 1/2" wider than front. This moves the shoulder line forward and the side seams towards the front. With size 3.5 mm needles and Gentian, cast on 101 (111-121) sts and work the 3 edging rows. Change to size 4 mm needles and work in rib pat B until back measures 30 cm/12" = 90 rows from edging.

Shape armholes: Bind off 4 (5-6) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 1 st at beg of next 8 (10-12) rows = 75 (81-87) sts. Cont in pat until armhole measures 18 (19-20) cm/7 1/2" (7 1/2"-8") = 54 (56-60) rows from beg.

Shape neck: Bind off center 25 (25-27) sts. Working each side separately, bind off 3 sts at each neck edge once, then 2 sts once. Cont in pat until armhole measures 21 (22-23) cm/8 1/4" (8 3/4"-9") = 64 (66-70) rows from beg.

Shape shoulders: Bind off 6 (7-9) sts at each shoulder edge once, then 7 (8-8) sts twice. 

Sleeves: With size 3.5 mm needles and Gentian, cast on 57 (59-61) sts and work in rib pat A until sleeve measures 7 cm/2 3/4" = 21 rows from cast-on. Change to size 4 mm needles, work in rib pat B and shape sleeve as foll: Inc 1 st at beg and end of 8th row, then every foll 8th row (then alternately every 6th and 8th row - then every foll 6th row) 12 (14-16) times = 83 (89-95) sts. Cont in pat until sleeve measures 37 cm/14 1/2" = 112 rows in rib pat B.

Shape sleeve cap: Bind off 4 (5-6) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 1 st at beg of next 32 (34-36) rows, then 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 19 (21-23) sts on next RS row.

Finishing: Block pieces, dampen, and let dry. Sew shoulder seams. With circular needle, pick up and k 44 (44-46) sts around front neck edge and 40 (40-42) sts around back neck edge = 84 (84-88) sts. Join for working in rnds and work rib pat A in rnds for 3 cm/1 1/4". Bind off all sts. Sew side and sleeve seams. Sew in sleeves.