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by Rebecca Hatcher

This fitted, lacy sweater was inspired by some mysterious mohair-blend yarn and the lacy Grecian plait stitch, found in Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns.

The mysterious yarn had lost its labels, but Classic Mohair seemed like a good substitute. The mohair counteracts the three-quarter sleeves and low neck, making it warm enough to wear sooner, rather than later, while still feeling springy.

The Grecian plait, which really does look like rows of tiny braids, is formed by purling wrong side rows with a needle about twice as large as that used for the right side. The resulting enlarged stitches are slipped over the end of the needle to form the braid.

model: Rebecca Hatcher photo: Kevin Glick

SIZE
S[M, L, XL]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 35[37, 39, 41] inches
Length: 21[22, 22, 23] inches

 

MATERIALS

Berroco Classic Mohair [78% Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon ; 93 yd/85m per 43g skein]; color: B688; 7[8, 8, 9] skeins.
Optional: small amount of coordinating or contrasting yarn for tie. [You can also use the Classic Mohair. I used Berroco Linet in "Creme Fraiche".]

1 set US #6/4mm straight needles [or size to obtain gauge]
1 set US #11/8mm straight needles [or size to obtain gauge, should be about twice as large as smaller needles]
Size F crochet hook
Tapestry needle

 
GAUGE

17.25 sts/26rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

 
DIRECTIONS

Grecian Plait stitch
Adapted from Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns:
Row 1 [RS, with smaller needle]: lift the 2nd st over the 1st st and knit it, then knit the 1st st. Lift the 4th st over the 3rd st, knit it, then knit the 3rd st. Repeat across row.
Row 2 [WS, with larger needle]: Purl.
Rep rows 1 and 2.

Back
With smaller needles, CO 70[74, 78, 82] sts.
K 2 rows.
Using larger needle, P 1 row.
Work in Grecian plait pattern, until piece measures 10 inches from beg, ending on RS.
With smaller needle, P next row.
Cont in St st on 2 smaller needles until piece measures 12[12.5, 12.5, 13] inches from beg, ending on WS.

Decrease for armholes
BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of the next 2 RS rows.
54[58, 62, 66 sts remain)..
Work even in St st until piece measures 20[21, 21, 22] inches from beg, ending on WS row.

Shape back neck
K 12[14, 16, 18].
Attach 2nd ball and BO center 30 sts.
K to end of row.
Working both sides simultaneously, dec 2 sts at each neck edge once, then 1 st at each neck edge twice, ending on RS -- 8[10, 12, 14] sts remain on each side.
Leave rem sts live on a spare needle for 3-needle bind off.

Front
Work same as back through patterned section, until piece measures 10 inches, ending with RS row.
P one row WITH SMALLER NEEDLE.
Next row, inc 12 sts evenly spaced across the front: K2[4, 6, 8] inc 1, [k6, inc 1] 11 times, k2[4, 6, 8]. 82[86, 90, 94] sts remain.
Cont in St st until piece measures 12[12.5, 12.5, 13] inches.

Decrease for armholes
BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of next 2 RS rows [70 sts remain].
Work even until piece measures 15.5[16, 16.5, 17] inches from beg, ending with RS row.

Shape front neck
Row 1 [WS]: P12[14, 16, 18]; [p2tog, p1] 2 times; [p2tog, p2] 7 times; [p2tog, p1] 2 times; p2tog; p12[14, 16, 18]. 54[58, 62, 66] sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K12[14, 16, 18]. Attach 2nd ball and BO center 30 sts. K to end of row.
Working both sides simultaneously, dec 2 sts at each neck edge once, then 1 st at each neck edge twice. 8[10, 12, 14] sts remain on each side.
Cont in St st on both sides until the front is the same length as back.
BO front and back together, using 3-needle bind off.

Sleeves
With smaller needles, CO 52[56, 56,60] sts.
K 2 rows.
Keeping the first and last 2 sts of each row in garter stitch and beg with P row, work 1.5 inches in St st, ending with WS row.
Next row [inc row], K2, inc 1, K to last 2 sts, inc 1, k2.
Working all sts in St st, work an inc row every 12th row 4 more times -- 62[66, 66, 70] sts.
Work even until sleeve measures 10[11, 11, 12] inches from beg, ending with WS row.

Shape shoulder
BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows; 54[58, 58, 62] sts.
BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows; 50[54, 54, 58] sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of the next 4 RS rows, then every other RS row 3 times. 36[40, 40, 44] sts.
Dec 1 st at each end of the next 4 RS rows to 28[32, 32, 36] sts.
BO 2 sts at beg of next 2 rows to 24[28, 28, 32] sts.
BO 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 16[20, 20, 24] sts remain.
BO all remaining sts.
Work 2nd sleeve the same.

 
FINISHING

Seam sides.
Seam sleeves [leaving open the garter stitch portion at the elbow].
Sew sleeves in place.
Leave neck as shown in picture, or SC around opening.
Block to measurements.
Crochet a chain [with same, coordinating or contrasting yarn if desired] 50[52,54, 56] inches in length.
Thread this chain through the top row of eyelets in the lace pattern, so that free ends are in the center front.

 
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Rebecca Hatcher has recently moved to the Boston area, where she thinks about knitting while she should be working.
Pattern & images © 2003 Rebecca Hatcher. Contact Rebecca.