Knitty: Spring 2007

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by Kirsten Kapur

This pattern was inspired by a trip to Lake Tahoe for some spring skiing with a group of wonderful friends. The color of the sky and mountains are reflected in the colors I chose.

I love simple swingy cardigans in the spring. They make great layering pieces in the changeable weather.

Tahoe is fitted through the bust and roomy in the hips. The contrasting sleeve and front edges make use of beautiful hand painted fingering weight yarn, and add a feminine touch.

This pattern is knit at a larger gauge than specified on the Cathay ball band. The resulting fabric is very fluid and drapey.

model: Kelly M. photos: Kirsten Kapur

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 28[32, 36, 40.5, 44, 48, 52] inches
Length: 19[20, 21, 21.5, 22.5, 23, 24] inches

MATERIALS

[MC]: Debbie Bliss Cathay [50% Cotton, 35% Viscose Microfibre, 15% Silk, 109yd/100m per 50g ball]; color: #08; 7[8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] balls

[CC]: Koigu KPPPM [100% Merino Wool, 175yd/160m per 50g skein]; color: P529; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2] skeins

1 set US #7/4.5mm straight needles

1 set US #9/5.5mm straight needles

1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inches or longer

Stitch holder

Tapestry needle

5 small safety pins

5 x 5/8 inch buttons

GAUGE

17 sts / 24 rows = 4 inches using MC and larger needles
21 sts / 32 rows = 4 inches using CC and smaller needles

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

PATTERN

BACK
Using larger needles and MC, CO 72[80, 88, 98, 106, 114, 122] sts.
Work 4 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts. This row forms a turning ridge for the hem.

Work 7 rows in stockinette st.
Next Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Repeat these 8 rows 5 times more. 60[68, 76, 86, 94, 102, 110] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 11[11.5, 12, 12, 12.5, 12.5, 13] inches from turning ridge, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armhole
BO 3[3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 54[62, 68, 76, 80, 86, 90] sts.

Next Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 1[3, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10] times more. 50[54, 60, 64, 66, 68, 68] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 18[19, 20, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23] inches (armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10] inches), ending with a WS row.

Next Row [RS]: K16[17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 21], place these sts on a stitch holder; BO next 18[20, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26] sts, k to end. 16[17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 21] sts on needle.

Left Shoulder
Row 1 [WS]: BO 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, p to end. 12[12, 13, 14, 14, 15, 15] sts.
Row 2 [RS]: K2, ssk, k to end.
Row 3 [WS]: BO 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts, p to end. 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts.
Row 4 [RS]: K2, ssk, k to end.
BO remaining 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7] sts.

Replace held sts of Right Shoulder on needle with RS facing and reattach yarn.
Row 1 [RS]: BO 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k1. 11[11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 3 [RS]: BO 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k1. 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7] sts.
Row 4 [WS]: P all sts.
BO remaining sts.

LEFT FRONT
Using larger needles and MC, CO 36[40, 44, 49, 53, 57, 61] sts.
Work 4 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts. This row forms a turning ridge for the hem.

Work 7 rows in stockinette st.
Next Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to end.
Repeat these 8 rows 5 times more. 30[34, 38, 43, 47, 51, 55] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 10[10.5, 11, 11, 11.5, 11.5, 12] inches from turning ridge, ending with a WS row.

Note: Read ahead! Neckline and Armhole shaping directions are worked at the same time.

Shape Neckline
Next Row [RS]: K to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Work 3 rows in stockinette st.
Repeat these 4 rows 10[11, 13, 14, 14, 14, 14] times more.
AT THE SAME TIME, when work measures 11[11.5, 12, 12, 12.5, 12.5, 13] inches, ending with a WS row, shape armhole as follows:
Next Row [RS]: BO 3[3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10] sts, k to end.

P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to end.
Repeat these 2 rows 1[3, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10] times more.

When all neckline and armhole decreases have been worked, 14[15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19] sts remain.

When work measures 18[19, 20, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23] inches (armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10] inches), ending with a WS row, shape shoulder as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: BO 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, k to end.
Row 2 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 3 [RS]: BO 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts, k to end.
Row 4 [WS]: P all sts.
BO remaining 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7] sts.

RIGHT FRONT
Using larger needles and MC, CO 36[40, 44, 49, 53, 57, 61] sts.
Work 4 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts. This row forms a turning ridge for the hem.

Work 7 rows in stockinette st.
Next Row [RS]: K to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
Repeat these 8 rows 5 times more. 30[34, 38, 43, 47, 51, 55] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 10[10.5, 11, 11, 11.5, 11.5, 12] inches from turning ridge, ending with a WS row.

Note: Read ahead! Neckline and Armhole shaping directions are worked at the same time.

Shape Neckline
Next Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to end.
Work 3 rows in stockinette st.
Repeat these 4 rows 10[11, 13, 14, 14, 14, 14] times more.
AT THE SAME TIME, when work measures 11[11.5, 12, 12, 12.5, 12.5, 13] inches, ending with a RS row, shape armhole as follows:
Next Row [WS]: BO 3[3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10] sts, p to end.
Next Row [RS]: K to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 1[3, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10] times more.

When all neckline and armhole decreases have been worked, 14[15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 19] sts remain.

When work measures 18[19, 20, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23] inches (armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10] inches), ending with a RS row, shape shoulder as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: BO 4[5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6] sts, p to end.
Row 2 [RS]: K all sts.
Row 3 [WS]: BO 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6] sts, p to end.
Row 4 [RS]: K all sts.
BO remaining 5[5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7] sts.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using smaller straight needles and CC, CO 57[63, 68, 74, 79, 84, 89] sts.
Work 4 rows in stockinette st, beginning with a RS row.

Next Row [RS]: K1[1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1], [yo, k2tog] to end. This row forms a turning ridge for the picot hem.
Work 3 rows in stockinette st. Break CC.

Next Row [RS]: Using MC and larger needles, k7[3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4], [k2tog, k3] to end. 47[51, 55, 60, 64, 68, 72] sts.
Work in stockinette st until work measures 16.5[17, 17, 17.5, 17.5, 18, 18] inches from turning ridge or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.

Shape Sleeve Cap
BO 3[3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 41[45, 47, 50, 50, 52, 52] sts.

Decrease Row [RS]: K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 35[39, 41, 44, 44, 46, 46] sts.

Work 6[6, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14] rows in stockinette st.

Work Decrease Row as above.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 9[11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14] times more.

BO remaining 15[15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16] sts.

FINISHING

Block pieces as desired.
Sew shoulder seams.
Sew side seams and sleeve seams.

Fold hems along turning ridges to inside of work, and sew in place. Be sure to sew fairly loosely, so that the hems do not bind.

Sew sleeves into armholes.

Try on sweater and determine desired positions for buttons. Place one at beginning of neckline shaping and one several inches from lower edge of sweater, and space remaining buttons evenly between these points. Mark button positions close to right front edge using safety pins. (Buttonholes will be worked on right front band to correspond to positions of pins.)

Front Band
Using CC and circular needle, with RS facing and beginning at lower edge of right front, pick up and k 1 st in each row along right front edge, 1 st in each row and 1 st in each bound off st along back neckline edge, and 1 st in each row along left front edge.

P 1 row.

Buttonhole Row [RS]: [K to desired location of buttonhole, k2tog, yo] until all buttonholes have been worked; k to end.
P 1 row.

Next Row [RS]: P all sts. This row forms a turning ridge for the front band.
P 1 row.

Work Buttonhole Row as before.
P 1 row.
BO all sts.

Fold front band along turning ridge to inside of work and sew in place.
Sew buttons to left front band, opposite buttonholes.
Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Kirsten's early forays into making clothing involved playing with her mother's sewing machine and hopelessly tangling the thread. Eventually she figured out how to use the machine properly and has been crafting garments ever since.

In the past 4 years her passion has turned from sewing to knitting. Her yarn stash has become legendary among her friends and family. She blogs about her obsession at throughtheloops.