Credit this to my friend’s MP, who asked if I can make a sweater for her. She show me her idea the sweater she wanted. And so, this become my first knitting pattern design to be published / up on my blog.
Materials
- 3.00mm straight knitting needles
- 2.50mm straight knitting needles
- 2.50mm x 40cm circular needles (or longer with magic loop method)
- Microfiber Yarn, Fingering Weight (4ply) in 2 colours (approximate 400gm main colour, 100gm second colour)
- 1 Small Stitch Marker
- 1 Stitch Holder
- Measuring Tape
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Gauge in stockineette : 28sts x 37row = 4″ X 4″ = 10cm X 10cm
Finishes Sizes : Width underarm = 18.75″, Length = 25″ (size before wash)
Sizes Fit = Free sizes ( Fit S – L )
Yarns & Colours
I’m using Alize Diva yarn. I choose this yarn to design this sweater because it is a 100% microfiber acrylic yarn (manufacture fibers) which are suitable for summer. And the colours was picked up by MP herself. We went thru few round of the colours selection from Benangkait Malaysia (a distributor yarn from Turki) and the result we got the colours, as below;
- Coral 619 x 4 skeins
- White 55 x 1 skein
If you choose the same yarn as I did, please take note, the sweater expanded after I washed & steam ironed. It grow 3 inches longer. But anyway this sweater meant to be a little oversize style and some more MP is a tall lady, so it kind of good grow.
Before Start
Note :
- This pattern required skill on colour change technique. Refer to Intarsia Knitting if you need help. Also refer to the Colour chart to guide when to start develop the V shape. Photo below showing how my wrong side look like on the colour change.
- To avoid yarn to be tangled when working with more than 2 balls of yarn, this a little tip. Turn the working piece anti-clock wise when you done the knit/right side, then turn clock wise when you done the purl/wrong side.
- Sweater are constructed in Dolman styles, for the underarm shaping, refer to Chart 1.
- You can start direct from the ribbing but I prefer to do it later as you can decide to extend the length later on. Also you can avoid multi times knit the ribbing if you are to undo the sweater. Some time we just not happy the outcome and we frog it ^^!!!
Abbreviations
K = knit
P = purl
sts = stitches
CO = cast on
BO = bind off
PU = pick up
k2tog = knit two together (right slanting decrease)
ssk = slip slip knit (left slanting decrease)
s2kp2 = slip 2 together, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over (centered double decrease)
Pattern
Back Piece
With main colour, start with 131 sts of provision cast on.
Row 1 to 100 – Stockinette stitch
Row 101 – Bring in secondary colour
Here we are starting to bring in second colour. I’m using white. Also we are going to get another ball of main colour in. From now on we will work with 3 balls of yarn.
Knit 65 sts with main colour, 1 sts with white, bring in new ball of main colour and knit 65sts.
Added 2 sts (1 right, 1 left) of the white colour every row as per the chart to form the V till reaching the shoulder.
Row 109 to 140 – Underarms shaping
From now on we will be increase the stitches at both sides to form the drop shoulder sleeves. Refer to the chart for the increasing stitches.
Row 209 to 212- Back Neck Shaping
R209 – Knit 88sts, BO 65sts, knit 88sts, turn
R210(L shoulder) – Purl 88sts, place the right shoulder stitches on stitch holder, turn
R211(L shoulder) – BO 3sts, knit 85sts, turn
R212(L shoulder) – Purl 85 sts, turn
R213(L shoulder) BO 85
R210(R shoulder) – Pick up the right shoulder stitches from the stitch holder, BO 3sts, purl 85 turn
R211(R shoulder) – Knit 85sts, turn
R212(R shoulder) – Purl 85 sts, turn
R213(R shoulder) BO 85
Go back to the bottom piece, pick up the stitches with 2.5mm knitting needles. Work 1 x 1 ribbing for 20 rows, then tubular bind off.
Front Piece
With main colour, start with 131 sts of provision cast on.
Row 1 to 100 – Stockinette stitch
Row 101 – Bring in secondary colour
Here we are starting to bring in second colour. I’m using white. Also we are going to get another ball of main colour in. From now on we will work with 3 balls of yarn.
Knit 65 sts with main colour, 1 sts with white, bring in new ball of main colour and knit 65sts.
Added 2 sts of the white colour every row as per the chart to form the V till reaching the shoulder.
Row 109 to 140 – Underarms shaping
From now on we will be increase the stitches at both sides to form the drop shoulder sleeves same as per the back piece.
Row 143 to 212- Front Neck V-Shaping
R143 – Knit 118sts, (k2tog)right slanting decrease, place stitch marker the next 1 stitch, (ssk)left slanting decrease, knit118sts, turn
R144(R shoulder) – Purl all stitches, place left shoulder stitch on stitch holder, turn
R145(R shoulder) – Left slanting decrease, knit all stitches, turn
R146(R shoulder) – Purl all stitches, turn
Repeat R145 & R146 till R212
R213(R shoulder) BO 85sts
R144(L shoulder) – Purl all stitches, turn
R145(L shoulder) – knit to the last 2sts, right slanting decrease, turn
R146(L shoulder) – Purl all stitches, turn
Repeat R145 & R146 till R212
R213(L shoulder) BO 85sts
Go back to the bottom piece, pick up the stitches with 2.5mm knitting needles. Work k1 x p1 ribbing for 20 rows, then tubular bind off.
Now you have done front and back piece. Attached the shoulders part with seaming stockinette stitch horizontally or your preference seaming method.
Sleeves
Make 2
You can either cast on the stitch and attach them later. But I prefer to pick up the stitches directly from the knitted piece.
R1 – CO 114sts, turn
R2 – Purl all stitches
R3 – Knit all stitches
R4 – Purl all stitches
R5 – Knit 1, ssk (left slanting decrease), knit to the last 3, k2tog (right slanting decrease), knit 1, turn
Repeat R2, R3, R4 & R5 29 times until your needle left 54 stitches
Change to 2.5mm knitting needles for sleeves ribbing
R1 – Purl all stitches
R2 to R16 – k1 x p1 ribbing
R17 – BO with tubular bind off method
Once you had made the 2 sleeves and attached them to the front and back piece. Next, seam the side of the main pieces and bottom of the sleeve together.
Collar / Neck Ribbing
With 2.50mm circular needles, pick up stitches all round the neck opening. I usually start with the back right shoulder.
R1 – PU 77sts, PU70sts, PU 1 from stitch marker, PU70sts
R2, P1, K1 till you come to the center of the front neck, s2kp2 (centered double decrease), K1, P1 till the last stitch.
R3, continue ribbing without decrease
Repeat R2 & R3 to R16
R17, tubular BO all round. Weave in all the yarn ends and your sweater are completed.
You can download printable pdf version of the chart here 👇🏻
If you are following this pattern, I would love to see your work. Share and Tag your project with #znooipattern on Instagram or Facebook.
Happy knitting 😊😊
