Noro Blossom Turtleneck - free pattern

Yarn: Noro Blossom , 8 skeins of colour 19 *A* (burgundy, rose and pink), and 2 skeins of 20 *B*(Purple, aqua and green)

Needles: 5mm (US 8)

Gauge: 12 stitches and 17 rows = 4 inches on 5mm(US8)

Finished measurements: Chest 40 inches, length from shoulder: 24 inches

PATTERN:

Back: With main colour (A), cast on 56. Work in K1, P1 ribbing for 2 inches. On the last row, increase 3 stitches across the row. Change to stocking stitch (Knit the right side and Purl the wrong side throughout), work 15 stitches in (A), then add a ball of (B) and knit 7, Then add another ball of (A) and knit 15, Repeat with (B) for 7 then a final ball of (A) for 15. You will work the whole piece with 5 balls of yarn, alternating A,B,A,B,A and twist the new yarn around the last yarn so as not to leave a gap.

You continue knitting in the pattern vertical stipes with these yarns for 16.5 inches, then bind off 5 stitches at the start of the next 2 rows (armhole shaping for the sleeve placement)

Work straight again until the total length is 24 inches from the start. Bind off all stitches.

Front: Work the same as the back, through the armhole shaping, until total length is 21 inches.

neck shaping: Work across until the center (A) block is reached. Bind off all these 15 stitches, and work across the rest of the row. On the next row, decrease ONE stitch at each side of the neck edge. Continue to knit both sides of the front piece until the length matches the back (24 inches). Bind off the remaining stitches on both shoulders.

Sleeve: With colour (A) cast on 25 stitches, and rib for 2 inches. Change to stocking stitch, knit with just (A) increase one stitch at each end of the row, every 6 rows, until 46 stitches are on the needles. Continue even until the sleeve measures 21 inches (or desired length - I have long arms!) Bind off all stitches. ** on my sleeves I used a bit of leftover colour (B) as a stipe in the middle of each sleeve, kind of randomly placed, just for fun (and certainly optional).

Join shoulder seams and using short circular needles (or double point needles) in 5mm (US8), pick up 58 stitches evenly around the neck. Start a K1, P1 ribbing, work around and around and around until turtleneck is 7.5 inches long, or as long as you want (1 inch would make a nice crew neck). Bind off very loosely. Sew the sleeve straight into the flat part of the armhole, and the short bit of bind off to the first inch of the sleeve. Then join from the wrist to the hip.