Colinette Saddle Shoulder Sweater

This was totally inspired by big cozy sweatshirts, you know the kind that you can't wait to throw on after work and lounge in jeans and slippers while knitting and watching Corner Gas or Rick Mercer! This is Colinette's Chrysalis, a mostly cotton hand dyed Chunky yarn, soft and comfy from day one.

Yarn: Colinette Chrysalis, 7 skeins for roomy medium fit. (40 inch chest.)

Needles: 8mm (US11)

Pattern Stitch: Row 1: K3, [P3, K3] repeat brackets to end of row.

Row 2: Purl all stitches.

Repeat row 1 and 2 for the body pattern.

Back: Cast on 39 sts.

Work K1, P1 ribbing for 5 rows. Increase 3 sts evenly over the next row. Change to pattern stitch. Work even in pattern for 21 inches. Cast off all stitches.

Front: work the same as back until 19 inches. Cast off all stitches.

Saddle Shoulders: Cast on 9 stitches: work in pattern (K3, P3, K3 right side- purl wrong side) for 6 inches, then for right shoulder with WRONG SIDE FACING, cast off 4 sts at beginning of row, work rest of row and next in pattern. Cast off 3 at start of next row, work rest of row and next in pattern, then cast off last 3.

For left shoulder after 6 inches, and RIGHT SIDE FACING, cast off 4 sts a beginning of row, work rest of row and next row in pattern. Cast off 3 at start of next row, work rest of row and next in pattern, then cast off last 3.

Sew these shoulder panels into place between back and front pieces, without stretching too much. I find this extra sewing keeps the shoulders from stretching too much especially with this type of bulky heavy cotton.

Sleeves: Cast on 17 sts. Work in K1,P1 ribbing for 7 rows, and increase 3 sts across last row of ribbing.

Change to pattern stitch and work sleeve, increasing 1 stitch at each side every 4th row until 42 stitches are on needles. Work the new stitches into the stitch pattern as the sleeve grows. Continue until sleeve is 17 inches long. Cast off all, and sew the sleeves to the side of the Front/Shoulder/Back before you sew the sleeve and side seams.

Neck: With Double point needles pick up 40 sts from around neck, and knit around the neckline in K1,P1 ribbing for 4 rows. Cast off all.