Rowan Citron Shell

Beaded Citron Shell:

I found 6 balls of this beautiful, classic Rowan yarn, and dreamed up a simple shell that can be worn alone or as a vest as pictured. This yarn feels like cotton, but holds it's elastic shape like wool. Soft and smooth to the touch, with a few beads thrown in for detailing.

Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton: 6[6,6,7,7,8] balls in citron. DK weight 123 yards per 50 gm ball.

Needle: 4mm (US 6), several glass beads, large enough to thread on the yarn.... (optional)

Gauge: 20 sts =4 inches, 25 rows = 4 inches.  Please, please, please knit a swatch to check the gauge in stocking stitch.

Finished sizes = 32[34, 36, 39, 41, 44] inches at bustline, approx. sizes 4[6,8,10,12,14+]  Circle the size you need to knit throughout the pattern.

Back: With 4mm needles, cast on 80[86, 89, 95, 101, 110] sts. Work in K2, P1 ribbing, end with K2. Keep to this ribbing, for 6[6, 6, 6.5, 7, 7] inches. Right side facing: place beads in this row as follows: Break yarn and thread 26[28, 29, 31, 33, 36] beads onto the yarn.Join again and K2, slip purl stitch onto right hand needle AND slide a bead along the yarn to sit IN FRONT of this slipped stitch, then Knit next two knit stitches. Continue to slip the purls and slide a bead in front, then knit 2, until row and beads are done.

Next Row: Purl across all stitches.

Continue in stocking stitch (knit the right side, purl the wrong side, until 12[12.5, 13, 13, 13.5, 14] inches have been worked from the start.

Shape armholes: Cast off 7[7,7,8,8,9] stitches from the start of the next two rows. Decrease one each side on the right sides seven times. Work even until piece measures 27[27,28,29,30,30] inches. Cast off all stitches.

Front: Work the same as the back, including the bead placement at the top of the ribbing. When all the Armhole decreases have been worked, add the front bead details as follows: Break yarn and thread 10 beads onto yarn, then join again.

Bead Install Increase Row 1:  Right side: Knit 15, yarn over needle, knit to last 15 sts, yarn over needle, knit 15. (keep sliding beads along yarn until ready to "install")...

Row 2: Wrong side: P 15, slip the yarn-over stitch AND slide bead into position IN FRONT (you are working from the back, so make sure it is on the front side), Purl to next yarn over, and slip that one while adding a bead, then purl the last 15.  (Two beads added over the yarn-over spots, and two stitches have been added.)  See detail in photo below.

Work 4 rows straight of stocking stitch, then repeat the right and wrong side bead installing rows. Do this 6 row pattern until 10 beads have been added, then work even until same length as back. Cast off all stitches. The front will be 10 stitches wider between the bead lines, and this adds a drape to the boat neck so it is not too snug in front. The excess will roll a bit more than the back!

Sew the shoulders: stitch together the outside 15 stitches on the front and back and leave the ones between the beads, and the matching space on the back to roll naturally into an interesting neckline. Pick up 93[96, 96,102 105, 109] stitches around the armholes and work in k2, p1 ribbing for two rows, then cast off in ribbing. Join side seams.