Thursday, February 17, 2011

Kimmee's Sweater

Kimmee's Sweater!
This is the pattern for the sweater I made for my sister's birthday. Made with my favourite self striping yarn, in a loose, comfy, cowl neck design.
Size: 40 inch chest, 27 inch length from shoulder.
Yarn: Noro Furin (Cotton, silk, wool, rayon) 10 balls (50 grams, 110 m) (Noro Silk Garden would work to this gauge too)

Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
Needles: 4.5mm for the main part, several circulars or double points for the cowl neck (see cowl below).
Back: Cast on 79 stitches, and work in knit one, purl one ribbing for 2 inches. On last wrong side row, increase 6 evenly across.
Change to stocking stitch (knit right side and purl wrong side), and work even until piece measures 17 inches from the start.
Cast off 5 stitches at the start of next 2 rows, then 1 more at the start of next 4 rows. (armhole shaping). Continue straight until total length is 27 inches. Cast off all stitches.
Front: Work the same as the back until front measures 23 inches. Shape neck: Work 28 stitches, add a second ball of yarn (I try to match the colour of the other side) cast off next 15 stitches, knit to end. Working both sides of the neckline, decrease one stitch at each NECKLINE edge every row 4 times, then only on the right side rows 4 times. Continue to work even until 27 inches total are done, cast off both shoulder edges.

Sleeves: Cast on 39 stitches, and work in K1, P1 ribbing for 2 inches, increasing 6 stitches in the last row of rib.
Work in stocking stitch, increase one stitch at each end of the row every 6th row. (until you have 84 stitches on the needle, then work without increases)
Work until total length of the sleeve is 18 inches.
Cap: cast off 15 stitches at the start of next four rows. Cast off all the rest of the stitches.


Cowl Neck options(please read both)
Straight needle instructions:
**** you could work the cowl on straight needles if you sew only ONE shoulder seam and leave a side seaming the cowl neck at the other shoulder. Pick up 76 stitches across the back and around the front and work back and forth instead of around like below. Every inch or so change to a large needle and work until 6 - 7 inches are done. Cast off VERY loosely. ********
Circular instructions: (my choice) sew both shoulder seams.
With double pointed needles (4mm) or short circulars (I used my Denise set, with the shortest length that could still turn to knit), pick up 76 stitches evenly from around the neck edge. Work in K1, P1 ribbing for the cowl neck. For every inch worked, you can change up a needle size (again easy with the Denise set, work your way from 4mm to 6.5mm) If you don't have that many, try 4mm for 2 inches, 5mm for 2 inches and 6mm for the rest. Work for at least 6 inches, but I did closer to 7 inches for really full cowl. Cast off VERY loosely (use a 7mm needle if that helps).
Sew in sleeve caps, then finish under arm and side seams.
Mail to your sister!

7 comments:

PP said...

As said sister - this sweater is DIVINE!!!The colours are incredible and it is SO cosy but very cool at the same time! THANKS SHISH!

My name WAS Female, I shit you not! said...

Lovely work!

Bonnie said...

LOVE the look of the sweater! Any possibility of creating a larger pattern to fit 46" chest/bust?

chris said...

check back in a few days, I will re-write this one to multi-sizes!!!!

Love the comments, and I am happy to help!
Chris

Al Arnold's Berryfield Farm said...

If your gauge is 18 stitches equals 4" why not add 11 stitches after ribbing or CO more ribbing so that total = 90, which is what is needed both front and back to reach a 40" chest?

Al Arnold's Berryfield Farm said...

And did you rewritten the the pattern for larger sizes? Thanks.

chris said...

I think after I blocked it, with this yarn, the sweater ended up 40 inches, but if your washed gauge is 18 = 4 inches, your math is correct and you need 90 to equal 20. This shows how you can easily change your numbers to alter the size.
I obviously missed resizing this one!
Unfortunately I am swamped with life right now, but comment or email me again if this is one you want and the size you want and the gauge you knit and I will try to get to it asap.
Cheers, sorry for the delay, chris