Blue Sky Alpacas contacted me before Techno officially came
out and asked if I might like to try it. The description of the
yarn was so intriguing. Whipped up alpaca? How could I say no!
The yarn is made by blowing baby alpaca into a mesh tube of silk.
It knits up incredibly fast on a suggested needle size of US
10.5. The line is a modern take on 1970's neon and
natural. This immediately made me think of an oversized
batwing sweater. And so Flügel was born! This sweater is cozy,
but oh so lightweight. Whip one up!
This
dolman sleeve, or “batwing” pullover is worked in
the round until you reach the underarms. The front
and back are then worked separately. Finally the shoulders
are seamed and collar stitches picked up and knit. The
intention is for this sweater to be big and slouchy. Go
for at least 4” of positive ease!
MATERIALS
Yarn Blue
Sky Alpaca Techno [68% baby alpaca,
10% extra fine merino, 22% silk; 120yd/109m per 50 g skein]; #1972
Suede; 6[7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11] skeins
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] 1
16-inch US #9/5.5mm circular needle 1
32-inch US #9/5.5 mm circular needle 1
32-inch US #10.5/6.5 mm circular needle
Notions Yarn
needle Stitch holders Stitch
markers
GAUGE
14 sts/20 rows = 4” in
stockinette st using larger needle
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
1x1 Rib (worked in the round over an
even number of sts): All Rounds: [K1, p1] to end.
Instructions for the Backward Loop Cast
On can be found here.
DIRECTIONS
LOWER BODY
Using long circular needle in smaller size, CO 112[126,
140, 154, 168, 182, 196] sts. Place marker and join to work in
the round, being careful not to twist.
Work 20 rounds 1x1 Rib.
Using circular needle in larger size, continue as follows: Next Round: K56[63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98],
place side marker, k56[63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 98].
K 8[9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] rounds.
Decrease Round: *K1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog,
k1; repeat from * once. 4 sts decreased.
K 9 rounds, then work Decrease Round once more. 104[118, 132, 146, 160, 174, 188] sts.
K 5 rounds.
Increase Round: *K1, M1L, knit to 1 st before m, M1R, k1, sm;
repeat from * once. 4 sts increased.
K 1 round.
Repeat these 2 rounds 13[13, 15, 15,
17, 17, 19] times more, then work Increase
Round once more. 164
[178, 200, 214, 236, 250, 272] sts. Work measures approx. 14[14.25,
15.25, 15.5, 16.5, 16.75, 17.75] inches.
UPPER RIGHT FRONT Next Round: K first 32[35, 40, 43, 48, 51,
56] sts and place these sts on st holder for upper left front;
k next 18[19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24] sts and place these sts on
st holder for front neck; k32[35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 56]; place
last 82[89, 100, 107, 118, 125, 136] sts on st holder for upper
back. 32[35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 56] sts remain on needle. Turn work
so that WS is facing; from this point, piece will be worked back
and forth in rows.
Next Row [WS]: CO 37[35, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25] sts using backward
loop method, p all sts. 69[70, 73, 74, 77, 78, 81] sts.
Shape Neckline: Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to end.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows twice more. 66[67,
70, 71, 74, 75, 78] sts.
Work 25 rows in stockinette st, ending with a RS row.
Shape Shoulder: Next Row [WS]: BO 10[10, 9, 9, 8, 8,
7] sts, p to end.
K 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7,
8] times more.
BO remaining 6[7, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15] sts.
UPPER LEFT FRONT Place 32[35, 40, 43, 48, 51, 56] held sts of upper left front
on needle and join yarn with WS facing (at neckline edge).
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: CO 37[35, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25] sts using backward
loop method, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 68[69, 72, 73, 76, 77,
80] sts.
P 1 row. Next Row [RS]: K to last 3 sts, ssk,
Repeat these 2 rows once more. 66[67,
70, 71, 74, 75, 78] sts.
Work 25 rows in stockinette st, ending with a WS row.
Shape Shoulder: Next Row [RS]: BO 10[10, 9, 9, 8, 8,
7] sts, k to end.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7,
8] times more.
BO remaining 6[7, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15] sts.
UPPER BACK Place 82[89, 100, 107, 118, 125, 136] held sts of upper back
on needle and join yarn with RS facing.
K 1 row.
Next Row [WS]: CO 37[35, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25] sts using backward
loop method, p all sts. 119[124, 133, 138, 147, 152, 161] sts.
Next Row [RS]: CO 37[35, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25] sts using backward
loop method, k all sts. 156[159, 166, 169, 176, 179, 186] sts.
Work 31 rows in stockinette st, ending with a WS row.
Shape Shoulders:
BO 10[10, 9, 9, 8, 8, 7] sts at beginning of next 10[10, 12, 12, 14, 14,
16] rows. 56[59, 58, 61, 64, 67, 74] sts.
Right Shoulder: Row 1 [RS]: BO 10[10, 9, 9,
8, 8, 7] sts, k until there are 4[5,
5, 6, 8, 9, 13] sts on right needle,
ssk, k1. Turn work so that WS is facing.
Row 2 [WS]: P to end.
Row 3 [RS]: BO 6[7, 7, 8,
10, 11, 15] sts.
Left Shoulder:
With RS facing, join yarn to remaining
39[41, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: K23[24, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29], k2tog, k to end. 38[40,
40, 42, 44, 46, 50] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 10[10, 9, 9,
8, 8, 7] sts, p until there are 6[7,
7, 8, 10, 11, 15] sts on right needle.
Place last 22[23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]
sts on st holder for back neck.
FINISHING
Sew upper fronts and back together along upper and lower edges
of sleeves.
Collar:
Place held sts of front and back neck on
short circular needle in smaller size. Join yarn at beginning
of back neck sts with RS facing.
K all back neck sts, pick up and k 2 sts
for every 3 rows along left neckline edge, k all front neck
sts; pick up and k 2 sts for every 3 rows along right neckline
edge, taking care to pick up the same number as for left neckline
edge. Place marker and join to work in the round. Count sts;
if necessary, decrease 1 st in the first round to obtain an
even number of sts.
Work 8 rounds 1x1 Rib. BO all sts in pattern.
Weave in ends and block as desired.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Hannah Fettig designs knitwear from her home
in Portland, Maine.
She became well known for
her Whisper Cardigan, which appeared in the Spring
2009 issue of Interweave Knits. She is now known
for her self-published
pattern line, Knitbot.
Most recently she has co-authored a book, Coastal
Knits.
View her full line of Knitbot patterns
and wholesale information at knitbot.com.
Learn more about Coastal Knits at coastalknits.com.
by
Hannah Fettig
