INTRODUCTION

Drachen

by Heddi Craft

I love the idea of colorwork on a sweater, but find myself distracted by my own clothes if there is bold patterning too close to my face.  So I set out to create a sweater in a flattering cropped length with a colorwork portion along the hem instead of around the neckline. A Japanese machine knitting stitch dictionary from the sixties fell into my hands, and I modified a charming little dragon pattern found there to create the stranded colorwork design.

Worked from the bottom up, the sweater is knit mostly seamlessly.  The ribbing and colorwork are knitted first, then the body is worked straight until it splits in the front and back for the armholes.  The front and back are worked separately then the shoulders are seamed. Both the three quarter length sleeves and the neckline are picked up and worked in the round.  The drop shoulder construction creates a relaxed garment and the merino and cashmere blend make it oh-so-cozy.

model: Gloria Panttaja

photos: Heddi Craft

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size M with 6 inches/15 cm of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust: 33.5[37.5, 41.75, 46, 50, 54.25, 58.5] inches/ 85[95.5, 106, 117, 127, 138, 148.5] cm
Length: 21.25[21.25, 21.5, 21.75, 21.5, 22.25, 22.5] inches/ 54[54, 54.5, 55, 54.5, 56.5, 57] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Anzula Luxury Fibers Cricket DK [80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 250 yd/228 m per 114g skein];
[MC] Gravity; 4[4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins
[CC1] Avocado; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skeins
[CC2] Sophia; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, of same length or slightly shorter than finished bust circumference
1 set US #5/3.75mm needles for working small circumference in the round
US #3/3.25mm circular needle, 24-inch/60 cm length, for neckline ribbing only

Notions
waste yarn or stitch holder
removable stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

23 sts/30 rows/rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Chart is worked in Stockinette stitch.

K2, P2 Rib:
Rnd 1: (K2, p2) around.
Rep this rnd for patt.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Body
Using longer circular needle and MC, CO 192[216, 240, 264, 288, 312, 336] sts and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts.

Work in K2, P2 rib for 11 rounds or until work measures approx. 1.5 inches/4 cm from cast-on.

Knit 3 rounds.

Join CC1 and CC2 and work Rnds 1-24 of Chart, working 24-st repeat 8[9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] times across each rnd. Cut CC1 and CC2 and continue with MC only.

Work in St st until work measures approx. 12.25[12.25, 11.75, 11.5, 11.25, 11, 10.75] inches/ 31[31, 30, 29, 28.5, 28, 27.5] cm from cast-on or desired length to underarm.

Divide for Front and Back:
Next row [RS]: K 96[108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168] sts, place unworked 96[108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168] sts of rnd on waste yarn or stitch holder for Back, turn.

Front
Work even in St st for 19[21, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29] rows or until work measures approx. 2.5[2.75, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75] inches /6.5[7, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5] cm from split, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: K 38[44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74] and place these sts on holder, BO 20 sts, knit to end. 38[44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74] sts rem for each shoulder; cont on these sts for Right Front.

Right Front
Row 1 [WS]: Purl.
Row 2 [RS]: BO 4 sts, knit to end.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 30[36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66] sts.

Row 5 [WS]: Purl.
Row 6 [RS]: BO 3 sts, knit to end.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 24[30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60] sts.

Row 9 [WS]: Purl.
Row 10 [RS]: K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times more. 19[24, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50] sts remain.

Work even in St st until piece measures 6.75[7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches/ 17[18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm from split, ending after a RS row.

Shape right shoulder:
Next row [WS]: BO 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts, purl to end.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Rep last 2 rows 7[6, 7, 7, 6, 7, 7] times more.

BO rem 3[3, 6, 3, 5, 5, 2] sts.

Left Front
Return 38[44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74] sts held for Left Front to needles with RS facing. Join MC.

Row 1 [RS]: Knit.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 4 sts, purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 30[36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66] sts.

Row 5 [RS]: Knit.
Row 6 [WS]: BO 3 sts, purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 24[30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60] sts.

Row 9 [RS]: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
Row 10 [WS]: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] times more. 19[24, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50] sts remain.

Work in St st until piece measures 6.75[7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches/ 17[18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm from split, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: BO 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts, knit to end of row.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 7[6, 7, 7, 6, 7, 7] times more.

BO rem 3[3, 6, 3, 5, 5, 2] sts.

Back
Return to 96[108, 120, 132, 144, 156, 168] sts held for Back and join MC with RS facing.

Work even in St st until piece measures 6.75[7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches/ 17[18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm from split, ending after a WS row.

Next row [RS]: BO 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts, knit to end.
Next row [WS]: BO 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts, purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows 7[6, 7, 7, 6, 7, 7] times more.

Sizes XS, M, L, 2X & 3X Only:
Next row [RS]: BO 3[3, 6, 3, 5, 5, 2] sts, knit to end.
Next row [WS]: BO 3[3, 6, 3, 5, 5, 2] sts, purl to end.

All Sizes:
BO rem 58[60, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68] sts.

Sleeves
Seam shoulders.

With RS facing, using needles for working small circumference in the round and MC, pick up and knit 37[40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55] sts evenly from underarm split to shoulder seam, then pick up and knit 37[40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55] sts to underarm split. Place marker and join to work in the rnd. 74[80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 110] sts.

Knit 7[5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5] rnds.
Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Rep last 8[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6] rnds 8[16, 14, 12, 14, 10, 12] times more. 56[46, 56, 66, 68, 82, 84] sts.

Knit 5[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] rnds.
Rep Dec rnd.
Rep last 6[4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4] rnds 5[0, 3, 6, 3, 8, 5] times more. 44[44, 48, 52, 60, 64, 72] sts.

Work in K2, P2 rib for 11 rounds, or until rib measures 1.5 inches/4 cm.

BO in rib patt.

Repeat for other sleeve.

Neckband
Using smaller sized circular needle, starting at left shoulder seam, pick up and knit 78[80, 84, 86, 88, 90, 96] evenly across front neck to right shoulder seam, then pick up and knit 58[60, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68] sts across back neck. 136[140, 144, 148, 152, 156, 164] sts.

Work in K2, P2 rib for 8 rounds or until ribbing measures 1 inch/2.5 cm. BO in patt.

A: Body length: 12.25[12.25, 11.75, 11.5, 11.25, 11, 10.75] inches / 31[31, 30, 29, 28.5, 28, 27.5] cm
B: Bust circumference: 33.5[37.5, 41.75, 46, 50, 54.25, 58.5] inches / 85[95.5, 106, 117, 127, 138, 148.5] cm
C: Neck depth: 6.25[6, 6.75, 7, 6.75, 7.5, 7.75] inches / 16[15, 17, 18, 17, 19, 19.5] cm
D: Armhole length: 6.75[7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches / 17[18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm
E: Shoulder depth: 2.25[1.75, 2.25, 2.25, 1.75, 2.25, 2.25] inches / 5.5[4.5, 5.5, 5.5, 4.5, 5.5, 5.5] cm
F: Cross shoulder width: 16.75[18.75, 20.75, 23, 25, 27.25, 29.25] inches / 42.5[47.5, 52.5, 58.5, 63.5, 69, 74.5] cm
G: Sleeve length: 15.75[15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15.5, 15, 15] inches / 40[39.5, 39.5, 39.5, 39.5, 38, 38] cm
H: Upper arm circumference: 12.75[14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.25] inches / 32.5[35.5, 38, 40.5, 43, 45.5, 49] cm
I: Cuff circumference (stretched): 7.75[7.75, 8.25, 9, 10.5, 11.25, 12.5] inches / 19.5[19.5, 21, 23, 26.5, 28.5, 32] cm

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block to measurements.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Heddi lives in Santa Cruz, CA, with her husband and three teens where she teaches and designs.

You can find more of her work on Ravelry as Heddi Craft Designs.

Pattern & images © 2018 Heddi Craft.