INTRODUCTION

Apple Valley

by Pam Sluter

Apple Valley is a pullover worked from the top down. It features geometric patterning worked in stranded colorwork at the yoke.

It combines two of my favorite things, geometric patterning and the colors of fall in New England.

I designed this to be a cozy sweater to throw on as the weather transitions. It will also work as a warm layering piece.

model: Pam Sluter

photos: Luke Sluter

SIZE

For women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Shown in size S with 2 inches/5 cm of ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches / 81.5[91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142] cm
Length: 23[23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.25, 27.5, 28.5] inches / 58.5[59.5, 62, 65, 66.5, 70, 72.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted [75 % superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10 % nylon; 200 yd/183m per 113g skein];
[MC] Weekend in New England; 4[4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8] skeins
[CC1] Wintry Mix; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US 7/4.5mm circular needle, 16 inches/40 cm long

 1 set US 7/4.5mm needles for working small circumference in the round
1 US 7/4.5 mm circular needle, 32 inches/80 cm long
1 US 7/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inches/60 cm long
1 US 8/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inches/60 cm long

Notions
yarn needle
waste yarn or 4 stitch holders
locking stitch marker

GAUGE

20 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch using smaller needles
20 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in chart pattern using larger needles

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

This sweater is worked in the round from the top down. . It is recommended that you swatch both the stockinette and colorwork sections, as you may need to go up a needle size for the stranded portion of the sweater.

The chart is worked in St st with increases worked as M1/M1L.

Choose a size with approximately 2-4 inches / 5-10 cm positive ease.

Rib Pattern (multiple of 2 sts)
Rnd 1: (K1, p1) around.
Rep this rnd for patt.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Yoke
With smaller needles and MC, CO 76[76, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112] sts. PM and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts.

Work Rib patt for 1 inch / 2.5 cm.

Change to larger needles.

Set-up round:
Size XS and 2X Only: (K2, M1, k3, M1) 14[-, -, -, -, 20, -] times, k 6[-, -, -, -, 4, -] .

Sizes S-M Only: *K2, M1; rep from * to last -[4, 0, -, -, -, -] sts, knit to end.

Sizes L, 1X & 3X Only: K -[-, -, 2, 1, -, 3] , (M1, k3) -[-, -, 3, 8, -, 6] times, (M1, k2) -[-, -, 33, 23, -, 35] times, (M1, k3) -[-, -, 3, 8, -, 6] times, M1, k -[-, -, 2, 1, -, 3] .

All Sizes:
104[112, 120, 128, 136, 144, 160] sts.

Work 2[3, 3, 4, 4, 6, 6] rnds even in St st.

Work Rounds 1-27 of chart, working chart repeat 13[14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20] times across each round. 234[252, 270, 288, 306, 324, 360] sts.

Sizes 1X-3X Only: *K -[-, -, -, 38, 20, 60] , M1; rep from * to last -[-, -, -, 2, 4, 0] sts, knit to end.

All Sizes:
234[252, 270, 288, 314, 340, 366] sts.

Change to smaller needles.

Work even in St st if necessary until yoke measures 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 9.5] inches / 15[16.5, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24] cm.

Note: This is a good point to check the fit. Transfer work to waste yarn or circular needle to try on and adjust yoke length if needed.

Separate Body and Sleeves:
Place next 45[49, 49, 50, 55, 60, 66] sts on holder for right sleeve, cast on 8[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23] sts, k 72[77, 86, 94, 102, 110, 117] , place next 45[49, 49, 50, 55, 60, 66] sts on holder for left sleeve, cast on 8[13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23] sts, knit to end of round. Remove marker. K 4[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] and PM for new beg of round. 160[180, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280] sts.

Body:
Work even in St st until piece measures 15[15, 15.5, 16, 16.25, 16.5, 17] inches / 38[38, 39.5, 40.5, 41.5, 42, 43] cm from underarm, or 2 inches / 5 cm shorter than desired length.

Work in Rib patt for 2 inches / 5 cm.

BO in Rib patt.

Sleeves
Place 45[49, 49, 50, 55, 60, 66] held sts of first sleeve on 16-inch needle.
Pick up and knit 4[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] sts to center of underarm, pm, pick up and knit 4[7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12] sts to held sts, knit across held sts on ndl, knit to m. 53[62, 63, 66, 73, 80, 89] sts.

Continue to work in the round.

Work even in St st for 7[6, 5.5, 5, 5, 3, 3] inches / 18[15, 14, 12.5, 12.5, 7.5, 7.5] cm.

Decrease Round: K2, ssk, k to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Knit 7[5, 6, 6, 4, 4, 3] rounds.
Rep last 8[6, 7, 7, 5, 5, 4] rounds 5[8, 8, 8, 11, 14, 17] times more.

Sizes XS, M, 1X, & 3X Only: K1, ssk, knit to end.

All Sizes:
40[44, 44, 48, 48, 50, 52] sts.

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 16[16, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16, 16] inches / 40.5[40.5, 42, 42, 42, 40.5, 40.5] cm from underarm, or 2 inches / 5 cm shorter than desired total length.

Work Rib patt for 2 inches /5 cm.
BO in Rib patt.

Repeat for second sleeve.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Wet block sweater to final measurements.

A – Neck circumference (stretched): 15.25[15.25, 16, 17.5, 19.25, 20.75, 22.5] inches / 38.5[38.5, 40.5, 44.5, 49, 52.5, 57] cm
B – Body circumference: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches / 81.5[91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142] cm
C – Yoke length: 6[6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 9.5] inches / 15[16.5, 18, 19, 20.5, 23, 24] cm
D – Body length: 17[17, 17.5, 18, 18.25, 18.5, 19] inches / 43[43, 44.5, 45.5, 46.5, 47, 48.5] cm
E – Upper arm circumference: 10.5[12.5, 12.5, 13.25, 14.5, 16, 17.75] inches / 26.5[32, 32, 33.5, 37, 40.5, 45] cm
F – Cuff circumference (stretched): 8[8.75, 8.75, 9.5, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inches / 20.5[22, 22, 24, 24, 25.5, 26.5] cm
G – Sleeve length: 18[18, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 18, 18] inches / 45.5[45.5, 47, 47, 47, 45.5, 45.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Pam Sluter is a knitting designer and teacher from Rhode Island.

She loves learning new techniques and sharing her love of knitting. When she's not knitting she's out taking walks, riding her bike or looking for new fibery pursuits.

She can be found on Ravelry as pamslu and on Instagram as pamsluter.

Pattern & images © 2019 Pam Sluter.