David at Southern Cross Fibers sent me a kilo of gorgeous Gecko green Polwarth fiber. He knew I liked green so there it was. What to do? I have a serious love for thick and thin singles so it just came down to that. There was no other choice than to spin the lovely Emerald green fiber into chunky thick and thin yarn.

Then to knit it. There aren't too many patterns for this specific type of yarn but most any plain chunky pattern would work. Then again, I didn't want plain. I wanted cables. I knew they wouldn't pop well but I wanted them none the less. It's a comfy cushy sweater that makes me think of David whenever I wear it.

I ended up loving it so much I wanted one that showed off the cables even better. A quick trip to my LYS and I had some Spud and Chloe that would be perfect and matched the gauge so lovely that I now have 2 of these sweaters.

It's super bulky for a crazy fast knit and knit from the top down. This could easily be a weekend project.

SIZE
XS, S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust: 33[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches
Body length from underarm:
Cropped version (shown in green) 8[8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches
Full length version (shown in grey) 10[10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13] inches
Body length from shoulder:
Cropped version (shown in green) 15.5[16.5, 17, 18.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21.5] inches
Full length version (shown in grey) 17.5[18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 22.5, 23.5] inches

Sleeve length: 1 inch.

Note on fit: I knit the green sweater with a little ease so I could wear a light hoodie underneath - I'm about a 38 and I knit a 40 inch but I knew I wanted a more form fitting one too, so the grey one I knit the 36 for a little negative ease.

MATERIALS
Southern Cross Fibre's Polwarth combed top [100% Polwarth]; color: Gecko, super-bulky singles.
Note: Everyone spins differently so telling you how much fiber you will need can be a tricky proposition. I used 20 ounces to get 420 yards. I spin light and lofty to get the most out of my fiber. If you spin dense or use a denser fiber, you will need significantly more. For the smallest size, you’ll need about a pound, and for each size up, add another 3 or 4 ounces. This amount doesn't take into account additional fiber for sampling, errors, or changes of mind.

Finished Yarn:
Wraps per inch: 4
Yardage used: 420 yards
Z twist, heavy draw, unplied

Drafting Method:
Short forward draw

Commercial Yarn Alternative
Spud & Chloe Outer [65% wool, 35% Organic cotton, 60 yds per 100g skein]; color: Carbon
Cropped version: 6[6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10] skeins
Full length version: 7[8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
Body
1 set US #10/6mm straight needles
OR
1 US #10/6mm circular needles – 16 inch/40cm or longer

Sleeves
1 set US #10/6mm double-pointed needles
OR
1 32-inch US #1/2.25mm circular needle for magic loop method

	Spinning Tool: Louet; [scotch tension, 9:1 ratio]

Tools
Cable needle
6 stitch markers – 2 of one color or style for cable markers, 4 of another color or style for raglan markers
Long stitch holders or scrap yarn
Yarn needle

GAUGE
12 sts/16 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

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

C6F: Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k3 then k3 from cable needle.

C6B: Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k3 then k3 from cable needle.

Braided Cable Left (Over 9 sts)
Row 1 [RS]: K9.
Row 2 [WS]: P9.
Row 3 [RS]: C6B, k3.
Row 4 [WS]: P9.
Row 5 [RS]: K9.
Row 6 [WS]: P9.
Row 7 [RS]: K3, C6F.
Row 8 [WS]: P9.

Braided Cable Right (Over 9 sts)
Row 1 [RS]: K9.
Row 2 [WS]: P9.
Row 3 [RS]: K3, C6F.
Row 4 [WS]: P9.
Row 5 [RS]: K9.
Row 6 [WS]: P9.
Row 7 [RS]: C6B, k3.
Row 8 [WS]: P9.

BODY
Using straight or circular needle, CO 54[62, 74, 86, 98, 110, 122] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, [p2, k2] to end.
Row 2 [WS]:  P2, [k2, p2] to end.
Repeat Row 1 once more.

Row 4 [WS]: Knit.

Set Up For Raglan
Row 5 [RS]: K3, p1, work Braided Cable Left Row 1, p1, place cable marker, k0[0,3,5,8,10,13], kfb, place raglan marker, kfb, k0[2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6], kfb, place raglan marker, kfb, k18[22, 28, 32, 38, 42, 48], kfb, place raglan marker, kfb, k0[2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6], kfb, place raglan marker, kfb, k0[0,3,5,8,10,13], place cable marker, p1, work Braided Cable Right Row 1, p1, k3.

Row 6 [WS]: K4, work Braided Cable Left Row 2, k1, p to next cable marker, k1, work Braided Cable Right Row 2, k4.

Row 7 [RS]: K3, p1, work Braided Cable Left Row 3, p1, [k to 1 st before raglan marker, kfb, slip marker, kfb] 4 times, k to cable marker, p1, work Braided Cable Right Row 3, p1, k3.

Row 8 [WS]: K4, work Braided Cable Left Row 4, k1, p to next cable marker, k1, work Braided Cable Right Row 4, k4.

Repeat Rows 7 & 8 12[12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18] more times, until you have 158[174, 186, 214, 234, 254, 274] sts total: 223[29, 32, 36, 40, 43, 47] sts for the fronts, 28[32, 34, 38, 40, 44, 46] sts for each sleeve, and 46[52, 58, 66, 74, 80, 88] sts for the back.

Piece should measure roughly 7.5[8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inches from CO edge.

Row 2 [WS]: K4, work Braided Cable Left, k1, p to next cable marker, k1, work Braided Cable Right, k4.

Row 3 [RS]: K3, p1, work Braided Cable Left, p1, k to next cable marker, p1, work Braided Cable Right, p1, k3. 

Row 4 [WS]: K4, work Braided Cable Left, k1, p to next cable marker, k1, work Braided Cable Right, k4.

Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until body measures 1 inch less than desired length, ending after a WS row. 
Cropped version shown (green) measures 8[8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches from underarm to lower edge; full length version shown (grey) measures 10[10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13] inches from underarm to lower edge.

Lower Edging
Row 1 [RS]: Purl.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, [k2, p2] to end.
Row 3 [RS]: K2, [p2, k2] to end.

Repeat Row 2 once more.
Bind off loosely in ribbing.

SLEEVES
With RS facing, return 28[32, 34, 38, 40, 44, 46] sts of right sleeve to needle (DPNs or long circular for magic loop method as you prefer), and rejoin yarn at start.

Round 1: Knit across sleeve sts, and pick up and knit 0[0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6] sts over body sts under the arm. 28[32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52] sts. 

Continue in rounds.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: Purl.
Round 4: [K2, p2] to end.
Repeat Round 4 twice more. 
Bind off loosely in ribbing.

Repeat for left sleeve on second set of 28[32, 34, 38, 40, 44, 46] held sts.

FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Block to shape.

Amy King is a crazy homeschooling mom by day, whacked-out dye maven by night. Her first book, Spin Control: Techniques for Spinning the Yarns You Want, is available at your favorite spinning store.

All her exploits can be found here.