INTRODUCTION

Bosco

by Mari Chiba

A yoked cardigan never goes out of style, and Bosco is designed to maximize the unique qualities of hand-dyed yarn.

Choose a shaded solid for the main color and a variegated yarn for the contrast color to create the trompe l'oeil fair isle effect in the yoke - no need to wrangle several colors of yarn as you knit. The magic is in the easy-to-memorize slip-stitch pattern! You can also substitute a handspun yarn for your contrasting color to create an equally stunning effect.

Bosco features a seamless construction and is knit flat from the bottom up; the button band is worked along with the body stitches for minimal finishing. The sleeves are knit in the round and then joined to the body stitches. The yoke features simple decreases and short row shaping to create a scoop neck; an i-cord bind off finishes the neck edge neatly.

model: Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter

photos: Mari Chiba

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X]
shown in size L with .5 inch/1.5cm positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust: 32.5[36.5, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5, 52.5, 56.5] inches / 82.5[92.5, 103, 113, 123, 133.5, 143.5] cm
Length: 26.25[26.25, 28.5, 28.75, 31, 31, 32.75] inches / 66.5[66.5, 72.5, 73, 78.5, 78.5, 83] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Manos del Uruguay Clara [100% superwash merino; 385 yd/352 m per 100g skein]

For handspun-yoke version (shown above):
[MC yarn] Black Forest, 3[3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins
[CC fiber]: 4oz./113g Manos del Uruguay Merino Roving; color: Atlantic

For commercial yarn version (shown below):
[MC] Menhair, 3[3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins
[CC] Velvet, 1 skein

Finished Yarn:
Wraps per inch: 11
Ply: 1
Yardage used: 140 yards (Note: I only spun half of the 4oz braid to get this yardage, and I had a lot of yarn left over!)
Drafting method: long draw woollen

 

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 32 inches/80cm long
set US #5/3.75mm double-pointed needles

Tools
waste yarn
yarn needle
stitch markers
10[10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12] buttons

Gearbox
spinning tool: Louet Victoria s95, Ratio: 1:13

GAUGE

24 stitches x 32 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

Stitches are slipped purlwise unless otherwise noted.

Stripe Pattern
Starting with a RS row:
Work 2 rows in CC.
Work 2 rows in MC.
Rep these 4 rows for patt, working shaping as designated by yoke.

DIRECTIONS

Hem
With circ and MC, CO 205[229, 253, 277, 301, 325, 349] sts.
Rib Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k5, (p1, k1) to last 7 sts, p1, k6.
Rib Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, k5, (k1, p1) to last 7 sts, k7.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times more.

Buttonhole Row [RS]: Sl1, k2, yo, ssk (buttonhole made), k1, (p1, k1) to last 7 sts, p1, k6.
Note: Continue to work buttonhole as est every foll 12 rows.

Work Rib Row 2 once, then rep Rib Rows 1-2 until work measures 2 inches/5cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Lower Body
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k5, pm, k 40[45, 51, 56, 61, 66, 71] ], pm, k 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] , pm, k 81[91, 103, 113, 123, 133, 143] , pm, k 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] , pm, k 40[45, 51, 56, 61, 66, 71] , pm, k6.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, k5, purl to last m, k6.
These 2 rows est the 6-st buttonbands in garter stitch and the body in St st. Work even in patt, working buttonholes as est, until work measures 3.5[3.5, 4, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 5] inches/ 9[9, 10, 10, 11.5, 11.5, 12.5] cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape waist:
Dec row [RS]: Sl1, patt to 2 sts before second m, ssk, sl m, knit to m, sl m, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before next m, ssk, sl m, knit to m, sl m, k2tog, knit to end. 4 sts decreased.
Work 7 rows even in patt.
Rep last 8 rows 5 times more. 181[205, 229, 253, 277, 301, 325] sts.

Inc row [RS]: Sl1, knit to 2nd m, M1R, sl m, knit to m, sl m, M1L, knit to m, M1R, sl m, knit to m, sl m, M1L, knit to end. 4 sts increased.
Work 5 rows even in patt.
Rep last 6 rows 4 times more. 201[225, 249, 273, 297, 321, 345] sts.

Work even in patt until work measures 16[16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18.5] inches/ 40.5[40.5, 43, 43, 45.5, 45.5, 47] cm from cast-on edge or desired length to underarm, ending after a WS row.
Do not break yarn. Set needle aside.

SLEEVES
With separate strand of MC and DPNs, CO 42[42, 48, 48, 54, 54, 60] sts and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. PM for beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: (K1, p1) around.
Rep last rnd until work measures 2 inches/5cm from cast-on edge.

Inc rnd: K1, M1L, knit to last st, M1R, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit 7[6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4] rnds.
Rep last 8[7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5] rnds 12[13, 13, 16, 17, 23, 25] times more. 68[70, 76, 82, 90, 102, 112] sts.

Work even in St st until work measures 18.5[18.5, 19.25, 19.25, 20, 20, 20.75] inches/ 47[47, 49, 49, 51, 51, 52.5] cm from CO edge or desired length to underarm.

Next rnd: Knit to last 8[9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13] sts, slip next 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts to holder for underarm. 52[52, 58, 62, 68, 78, 86] sts.
Break yarn and place sleeve sts on separate holder.
Repeat for other sleeve.

Yoke
Return to sts held for body with RS facing for next row.
Continuing to work buttonholes as est, work yoke as foll:
Next row [RS]: Sl1, knit to 2nd m, remove m, slip next 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts to waste yarn for underarm, remove m, knit across 52[52, 58, 62, 68, 78, 86] sleeve sts, k 79[89, 101, 111, 121, 131, 141] back sts, remove m, slip next 16[18, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts to waste yarn for underarm, remove m, k52[52, 58, 62, 68, 78, 86] sleeve sts, knit to end. 273[293, 329, 357, 389, 429 465, ] sts.

Work even in patt for 6 rows.

Set-up row 1 [WS]: Patt 12[14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18] (removing m) and slip these sts to waste yarn for front neck, (p 9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16] , pm) 12 times, p 33[25, 37, 37, 45, 33, 45] , pm, (p 9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16] , pm) 11 times, p 9[10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16] , slip last 12[14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18] sts of row to waste yarn for front neck (removing m). 249[265, 301, 325, 357, 393, 429] sts. Buttonholes completed.
Set-up row 2 [RS]: (Knit to m, sl m, k2tog) 12 times, (knit to 2 sts before m, ssk, sl m) 12 times, knit to end. 225[241, 277, 301, 333, 369, 405] sts.
Next Row [WS]: Purl.

Begin yoke patt:
Starting with CC, begin working Stripe Patt, working yoke shaping as foll:
Row 1 [RS]: K1, (ssk) twice, (knit to m, sl m, k2tog) 12 times, (knit to 2 sts before m, ssk, sl m) 12 times, knit to last 5 sts, (k2tog) twice, k1. 197[213, 249, 273, 305, 341, 377] sts.
Row 2 and every foll WS row: Purl.
Rows 3, 5 & 9: Ssk, (sl1 wyif, k1) to last 2 sts, sl1 wyif, k2tog. 2 sts decreased.
Row 7: Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. 2 sts decreased.
Row 11: Ssk, (knit to m, sl m, k2tog) 12 times, (knit to 2 sts before m, ssk, sl m) 12 times, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. 163[179, 215, 239, 271, 307, 343] sts.
Row 12 [WS]: Purl.

Sizes XS-M Only
Rows 13: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) to end.
Row 15: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) to last st, k1.
Row 17: Knit.
Row 19: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) to end.
Row 20 [WS]: Purl.

Sizes L-3X Only
Rows 13-20: Rep Rows 3-10.

All Sizes
163[179, 215, 231, 263, 299, 335] total sts; 2[3, 4, 1, 2, 4, 5] sts before first m and after last m and 27[19, 31, 31, 39, 27, 39] sts between center back markers.

Row 21: (Knit to m, sl m, k2tog) 12 times, (knit to 2 sts before m, ssk, sl m) 12 times, knit to end. 24 sts decreased.
Row 23: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) to end.
Row 25: K2, (sl1 wyif, k1) to last st, k1.
Row 27: Knit.
Row 29: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) to end.
Row 30 [WS]: Purl.
Rep Rows 21-30, 2[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5] times more, then rep Rows 21-22, 0[0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1] time more. 91[107, 119, 111, 119, 155, 167] sts.

Cut CC. Cont with MC only.

Work 4 rows in St st, removing markers.

Next row [RS]: K 1[1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1] , (k2tog, k1) to last 0[1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1] st, k 0[1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1] . 61[72, 80, 74, 80, 104, 112] sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Short Row 1: Knit to last 10 sts, w&t.
Short Row 2: Purl to last 10 sts, w&t.
Short Row 3: Knit to 5 sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Short Row 4: Purl to 5 sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Rep Short Rows 3-4 once more.
Next row [RS]: Knit to end, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl to end, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Next row [RS]: K 14[3, 1, 1, 10, 1, 2] , (k2tog, k1) 11[22, 26, 24, 20, 34, 36] times, k 14[3, 1, 1, 10, 1, 2] . 50[50, 54, 50, 60, 70, 76] sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl.

Rep Short Rows 1-4 once more.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Neckband
With RS facing and picking up and working wraps as you pass them, knit across sts held for right front neck, pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 rows to sts held for yoke, knit across sts held for yoke, pick up and knit 2 sts for every 3 rows down left neck to held sts, then knit across sts held for left front neck.

Begin i-cord:
Cast on 3 sts to LH ndl using knitted or cable cast-on.
*K2, ssk; rep from * until 3 sts rem. BO rem sts.

FINISHING

Graft underarms using Kitchener st. Sew on buttons opposite buttonholes.
Wash and block garment to measurements

A - Hem circumference (buttoned): 33.25[37.25, 41.25, 45.25, 49.25, 53.25, 57.25] inches / 84.5[94.5, 105, 115, 125, 135.5, 145.5] cm
B - Buttonband width: 1 inch / 2.5 cm
C - Waist circumference (buttoned): 29.25[33.25, 37.25, 41.25, 45.25, 49.25, 53.25] inches / 74.5[84.5, 94.5, 105, 115, 125, 135.5] cm
D - Bust circumference (buttoned): 32.5[36.5, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5, 52.5, 56.5] inches / 82.5[92.5, 103, 113, 123, 133.5, 143.5] cm
E - Body length: 16[16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18.5] inches / 40.5[40.5, 43, 43, 45.5, 45.5, 47] cm
F - Yoke length at center back neck: 10.25[10.25, 11.5, 11.75, 13, 13, 14.25] inches / 26[26, 29, 30, 33, 33, 36] cm
G - Back neck width: 5.25[6, 6, 8, 8, 8.75, 8.75] inches/ 13.5[15, 15, 20.5, 20.5, 22, 22] cm
H - Upper arm circumference: 8.75[8.75, 9.75, 10.25, 11.25, 13, 14.25] inches / 22[22, 25, 26, 28.5, 33, 36] cm
I - Sleeve length to underarm: 18.5[18.5, 19.25, 19.25, 20, 20, 20.75] inches / 47[47, 49, 49, 51, 51, 52.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Mari re-learned to knit in the Peace Corps in Armenia, started designing while teaching English in China, and now designs in Raleigh, NC. She spends every waking moment working with yarn and fiber in one way or another.

Learn more about Mari, her designs, and what her husband calls a 'quirky' sense of humor here. See photos of her dog and baby on Instagram. Email Mari photos of your finished sweater.

Pattern & images © 2017 Mari Chiba. Contact Mari