A whirling dervish of a knit that is not only worked in the round, Carousel can be worn differently by turning it around and around with a neckline that pirouettes according to your whim.
Worked outwards from a center cast on, Carousel is comprised of 4 cabled panels for the front and back. Once these four panels have grown to the appropriate size, each panel is placed on a holder, and the front and back are joined by uniting the matching pairs. Each of the four parts are again worked in the round to create sleeves, a hem, and a collar any way you spin it.
Perfectly symmetrical when finished, the charts may look complicated but once in the rhythm, Carousel flies off the needles. Lightweight and breezy, this is a merry-go-round of a knit, perfect for warmer days.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Louet Euroflax Sport [100% Wet Spun Linen; 270 yds per 100 g skein]; in color #18.2654, Goldenrod; 3 [4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7] skeins
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique]
1 set US #2/2.75mm double pointed needles
US #2/2.75mm circular needles (Length to be determined on size)
Notions
Yarn
needle
Stitch markers
Cable Needle
8 spare needles, stitch holders, or pieces of scrap yarn
GAUGE
18 sts/18 rnds = 4 inches in Cable Patt (using either Chart A1, A2 or B1)
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
Work begins with dpns. Change to a circular needle when there are enough stitches to fit onto needle or work in dpns becomes uncomfortable.
M1: Make 1 stitch: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through back loop. 1 stitch increased.
RT: Right Twist. K2tog and leave these 2 sts on left-hand needle; insert right-hand needle from the front between the 2 sts just knit together, and knit the first st again. Slip both sts off the needle together.
C4B: Sl 2 to cn and hold in back, k2; k2 from cn.
C10B: Sl 5 to cn and hold in back, k5; k5 from cn.
While this sweater can be worn in 1 of 4 directions, to add clarity and simplicity in defining instructions the parts following Chart A are labeled as "Body" and the parts following Charts B are labeled as "Sleeve."
Charts The charts for this pattern are very large. Each fits on a letter-sized
page.
Click below and print each resulting
page.
Note: BOTH Chart A and Chart B are split for readability. Work Chart A (or B) Right first, then Chart A (or B) Left, but DO NOT repeat the red bounding box sts. These are to be used only as a guide when printing out/following charts.
DIRECTIONS
FRONT/BACK:
Make 2 alike.
Cast on 8 sts and evenly distribute over 4 dpns. Join in the rnd, beg careful not to twist the sts. PM for beg of rnd.
Set-up Rnd: Knit.
Rnd 1: [Kfb twice, pm] 4 times. 16 sts (4 sts per panel). The stitch markers denote each panel.
Rnd 2: [Begin working Chart A starting with Rnd 2, slip marker, begin working Chart B, starting with Rnd 2, slip marker] twice to complete rnd.
Continue working Charts A & B through to Rnd 72[84, 90, 100, 108, 118, 126]. 296[344, 368, 408, 440, 480, 512] sts in total, 74[86, 92, 102, 110, 120, 128] per panel.
Place each panel (separated by markers) on holders or separate circular needles.
BODY
Match one panel each from Front and Back worked from Chart A, ensuring both RS are facing and place all sts onto 1 circular needle. Follow appropriate size:
Size XS Only: PM for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 5 of Chart A1, rep chart 2 times, work first 10 sts of chart A1 once more, join front with back] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 148 sts.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size S Only: PM for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 11 of Chart A2, rep chart 2 times, work first 22 sts of chart A2 once more, join front with back] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 172 sts.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size M Only: Slip 3 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 5 of Chart A2, rep chart 2 times, work first 25 sts of chart A2 once more, CO 4 sts, join front with back, k2, p1] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 192 sts.
Next Rnd: Work Rnd 6 from chart A2 6 times to complete rnd.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size L Only: Slip 8 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 3 of Chart A2, rep chart twice, work the first 30 sts of Chart A2 once more, CO 4 sts, join front with back, k2, RT, k1, RT, p1, join front with back] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 208 sts.
Next Rnd: [Rep Rnd 4 from chart A2 3 times, work last 10 sts of Chart A2 once more] twice to complete rnd.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size 1X Only: Slip 2 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 11 of Chart A1, rep chart 3 times, work the first 12 sts of Chart A1 once more, CO 2 sts, join front with back, k1, p1] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 224 sts.
Next Rnd: [Rep Rnd 12 from chart A1 3 times, then work first 16 sts of Chart A1 once more] twice to complete rnd.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size 2X Only: Slip 1 st, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 3 of Chart A2, rep chart 3 times, work the first 22 sts of chart A2 once more, k2 to join front with back] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 240 sts.
Next Rnd: [Rep Rnd 4 from chart A2 3 times, work first 22 sts of Chart A2 once more] twice to complete rnd.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
Size 3X Only: Slip 5 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 11 of Chart A2, 4 times joining front with back] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 256 sts.
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 12 of chart in patt as est.
ALL SIZES
Cont in patt as est to work Rnds 1-12 of Chart A1 (A2, A2, A2, A1, A1, A1) until Body measures 3 inches in length from join rnd. BO all sts in patt.
Rep with opposite matching panels (Chart A), joining 1 for each front and back.
SLEEVES
Match one panel each from Front and Back worked from Chart B, ensuring both RS are facing and place all sts onto 1 circular needle. Follow appropriate size:
Size XS Only: Slip 6 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 1 of Chart B1, rep chart 5 times, p2, k2, p2tog, C4B joining front with back, p2tog, k2] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 144 sts.
Size S Only: Slip 12 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 13 of Chart B1, rep chart 6 times, p2tog, join front with back, p2tog, C10B] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 168 sts.
Size M Only: Slip 3 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 3 of Chart B1, rep chart 7 times, p2, k3, pick up and k 4 sts, join front with back, k3] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 192 sts.
Size L Only: Slip 8 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 13 of Chart B1, rep chart 7 times, p2, k2, p1, C4B, p1, pick up and k 6 sts, join front with back, p1, C4B, p1, k2] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 216 sts.
Size 1X Only: Slip 12 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [beg working Rnd 5 of Chart B1, rep chart 8 times, p2tog, join front with back, p2tog, k2, p1, C4B, p1, k2] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 216 sts.
Size 2X Only: Slip 5 sts, pm for beg of rnd, begin working Rnd 15 of Chart B1, rep chart 20 times to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 240 sts.
Size 3X Only: Slip 9 sts, pm for beg of rnd, [begin working Rnd 7 of Chart B1, rep chart 9 times, p2, k2, p1, k4, p1, k1, pick up and k4 sts, join front with back, k1, p1, k4, p1, k2] twice to complete rnd, joining back with front to work in the rnd. 264 sts.
ALL SIZES
Cont to work in the rnd through Rnd 16 of chart in patt as est. Then cont to work Rnds 1-16 of chart B1 until Sleeve until measures 3 inches in length from where joined. BO all sts in patt.
Rep with opposite matching panels (Chart B), joining 1 for each front and back.
FINISHING
Weave in ends. Wash and block sweater.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Born and raised in Northern California, Julie was taught to knit by her sister over New Year's 2010 on a family trip to Lake Tahoe. Now a proud new mother, she spends most of her free time with knitting needles in hand. In what little time she has left, she runs a graphic design studio. Julie loves to cook.
Her most interesting job was at the San Francisco Zoo, where she got to help socialize baby penguins. Her favorite fruit is the yellow nectarine.