INTRODUCTION

Ashwood

by Calista Yoo

Crisp air with a light scent of evergreen, sparkling snow on tree branches, red holly berries hidden in the snow like little gem stones of fairies....a winter forest always fascinates me.

Ashwood is an easy-fit tunic inspired by the magical winter forest. It has an exaggerated curved hem and a drop shoulder for modern styling and an intricate cable layout for a touch of tradition. Loose turtle neck can be worn scrunched up or folded down to provide extra warmth. Throw it on with your favorite pair of leggings and boots, and you will be instantly stylish and feel cozy and comfortable all day long.

Ashwood consists of front and back body panels and a turtleneck. The body panels are knit flat from bottom up without bottom ribs at first, and later stitches are picked to knit the bottom ribs after front and back panels are sewn together.  Turtleneck is knit in the round with the stitches picked up along the neck opening. 

model: Calista Yoo

photos: Jihyo Kim

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Shown in size S with 5 inches/13 cm of ease. Larger sizes are written to have less ease over body for a more flattering fit.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust circumference: 36[39.75, 43.5, 46.5, 49.25, 53, 56] inches / 91.5[101, 110.5, 118, 125, 134.5, 142] cm
Length: 30.25[31, 31, 32.25, 32.5, 33, 33.5] inches / 77[78.5, 78.5, 82, 82.5, 84, 85] cm along center back to final cast-off. Front measures approx. 1.5 inches/4 cm shorter.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Plymouth Tuscan Aire [90% Merino Wool, 10% Nylon; 163 yd per 50g skein]; color: #12 Brick Heather; 7[8, 9, 10, 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]
1 set US #10/6mm needles for working flat (straight or circular as you prefer)
1 set US #9/5.5mm circular needle for small circumference in the round for turtleneck
1 US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 24 inches/60 cm long or longer for bottom trim

Notions
cable needle
3 stitch holders or waste yarn
2 stitch markers
4 locking stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

17 sts and 25 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in St st/rev St st with larger needles, after blocking

Width of Cable Chart worked with larger needles = 10.5[10.5, 10.5, 11.5, 11.5, 11.5, 11.5] inches / 26.5[26.5, 26.5, 29, 29, 29, 29] cm

PATTERN NOTES

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

Bobble: Knit into front, back, front, back, and front of next st (5 sts on needle for bobble). Turn. P2tog, p1, p2tog. Turn. K3tog. 1 st remains for bobble.
S3KYOK: Insert right needle into the 3rd stitch on left needle as if purling, slip the 3rd st over the 1st and the 2nd st of left needle, k1, yo, k1.
C4R: Sl next 2 sts onto CN, hold in back, k2 from left needle, k2 from cn.
C4L: Sl next 2 sts onto CN, hold in front, k2 from left needle, k2 from cn.
C4RP: Sl next 2 sts onto CN, hold in back, k2 from left needle, p2 from cn.
C4LP: Sl next 2 sts onto CN, hold in front, k2 from left needle, p2 from cn.
PC2R: Sl next 2 sts onto CN, hold in back, p2 from left needle, p2 from cn.
C6R: Sl next 3 sts onto CN, hold in back, k3 from left needle, k3 from cn.
C3L (Cable 3sts toward left): Sl next 3 sts onto CN, hold in front, k3 from left needle, k3 from cn.
C6RP (Move 3 sts toward right) : Sl next 3 sts onto CN, hold in back, k3 from left needle, p3 from cn.
C6LP (Move 3 sts toward left) : Sl next 3 sts onto CN, hold in front, p3 from left needle, k3 from cn.

For a more stable sleeve edge, you may wish to work 3 sts at each armhole of Back and Front in garter stitch (not shown in sample).

A tutorial for the invisible bind-off method can be found here.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

BACK

Shape Bottom Curve:
With larger needles, CO 36[38, 40, 42, 46, 50, 50] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: K 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2] , p 0[1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5] , k3, (p6, k6) twice, p6, k3, p 0[1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5] , k 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2] , CO 10[11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15] sts. 46[49, 52, 54, 59, 63, 65] sts.

Row 2 [WS]: K 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1] , p 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 3] , k 0[0, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5] , p 6[8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] , k 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , p3, (k6, p6) twice, k6, p3, k 0[1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5] , p 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2] , CO 10[11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15] sts. 56[60, 64, 66, 72, 76, 80] sts.

Row 3 [RS]: P 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1] , k 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 3] , p 0[0, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5] , k 6[8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] , p 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , k3, (p6, k6) twice, p6, k3, p 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , k 6[8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] , p 0[0, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5] , k 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 3] , p 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1] , CO 7[7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] sts. 63[67, 73, 75, 81, 85, 90] sts.

Row 4 [WS]: K 0[0, 4, 3, 6, 8, 11] , p 1[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , k 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , p8, k 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , p3, (k6, p6) twice, k6, p3, k 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5] , p 6[8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8] , k 0[0, 2, 2, 5, 5, 5] , p 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 3] , k 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1] , CO 7[7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] sts. 70[74, 82, 84, 90, 94, 100] sts.

Row 5 [RS]: P 0[0, 4, 3, 6, 8, 11] , k 1[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , work Row 1 of Set-Up Chart, k 1[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , p 0[0, 4, 3, 6, 8, 11] , CO 2 sts. 72[76, 84, 86, 92, 96, 102] sts.

Row 6 [WS]: K 0[2, 6, 5, 8, 10, 13] , p3, work Row 2 of Set-Up Chart, p 1[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] , k 0[0, 4, 3, 6, 8, 11] , CO 2 sts. 74[78, 86, 88, 94, 98, 104] sts.

Row 7 [RS]: P 0[2, 6, 5, 8, 10, 13] , k3, work Row 3 of Set-Up Chart, k3, p 0[2, 6, 5, 8, 10, 13] , CO 2 sts. 76[80, 88, 90, 96, 100, 106] sts.

Row 8 [WS]: K 2[4, 8, 7, 10, 12, 15] , p3, work Row 4 of Set-Up Chart, p3, k 0[2, 6, 5, 8, 10, 13] , CO 2 sts. 78[82, 90, 92, 98, 102, 108] sts.

Begin Cable Chart:
Row 1 [RS]: P 2[4, 8, 7, 10, 12, 15] pm, work Row 1 of Cable Chart, pm, purl to end, CO 2 sts. 80[84, 92, 94, 100, 104, 110] sts.

Row 2 [WS]: Knit to m, work Row 2 of Cable Chart, knit to end, CO 2 sts. 82[86, 94, 96, 102, 106, 112] sts.

Row 3 [RS]: P to marker, work Cable Chart to next marker, p end, CO 1[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] sts. 83[88, 96, 98, 104, 108, 114] sts.

Row 4 [WS]: K to marker, work Cable Chart to next marker, k to end, CO 1[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] sts. 84[90, 98, 100, 106, 110, 116] sts.

Inc row 1 [RS]: P to marker, work Cable Chart to next marker, p to last st, M1P, p1. 1 st inc'd.

Inc row 2 [WS]: K to marker, work Cable Chart to next marker, K to last st, M1, k1. 86[92, 100, 102, 108, 112, 118] sts.

Rep last 2 rows 6[7, 7, 7, 7, 9, 9] times more, ending after Row 18[20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 24] of chart. 98[106, 114, 116, 122, 130, 136] sts.

Note: This sets the pattern, with sts between markers worked in Cable Chart and sts outside markers worked in rev St st. Cont to work increased sts into rev St st unless otherwise noted.

Sizes XS, S & M ONLY
Work 1 row even in patt.
Inc Row 3 [WS]: K1, M1, patt to end. 1 st inc'd.
Inc Row 4 [RS]: P1, M1P, patt to end. 1 st inc'd.
Work 2 rows even in patt.
Rep Inc Rows 3-4. 102[110, 118, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes L-3X ONLY
Work 1 row even in patt.
Inc row 3 [WS]: K1, M1, patt to end. 1 st inc'd.
Inc row 4 [RS]: P1, M1P, patt to end. 1 st inc'd.
Work 1 row even in patt.
Rep Inc Rows 1-2. -[-, -, 120, 126, 134, 140] sts.
Work 1 row even in patt.
Rep Inc Rows 3-4. -[-, -, 122, 128, 136, 138] sts.
Work 2 rows even in patt.
Rep Inc Rows 3-4. -[-, -, 124, 130, 138, 144] sts.

All Sizes
**

Body
Work 48 rows even in patt.

***Next 2 rows: Patt to end, CO 3 sts, place locking stitch marker at end of row. 108[116, 124, 130, 136, 144, 150] sts.

Work 50[46, 46, 40, 42, 36, 38] rows even in patt. Place locking markers at each end of last row.

Shape armholes:

Sizes XS, L & 1X only
Armhole Inc Row [WS]: K1, M1, patt to last st, M1, k1. 2 sts inc'd.
Work even in pattern for 3[-, -, 5, 5, -, -] rows.
Rep last 4[-, -, 6, 6, -, -] rows 6 times more, then rep Armhole Inc Row once more. 124[-, -, 146, 152, -, -] sts.
Work 1 RS row even in patt.

Sizes S, M, 2X & 3X only
Armhole inc row [WS]: K1, M1, patt to last st, M1, k1. 2 sts inc'd.
Work even in patt for -[4, 4, -, -, 6, 6] rows.
Armhole inc row [RS]: P1, M1P, patt to last st, M1P, p1. 2 sts inc'd.
Work even in patt for -[4, 4, -, -, 6, 6] rows.
Rep last -[10, 10, -, -, 14, 14] rows twice more. -[128, 136, -, -, 156, 162] sts.

Rep WS Armhole inc row once. -[130, 138, -, -, 158, 164] sts.
Work even in patt for -[4, 4, -, -, 6, 6] rows.
Rep RS Armhole inc row once. -[132, 140, -, -, 160, 166] sts.

All Sizes
****

Shape back neck and shoulders:
Keeping in patt, BO 2[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts at beg of next 8 rows, then 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts at beg of next 6 rows. 84[84, 84, 84, 90, 90, 90] sts.

Next row [WS]: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] sts, work in patt until there are 18[18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19] sts on RH needle and place these sts on holder, work in patt until there are 36[36, 36, 36, 38, 38, 38] sts on RH needle and place these sts on separate holder, patt to end. 24[24, 24, 24, 26, 26, 26] sts rem.

Shape right back neck:
Note: Cont in patt, no longer working cables but only continuing to knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts from the previous rows.
Row 1 [RS]: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] sts, patt to last 2 sts, p2tog.
Row 2 [WS]: K2tog, patt to end. 1 st dec'd.
Rep last 2 rows once more.
BO 8 rem sts.

Shape left back neck:
With RS facing, place 18[18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19] sts from holder back on needle. Join yarn and cont as foll:
Row 1 [RS]: P2tog, patt to end. 1 st dec'd.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] sts, patt to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Rep Row 1 once more.
Row 4: Patt to last 2 sts, k2tog.
BO rem 8 sts.

FRONT
Work as for Back to **.

Body
Work 38 Rows even in patt.

Work as for Back from *** to ****.

Shape front neck and shoulders:
Keeping in patt, BO 2[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts at beg of next 6 rows. 112[114, 116, 122, 128, 130, 136] sts rem.

Shape left front neck and shoulder:
Next row [WS]: BO 2[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] , work in patt until there are 44[44, 44, 47, 49, 49, 52] sts on RH needle and place these sts on holder, patt 20[20, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22] sts and place these sts on separate holder, patt to end. 46[47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 57] sts rem.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 2[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] sts, patt to end. 44[44, 44, 47, 49, 49, 52] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 5, patt to end. 39[39, 39, 42, 44, 44, 47] sts.
Rows 3, 5 [RS]: BO 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to end.
Row 4: BO 3, patt to end. 32[32, 32, 34, 36, 36, 38] sts.
Rows 6, 8, 10: K2tog, patt to end. 1 st dec'd.
Row 7: BO 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts, patt to last 2 sts, p2tog. 22[22, 22, 22, 24, 24, 24] sts.
Row 9: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] sts, patt to last 2 sts, p2tog. 14[14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15] sts.
Row 11: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] sts, patt to end of row.
BO rem 7 sts.

Shape right neck and shoulder:
Slip 44[44, 44, 47, 49, 49, 52] sts held for right shoulder back onto needle and join yarn at neck edge with RS facing.

Row 1 [RS]: BO 5 sts, patt to end. 39[39, 39, 42, 44, 44, 47] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: BO 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] , patt to end. 35[35, 35, 37, 39, 39, 41] sts.
Row 3: BO 3, patt to end. 32[32, 32, 34, 36, 36, 38] sts.
Row 4: BO 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] , patt to end. 28[28, 28, 29, 31, 31, 32] sts.
Row 5: P2tog, patt to end. 27[27, 27, 28, 30, 30, 31] sts.
Row 6: BO 4[4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] sts.
Row 7: P2tog, patt to end of row. 21[21, 21, 21, 23, 23, 23] sts.
Row 8: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] , patt to last 2 sts, k2tog. 14[14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15] sts.
Row 9: P2tog, patt to end. 13[13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14] sts.
Row 10 [WS]: BO 6[6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7] , patt to end.
BO rem 7 sts.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block front and back panels to measurements in the schematic below. Join shoulder seams and sew side seams between locking markers. Remove markers.

Turtleneck:
With smaller circ or DPNs, pick up (do not knit) 9 sts along right back neck edge, place 36[36, 36, 36, 38, 38, 38] held sts for back neck on needle, pick up 9 sts along left back neck edge, pick up 21 sts down left front neck edge, place 20[20, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22] sts held sts for front neck on needle, then pick up 21 sts up right front neck edge. 116[116, 116, 116, 120, 120, 120] sts.

Pm for beg of rnd and join yarn with RS facing.

Rnd 1: (K1, p1) to end of rnd.
Rep last rnd until neck meas 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 6.5, 6.5] inches / 15[15, 15, 15, 15, 16.5, 16.5] cm from pick-up edge.
BO all sts using the invisible bind-off method.

Bottom Trim
With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up sts along bottom of Front following diagram below.

Row 1 [WS]: (P1, k1) to last st, p1.
Row 2 [RS]: (K1, p1) to last st, k1.
Rep last 2 rows twice more.
BO all sts using the invisible bind-off method.

Repeat for Back.

Place back trim on top of front trim at top of side slit and sew side edges into place, approx. 2-4.5 inches/5-11.5 cm down sides to keep sides from gaping.

Weave in any remaining ends, and block once more if desired.d.

A: Bust Circumference: 36[39.75, 43.5, 46.5, 49.25, 53, 56] inches / 91.5[101, 110.5, 118, 125, 134.5, 142] cm
B: Shoulder Width: 22.25[24.25, 26, 27.5, 29, 30.75, 32.25] inches / 56.5[61.5, 66, 70, 73.5, 78, 82] cm
C: Front Length: 28.75[29.25, 29.25, 30.5, 31, 31.5, 31.75] inches / 73[74.5, 74.5, 77.5, 78.5, 80, 80.5]
D: Back Length: 30.25[31, 31, 32.25, 32.5, 33, 33.5] inches / 7[78.5, 78.5, 82, 82.5, 84, 85] cm
E: Neck Width: 7[7, 7, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5] inches / 18[18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Calista's life revolves around sweaters. She creates sweaters as a technical fashion designer for a retail company by day and as a knitting pattern designer for knitters everywhere by night. When she is not dealing with sweaters, she enjoys her life with her husband and her little black dog in the peaceful Lake Country of Wisconsin.

You can find her on Ravelry or on her blog.

Pattern & images © 2016 Calista Yoo. Contact Calista