INTRODUCTION

Cool Bearing

by Annalisa Dione

Cool Bearing is a round yoke sweater with a polar bear stranded motif. I designed it for a friend who really loves bears (she is a volunteer for Animals Asia – they rescue moon bears from bile farms in China and Vietnam). I decided to write up the pattern and make one for me as well. The yarn I picked for this pattern is Lett Lopi, by Istex, a lovely unspun Icelandic Aran yarn (with great color choices). It's perfect for colorwork and very warm.

The sweater is worked from the bottom up, with optional waist shaping. Sleeves are worked separately and then joined to the body to make the yoke, which is decorated with a polar bear stranded motif. Decreases begin just above the bears and the neckline is shaped with short rows. It is extra warm and comfortable, perfect for the chilliest days of winter, whether you're in the mood for a fireplace, a good book, a nice cup of tea and some cuddles with your favorite cat or an adventure in the woods.

model: Annalisa Dione

photos: Alessandro Vietti

SIZE

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

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 33.5[38.5, 42.5, 46, 50, 53.5, 57.5] inches / 85[98, 108, 117, 127, 136, 146] cm
Length: 23[23.5, 24.5, 26, 26.5, 27.75, 29] inches / 58.5[59.5, 62, 66, 67, 70.5, 74] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Istex Lèttlopi [100% wool; 109 yd/100 m per 50 g skein]; color:
[MC] Ash Heather 0056; 6[7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] skeins
[CC1] Grey Heather 0057; 1[1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] skeins
[CC2] White 0051; 1[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US 6/4 mm circular needle, 32-inch/80-cm long
1 set US 6/4 mm small circumference circular needle or dpns for sleeves, if preferred

Notions
yarn needle
waste yarn or stitch holders
2 stitch markers in different colors

GAUGE

20 sts/27 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch in the round

PATTERN NOTES

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

Cool Bearing is intended to be worn with approximately 3-5 inches / 7.5-12.5 cm of ease.

In stranded knitting, take care not to pull floats too tightly, simply stretch the stitches just worked now and then to ensure the right tension in the floats.

Twisted 1x1 rib (multiple of 2 stitches)
Round 1: *K1 tbl, p1: repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 for pattern.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

BODY
Using circular needle, CO 84[96, 106, 115, 125, 134, 144] sts, place m, CO 84[96, 106, 115, 125, 134, 144] sts, place m and join in the round. 168[192, 212, 230, 250, 268, 288] sts total.

Rounds 1-12: Work in Twisted 1x1 rib to m, sl m, work in Twisted 1x1 rib to end.

Note: Waist shaping is optional. If you want to omit the waist shaping, work in stockinette until body measures approximately 15[15.5, 15.5, 16, 16.25, 16.75, 17.25] inches / 38[39.5, 39.5, 40.5, 41, 42.5, 44] cm from the cast on edge, or desired length to underarm, and continue with dividing for front and back.

Waist shaping
Work in stockinette stitch for 5[5, 5, 5, 9, 9, 9] more rounds
Decrease Round: K16, ssk, knit to 18 sts before m, k2tog, k16, sl m, k16, ssk, knit to 18 sts before m, k2tog, k16. 164[188, 208, 226, 246, 264, 284] sts.
Repeat last 6[6, 6, 6, 10, 10, 10] rounds 5[5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3] more times. 144[168, 188, 206, 234, 252, 272] sts.

Work in stockinette stitch for 6[9, 9, 12, 6, 8, 12] rounds.

Work in stockinette stitch for 5[5, 5, 5, 9, 9, 9] rounds..
Increase Round: K16, M1R, knit to 16 sts before m, M1L, k16, sl m, k16, M1R, knit to 16 sts before m, M1L, k16. 148[172, 192, 210, 238, 256, 276] sts.
Repeat last 6[6, 6, 10, 10, 10, ] rounds 5[5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3] more times. 168[192, 212, 230, 250, 268, 288] sts.

Divide front and back:
Next round: Knit to 7[8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11] sts after m, move last 14[16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22] sts to waste yarn or holder, knit to end, k 7[8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11] sts of next round, move last 14[16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22] sts to waste yarn or holder. 70[80, 90, 97, 105, 112, 122] sts for front and back and 14[16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22] for each underarm. Set body aside (don't break yarn).

SLEEVES (make 2)
CO 40[42, 44, 44, 48, 48, 52] sts, pm, join in the round.
Work 12 rnds in Twisted 1x1 rib.
Knit 11[8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 4] rounds.
Increase Round: K2, M1L, knit to 2 sts before m, M1R, k2. 42[44, 46, 46, 50, 50, 54] sts.
Repeat last 12[9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5] rnds 7[10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19] more times. 56[64, 70, 74, 80, 86, 92] sts.
Work in stockinette in the round until sleeve is 16.5[17, 17, 17.75, 17.75, 18.5, 18.5] inches / 42[43, 43, 45, 45, 45.5, 47] cm long or desired length.

Next round: Knit to 7[8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11] sts before m, sl next 14[16, 16, 18, 20, 22, 22] sts to waste yarn or st holder, leave the other sts on cable. Break yarn and set aside. Make second sleeve.

YOKE
Starting with the front, with MC, k 70[80, 90, 97, 105, 112, 122] front sts, k 42[48, 54, 56, 60, 64, 70] right sleeve sts, k 70[80, 90, 97, 105, 112, 122] back sts, and k 42[48, 54, 56, 60, 64, 70] left sleeve sts. Join in the round and place m to indicate the beginning of the round. 224[256, 288, 306, 330, 352, 384] sts.

Knit 2[5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 15] rounds.
Next round: Begin working Chart A (note that there are 3 versions of chart A, for different sizes), using MC and CC1.
Work through all of Chart A. Break MC yarn.

Next round: Begin working Chart B, using CC1 and CC2.
Work through end of Chart B. Break CC2.

Next round: Join MC and begin working Chart A.
Work through 2 rounds of Chart A. Break CC2.

Yoke decreases:
Decrease Round 1: With MC, *k2, k2tog; repeat from * to end[end, end, last 2 sts, last 2 sts, end, end], k 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 0] . 168[192, 216, 230, 248, 264, 288] sts.
Knit 9[9, 13, 19, 19, 23, 29] rounds.

Decrease Round 2: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end[end, end, last 2 sts, last 2 sts, end, end], k 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 0] . 112[128, 144, 154, 166, 176, 192] sts.
Knit 11[13, 15, 17, 19, 19, 19] rounds.

Decrease Round 3: *K2tog; repeat from * to end. 56[64, 72, 77, 83, 88, 96] sts.
Knit one round.

Short row shaping:
Using two removable stitch markers, mark the center stitch of each sleeve.
Short row 1 [WS]: Purl to 6 sts before m, w&t.
Short row 2 [RS]: Knit to 6 sts before m, w&t.
Short row 3: Purl to the st wrapped on previous row, purl it together with wrap, p1, w&t.
Short row 4: Knit to the st wrapped on previous row, knit it together with wrap, k1, w&t.

Repeat Short rows 3-4 four more times.
Knit 1 round.

Size L(XL) only:
Only last round, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. 76[81] sts.

Work 7 rounds in Twisted 1x1 rib. Bind off loosely in pattern.

FINISHING

Graft underarms, weave in ends, wet block to given measurements.

A: Bust circumference: 33.5[38.5, 42.5, 46, 50, 53.5, 57.5] inches / 85[98, 108, 117, 127, 136, 146] cm
B: Waist circumference (after optional shaping): 28.75[33.5, 37.5, 41.25, 46.75, 50.5, 54.5] inches / 73[85, 92.5, 105, 119, 128.5, 138.5] cm
C: Neck circumference (without ribbing): 11.25[12.75, 14.5, 15.25, 16.5, 17.5, 19.25] inches / 28.5[32.5, 37, 38.5, 42, 44.5, 49] cm.
D: Body length to underarm: 15[15.5, 15.5, 16, 16.25, 16.75, 17.25] inches / 38[39.5, 39.5, 40.5, 41, 42.5, 44] cm.
E: Yoke length (including short rows): 9.75[10.5, 11.5, 13, 13.75, 14.75, 15.75] inches / 25[26.5, 29, 33, 35, 37.5, 40] cm.
F: Wrist circumference: 8[8.5, 8.75, 8.75, 9.5, 9.5, 10.5] inches / 20.5[21.5, 22, 22, 24, 24, 26.5] cm.
G: Upper arm circumference: 11.25[12.75, 14, 14.75, 16, 17.25, 18.5] inches / 28.5[32.5, 35.5, 37.5, 40.5, 44, 47] cm.
H: Sleeve length: 16.5[17, 17, 17.75, 17.75, 18, 18.5] inches / 42[43, 43, 45, 45, 45.5, 47] cm.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Annalisa lives in Genoa, Italy with her husband and two cats. She started publishing her patterns on Ravelry in 2010 and has designed for Katia Yarns and Crowd Knitting (Rowan, Cardiff).

She loves travelling, cooking, photography, winter, bears and yarn.

Pattern & images © 2017 Annalisa Dione.