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Grey is not necessarily grey! Imagine wrapping yourself up in this delightfully and ultra cozy soft jumper. It's like wearing a cloud. The sample shown was knitted in a special merino wool that's been drenched in lavender oil. It makes all the difference.

Your winter blues will vanish in a trice when you see the hint of warm pink or deep purple. Can be worn from sweet 16 to sterling silver. You are neither too young nor too old for this creation.

SIZE
SIZE: XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 35.5[39.5, 43, 47, 50, 53, 56.5] inches
Length: 23[23.5, 23.5, 24.5, 25, 26, 27] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Atelier Zitron Mistral [95% new wool, 5% rayon, with lavender oil (unscented); 110yd/100m per 50g skein]; color: #1921 Grey; 12[13, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20] skeins

Atelier Zitron Nimbus [100% organic merino wool; 110yd/100m per 50g skein]; 1 skein each color
[CC1] #423 Raspberry
[CC2] #422 Plum

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #8/5mm straight needles
1 16-inch US #8/5mm circular needle

Notions
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Safety pins or locking stitch markers
Piece of ribbon approx. 12 inches long (optional)

GAUGE

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

Big Purls Pattern (worked over an even number of sts):
Rows 1, 3 [RS]: K all sts.

Row 2 [WS]: K2, *yo, k2, pass yo over sts just worked; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 4 [WS]: K1, *yo, k2, pass yo over sts just worked; repeat from * to last st, k1.

Repeat Rows 1-4 for Big Purls Pattern.

Cross Stitch Pattern (worked over a multiple of 3 sts + 2):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, *k3tog but do not drop sts from the left needle, k into first st again, k second and third sts together, drop sts from left needle; repeat from * to last st, k1.

Rows 2, 4, 6 [WS]: P all sts.

Rows 3, 5 [RS]: K all sts.

Repeat Rows 1-6 for Cross Stitch Pattern.
Note: When increasing or decreasing in pattern (ie. when shaping neckline and sleeves), if there are are not enough sts to work the [k3tog] cross stitch sequence, work those sts in stockinette st instead.

Instructions for the Long-Tail Cast On can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
BACK
With straight needles and CC1, CO 86[96, 104, 114, 120, 128, 136] sts using long-tail method (see Pattern Notes). Break CC1.

Using MC, work in Big Purls Pattern until work measures 17.5[18, 18, 19, 19.5, 20.5, 21.5] inches or 5.5 inches less than desired length, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts, evenly decreasing 2[1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 2] sts. 84[95, 104, 113, 119, 128, 134] sts.

Work in Cross Stitch Pattern until work measures 22.5[23, 23, 24, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Neckline:
Next Row [RS]: Work 26[30, 34, 38, 40, 44, 47] sts in pattern, place next 32[35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 40] sts on st holder or waste yarn for back neckline; join new ball of yarn and work last 26[30, 34, 38, 40, 44, 47] sts in pattern.

Working each set of sts with attached ball of yarn, work 2 rows in pattern. BO all sts.

FRONT
Work as for back until work measures 2.75 inches less than back to shoulder, ending with a WS row.

Shape Neckline:
Next Row [RS]: Work 32[36, 40, 44, 46, 50, 53] sts in pattern, place next 20[23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 28] sts on st holder or waste yarn for front neckline; join new ball of yarn and work last 32[36, 40, 44, 46, 50, 53] sts in pattern.

Working each set of sts with attached ball of yarn, shape neckline as follows.
In the directions that follow, a semi-colon will indicate the break between sets of sts.

Rows 1-2: Work first set of sts in pattern; BO 2 sts, work in pattern to end.
Rows 3-10: Work first set of sts in pattern; BO 1 st, work in pattern to end. 26[30, 34, 38, 40, 44, 47] sts remain for each shoulder.
Work 4 rows in pattern. BO all sts.

Row 1 [WS]: Using MC, [k1, p1] to end.

Row 2 [RS]: Using MC, k all sts.

Row 3 [WS]: Using MC, p all sts.

Rows 4-5: Using CC1, k2, [sl 3, k1] to last st, k1.

Rows 6-7: Work as for Rows 2-3.

Rows 8-9: Using CC2, k1, sl 2, [k1, sl 3] to last 4 sts, k1, sl 2, k1.

Rows 10-14: Work as for Rows 2-6.

Break CC1 and CC2; rest of sleeve is worked using MC only.
P 1 WS row, decreasing 1 st. 42[46, 46, 50, 50, 54, 58] sts.

Note: Read ahead! Shaping instructions and stitch pattern instructions are worked at the same time.

Work in Big Purls Pattern, shaping sleeve as follows:

Increase Row [RS]: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1.

Work 5[5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 3] rows in pattern.

Repeat these 6[6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4] rows 11[14, 7, 5, 22, 21, 20] times more. 66[76, 62, 62, 96, 98, 100] sts.

Work Increase Row.
Work 3[3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 4[4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2] rows 4[1, 11, 14, 1, 2, 4] times more. 76[80, 86, 92, 100, 104, 110] sts.

AT THE SAME TIME:
Work in pattern, shaping sleeve as set, until work measures 16.5[17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17, 17, 17] inches or 1.5 inches less than desired length to underarm, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: K all sts.
Work in Cross Stitch Pattern until sleeve measures 18[19, 19, 19, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Loosely BO all sts.

Collar:
Using short circular needle and MC, beginning at left shoulder seam with RS facing, pick up and k 11 sts along left front neckline edge, k 20[23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 28] held front neckline sts, pick up and k 13 sts along right front and back neckline edge, k 32[35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 40] held back neckline sts, pick up and k 2 sts to shoulder seam. Place marker and join to work in the round.

Round 1: P all sts, evenly decreasing 0[0, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1] sts. 78[84, 84, 87, 90, 93, 93] sts.

Rounds 2-12: K all sts.

Round 13: *K3tog but do not drop sts from the left needle, k into first st again, k second and third sts together, drop sts from left needle; repeat from * to end.

Rounds 14-19: K all sts.

Round 20: Work as for Round 13.

Rounds 21-22: K all sts.

Round 23: Work as for Round 13.

Round 24: K all sts. Break MC.

Round 25: Using CC1, k all sts.

Round 26: Using CC1, p all sts.

Rounds 27-28: Break CC1. Using CC2, work as for Rounds 25-26.
Loosely BO all sts.

Measure 8[8.5, 9, 9.75, 10.5, 11, 11.5] inches down from shoulder seam along side edges of front and back; use safety pins or locking stitch markers to mark these points. Sew BO edge of one sleeve to side edge of sweater between marked points, matching center of sleeve edge to end of shoulder seam. Sew other sleeve in the same way.
Sew sleeve seams and side seams. If desired, thread length of ribbon through stitches of Cross Stitch Pattern and tie in place, as shown in photos.

JBuecker is a freelance designer living in the lively suburbs of Hamburg, North Germany. During the last 20 years she has worked for many Geman yarn companies. In 2007 her popular knitting book "Stricken fuers Baby (Knitting for the Baby) was published.

She gets her ideas while power-walking at the crack of dawn through nature. Visit her website or have a look at JBuecker's projects on Ravelry.