by Motoko Takahashi

I got the inspiration for this sweater from the signature tear-drop of the sad clown Pierrot's make-up. The sorrowful symbol becomes bold and joyful in this original sweater, made large for maximum impact.

Worked from the neck down, the Pierrot pattern is featured at the hem and sleeves and reversed at the yoke.

The collar is picked up after the body and sleeves of the sweater are completed, so cast on using a provisional cast-on.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with 6" of ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 36.5[40, 44.5, 47.5, 50.75, 55.5, 58.75] inches
Length: 24.5[24.5, 25, 25.25, 26, 26.75, 27.5] inches (measured at back)

MATERIALS
Yarn
Harrisville Designs Shetland [100% wool; 217yd/198m per 50g skein]
[MC] White: 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] skeins
[CC] Melon: 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below — every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 24- to 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle
1 set of five US #4/3.5mm double-point needles, 16-inch circular needle, and/or long circular needle (for neck and sleeves; use whichever method is preferred for working small circumference in the round)
1 40-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle (for yoke of larger sizes, optional)

Notions
9[9, 11, 9, 9, 10, 10] stitch markers, including 1 of different color
3.5mm (US E-4) crochet hook
waste yarn
3 stitch holders (optional)
yarn needle

GAUGE
18 sts/27 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
19.5 sts/27 rows = 4" in Body Chart

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

Pierrot Pattern charts are worked in Stockinette stitch (knit every rnd). Carry floats of color not being used loosely behind work, securing every 4-5 stitches.

Stitches are increased before hem, neck, and cuff ribbing to create ribbed bands that do not pull or draw in. If a tighter band is required, you can increase fewer stitches evenly across round before beginning ribbing. Stitches are also increased to accommodate a tighter gauge for the colorwork sections.

A tutorial for the provisional crochet cast on can be found here. Make the chain using waste yarn, then pick up sts and continue to work with CC.

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

DIRECTIONS

Rnd 1: *Knit to m, M1L, sl m; repeat from * to end. 9[9, 11, 9, 9, 10, 10] sts inc'd.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rep last 2 rnds 5[5, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12] times more, switching to longer needle when necessary. 117[126, 143, 162, 198, 220, 230] sts.

Knit 4[4, 6, 4, 4, 8, 9] rnds, removing all markers except at beg of rnd.

Next rnd [sizes M & 3X Only]:
M1L, knit to end. -[-, 144, -, -, -, 231] sts.

Yoke, All Sizes:
Work Rnds 1-36 of Yoke Chart for designated size, working repeat 13[14, 16, 18, 18, 20, 21] times across each rnd. 273[294, 336, 342, 378, 420, 441] sts.

Divide for body and sleeves:
Cut CC.
Next rnd: Remove marker, place next 58[60, 66, 68, 76, 85, 88] sts on holder or waste yarn for sleeve, place next 79[87, 102, 105, 113, 125, 132] sts on separate holder or waste yarn for front, place next 58[60, 66, 68, 76, 85, 88] sts on holder or waste yarn for sleeve, then join MC and work across rem 78[87, 102, 101, 113, 125, 133] sts for Back as foll:
K0[10, 7, 1, 11, 0, 0], k2tog 0[1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0] time, *k11[11, 6, 23, 10, 11, 10], k2tog, k11[10, 7, 23, 11, 10, 10], k2tog; rep from * 2[2, 4, 1, 3, 4, 4] times more, k0[0, 6, 0, 0, 0, 11], k2tog 0[0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1] time. 72[80, 90, 97, 104, 115, 122] sts rem for Back.

Next rnd [RS]: Pm for new beg of rnd, k72[80, 90, 97, 104, 115, 122] sts of Back, CO 10 sts, place sts held for Front on LH needle and work across these sts as foll:
K11[10, 7, 0, 7, 0, 12], k2tog 1[1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1] time, *k9[11, 6, 11, 11, 10, 11], k2tog, k9[10, 7, 11, 11, 10, 11], k2tog; rep from * 2[2, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3] times more, k0[0, 6, 1, 0, 5, 12], k2tog 0[0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1] time, CO 10 sts. Join once more to work in the rnd. 164[180, 200, 214, 228, 250, 264] sts in total on needle.

Next rnd: *K41[60, 50, 107, 38, 25, 66], pm; rep from * 2[1, 2, 0, 4, 8, 2] times more, k41[60, 50, 107, 38, 25, 66] to end of rnd.

Inc rnd: *Knit to m, M1L, sl m; rep from * to the end of rnd. 4[3, 4, 2, 6, 10, 4] sts inc'd.

Knit 7[15, 23, 5, 11, 23, 6] rnds.

Rep last 8[16, 24, 6, 12, 24, 7] rnds 5[2, 1, 7, 3, 1, 6] times more. 188[189, 208, 230, 252, 270, 292] sts.

Remove all markers except for one at beg of rnd.

Sizes S & 1X Only: Skip to All Sizes below.

Next rnd (Size XS & L Only): M1L, k to the end.
Next rnd (Size M Only): *K104, M1L; rep from * to the end.
Next rnd (Size 2X Only): *K90, M1L; rep from * to the end.
Next rnd (Size 3X Only): *K146, M1L; rep from * to the end.

All sizes:
189[189, 210, 231, 252, 273, 294] sts.

Next rnd (Size S Only): Knit.
Next rnd (All sizes except size S): *K19, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd.

All sizes:
180[189, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280] sts.

Cut MC and continue with CC only. Knit 6 rnds.

Hem
Next rnd (Size XS Only): *K10, M1L; rep from * to end. 198 sts.

Next rnd (Size S Only): *(K8, M1L) 3 times, k9, M1L; rep from * 4 times more, (k8, M1L) 3 times. 212 sts.

Next rnd (Size M Only):*K7, M1L, k7, M1L, k6, M1L; rep from * 9 times more. 230 sts.

Next rnd (Size L Only):*(K8, M1L) 6 times, k7, M1L; rep from * 3 times more. 248 sts.

Next rnd (Size 1X Only): *K7, M1L, k7, M1L, k6, M1L; rep from * 11 times more. 276 sts.

Next rnd (Size 2X Only): *(K6, M1L) 10 times, k5, M1L; rep from * 3 times more. 304 sts.

Next rnd (Size 3X Only): (K8, M1L) 20 times, (k7, M1L) 17 times, M1L, k1. 318 sts.

All Sizes:
Next 8 rnds: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.
BO in rib patt.

Right Sleeve
With MC, RS facing, and smaller circ or dpns, and starting at center of underarm cast-on, pick up and knit 5 across cast-on, pick up and knit 5 sts from underarm cast-on to held sts for sleeve, knit across 58[60, 66, 68, 76, 85, 88] sts held for sleeve, pick up and knit 5 sts to center of underarm. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd. 73[75, 81, 83, 91, 100, 103] sts.

**Dec rnd: K1, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1. 2 sts dec'd.
Knit 4[4, 3, 5, 3, 2, 2] rnds.
Rep last 5[5, 4, 6, 4, 3, 3] rnds 8[9, 12, 7, 11, 16, 17] times more. 55[55, 55, 67, 67, 66, 67] sts.

Knit 4[0, 0, 4, 4, 2, 1] rnd(s), dec 0[0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1] st at beg of last rnd. 55[55, 55, 66, 66, 66, 66] sts.

Begin Sleeve Chart:
Work Rnds 1-36 of Sleeve Chart, working 11-st repeat 5[5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6] times across each rnd. 45[45, 45, 54, 54, 54, 54] sts.

Cut MC and continue with CC only.

Next rnd: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end. 40[40, 40, 48, 48, 48, 48] sts.
Knit 6 rnds.

Cuff:
Next rnd: *K10[10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 12], M1L; rep from * to end. 44[44, 44, 52, 52, 52, 52] sts.

Next 8 rnds: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.
BO in rib patt.

Left Sleeve
With MC, RS facing, and smaller circ or dpns, and starting at center of underarm cast-on, pick up and knit 5 across cast-on, knit across 58[60, 66, 68, 76, 85, 88] sts held for sleeve, pick up and knit 5 sts to underarm cast-on, pick up and knit 5 sts to end center of underarm. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd. 73[75, 81, 83, 91, 100, 103] sts.

Continue as for Right Sleeve from ** to end.

FINISHING
Collar
Undo waste yarn from neck cast-on and place 63[72, 77, 81, 99, 100, 100] resulting sts on shorter circ or dpns.

Next rnd (Size XS Only): *(K4, M1L) twice, k3, M1L; rep from * 4 times more, (k4, M1L) twice.
Next rnd (Size S Only): (K4, M1L) around.
Next rnd (Size M Only): *(K3, M1L) twice, k4, M1L; rep from * 6 times more, k3, M1L, k4, M1L.
Next rnd (Size L Only):(K4, M1L, k3, M1L) 11 times, k4, M1L.
Next rnd (Size 1X Only): (K4, M1L, k3, M1L) 13 times, (k3, M1L) twice, k2, M1L.
Next rnd (Size 2X Only): (K4, M1L, k3, M1L) 14 times, k2.
Next rnd (Size 3X Only): *K4, M1L, (k3, M1L) twice; rep from * to end.

All sizes:
80[90, 100, 104, 128, 128, 130] total sts.
Next 8 rnds: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd.
BO in rib patt using the Tubular bind-off.

Weave in all ends and press or block the finished garment to measurements.

Motoko Takahashi is a shy Japanese knitter, loving fashion and cats. Her Ravelry username is tommystar.

She blogs here.