Indigopie, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a cardigan based on the pi shawl construction worked in indigo-dyed bulky yarn.

INTRODUCTION

Indigopie

beauty shot

by Mari Chiba

Tangy

This sweater started with a desire for a Japanese style oversized sweater, combined with Elizabeth Zimmermann’s simple pi shawl. At first I imagined a pi shawl with a split and just the bottoms sewn shut, but turns out that makes you look like a bat.

This sweater is a hybrid of those two ideas, with the same rapid ruffling increases at the shoulder, but with short row shaping for a curved hem that helps lengthen the body. It's worked from the top down in one piece. To create the dolman-style sleeve, a small seam is sewn in the underarms, but otherwise this sweater is finish-free!

This sweater is easy to customize for your own fit. For full-length sleeves, just keep knitting. For a longer torso, knit further before starting the short-row shaping. The options are vast. I hope you’ll cast on for your own Indigopie, a casual comfy sweater to wear with your favorite jeans.

spacer model: Kemper Wray

spacer photos: Mari Chiba

SIZE

For women's garments: XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Shown in size L with 4 inches/10 cm of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 34.5[38.25, 41.75, 46.25, 50.5, 54.25, 57.5] inches / 87.5[97, 106, 117.5, 128.5, 138, 146] cm
Length (at center back): 28.5[29, 29.5, 30, 30.5, 31, 31.5] inches / 72.5[73.5, 75, 76, 77.5, 78.5, 80] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Ancient Arts Big Squeeze Bulky [100% Superwash Merino; 127 yd/116 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]; color: Lookin’ Fine in My New Blue Jeans #3; 4[5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 24-inch or longer US #13/9mm circular needle
1 set(s) US #13/9mm preferred needles for sleeve knitting (DPNs or circulars)
2 spare DPNs for Kitchener stitch

Notions
stitch marker
waste yarn or 6 stitch holders
yarn needle

GAUGE

13 sts/16 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

All stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn in front unless otherwise noted.

Slip Stitch Panel (worked over 5 sts; worked over first and last 5 sts of every row)
Row 1 [WS]: (K1, sl 1) twice, k1.
Row 2 [RS]: (Sl 1, k1) twice, sl 1.
Rep these 2 rows for patt.

DIRECTIONS

Yoke
CO 33[36, 37, 38, 41, 43, 45] sts and knit 1 row.
Next row [RS]: *K1, yo; rep from * to last st, k1. 65[71, 73, 75, 81, 85, 89] sts.

Row 1 [WS]: Work Row 1 of Slip Stitch Panel, purl to last 5 sts, work Row 1 of Slip Stitch Panel.
Row 2 [RS]: Work Row 2 of Slip Stitch Panel, knit to last 5 sts, work Row 2 of Slip Stitch Panel.
Cont in St st and Slip Stitch Panels as est for 3 rows more.

Inc Row 1 [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, (k1, yo) to last 6 sts, k1, work Slip Stitch Panel. 119[131, 135, 139, 151, 159, 167] sts.

Work 15 rows even in Slip Stitch Panels and St st.

Inc Row 2 [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, (k2tog, yo) 10[12, 10, 7, 7, 4, 10] times, (k1, yo) 69[73, 85, 101, 113, 133, 117] times, (k2tog, yo) 10[12, 10, 7, 7, 4, 10] times, work Slip Stitch Panel. 188[204, 220, 240, 264, 292, 284] sts.

Work 19 rows even in Slip Stitch Panels and St st.

Sizes XS, S, M, L, 1X & 2X Only:
Next row [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, (k2tog, yo) to last 5 sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.

Size 3X Only:
Next row [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, yo, (k2tog, yo) 62 times, (k1, yo) 26 times, (k2tog, yo) 62 times, work Slip Stitch Panel. 311 sts.

All Sizes:
Work even in Slip Stitch Panels and St st until work measures 13.5[14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5] inches/ 34.5[35.5, 37, 38, 39.5, 40.5, 42] cm from cast-on, ending after a WS row.

Divide Sleeves and Body:
Next row [RS]: Work slip stitch panel, patt 21[24, 27, 30, 34, 37, 39] , place next 6 sts on holder for underarm, slip next 30[32, 34, 37, 42, 50, 54] sts to separate holder for sleeve, slip next 6 sts to separate holder for underarm, cast on 4 sts using backward loop, k 52[58, 64, 72, 78, 84, 91] back sts, place next 6 sts on holder for underarm, slip next 30[32, 34, 37, 42, 50, 54] sts to separate holder for sleeve, slip next 6 sts to separate holder for underarm, cast on 4 sts using backward loop, patt 21[24, 27, 30, 34, 37, 39] sts, work slip stitch panel. 112[124, 136, 150, 164, 176, 187] sts.

Body:
Row 1 [WS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, purl to last 5 sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.
Row 2 [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, knit to last 5 sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.
Work even in patt as est until work measures 4.75 inches/12 cm from underarm, ending after a WS row.

Begin short rows:
Short Row 1 [RS]: Knit to last 10 sts, w&t.
Short Row 2 [WS]: Purl to last 10 sts, w&t.
Short Row 3 [RS]: Knit to 5 sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Short Row 4 [WS]: Purl to 5 sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Repeat Short Rows 3-4 five times more.

Next row [RS]: Knit to last 5 sts, picking up and working wraps with wrapped sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.
Next row [WS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, purl to last 5 sts, picking up and working wraps with wrapped sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.

Rep Short Rows 1-4 once, then rep Short Rows 3-4 three times more.

Next row [RS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, knit to last 5 sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.
Next row [WS]: Work Slip Stitch Panel, purl to last 5 sts, work Slip Stitch Panel.
Work even in patt as est until work measures 15 inches/38 cm from underarm, measured at center back and ending after a WS row.

I-Cord Bind Off: *K2, ssk, slip 3 sts back to LH needle; rep from * until 6 total sts remain. Place 3 sts on one DPN and 3 sts on another DPN, then graft the remaining sts together using Kitchener stitch.

Sleeves
Slip both sets of 6 sts held at underarm for one side to two separate needles.
Leaving a 12-inch/30-cm tail, use 3-needle bind off on WS to join each set of 6 sts. Cut yarn, leaving a tail.
Repeat for other underarm.

Place 30[32, 34, 37, 42, 50, 54] sts from waste yarn on needles. Beginning at center of the underarm, join yarn and CO 0[0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0] st at end of row. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd. 30[32, 34, 38, 42, 50, 54] sts.

Rib rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rib rnd until ribbing measures 4 inches/10 cm, or to desired length.
BO all sts using a stretchy BO such as Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.

Repeat for other sleeve.

FINISHING

Use tails at underarms to sew each set of 4 cast-on sts to underarm and secure any gaps.
Wash and block to measurements.

schematic

A: Neck circumference: 10.25[11, 11.5, 11.75, 12.5, 13.25, 13.75] inches / 26[28, 29, 30, 32, 33.5, 35] cm
B: Bust circumference: 34.5[38.25, 41.75, 46.25, 50.5, 54.25, 57.5] inches / 87.5[97, 106, 117.5, 128.5, 138, 146] cm
C: Upper arm: 9.25[9.75, 10.5, 11.75, 13, 15.5, 16.5] inches / 23.5[25, 26.5, 30, 33, 39.5, 42] cm
D: Yoke length: 13.5[14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5] inches / 34.5[35.5, 37, 38, 39.5, 40.5, 42] cm
E: Body length at center back: 15 inches / 38 cm
F: Body length at center front edge: 10 inches / 25.5 cm
G: Sleeve length: 4 inches / 10 cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Mari re-learned to knit in the Peace Corps in Armenia, started designing while teaching English in China, and now designs in Raleigh, NC. She spends every waking moment working with yarn and fiber in one way or another.

Learn more about Mari, her designs, and what her husband calls a 'quirky' sense of humor here. See photos of her dog and baby on Instagram. Email Mari photos of your finished sweater.