INTRODUCTION

Middle School

by Kate Scalzo

This doodle. You know the one. The architectural, gothic font, boasting just one letter in its catalog. The smooth, satisfying swirls that, if repeated enough, will wind right off the page, coiling through your notebook like a snake. What was the lesson? Will there be a quiz tomorrow? Who knows. This...is Middle School.

The Middle School Sweater is an ode to the "S". It is constructed from the top down with a deep V-neck, working the front and back separately and then joining for the bust down to the hip. Sleeves are worked from the cuff to the cap and seamed. Knit it with pride, knowing that the doodle you loved hasn't forgotten you, either.

model: Sara Geltman

photos: Kate Scalzo

SIZE

 XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size M with 2 inches/5 cm of negative ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  30.5[34.5, 38.75, 41.75, 46, 50, 54.25, 58.25, 62.5] inches / 77.5[87.5, 98.5, 106, 117, 127, 138, 148, 159] cm
Length:  24.25[24.75, 25.25, 25.5, 26.25, 26.25, 27, 26.75, 26.75] inches / 61.5[63, 64, 65, 66.5, 66.5, 68.5, 68, 68] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Cascade 128 Superwash [100% superwash merino; 128yd/117m per 100g skein];
[MC] Dark Gray; 4[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] skeins
[CC] Light Gray; 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
Cascade 128 Superwash is a plied, bulky weight yarn that works up smoothly and is very soft and squishy to the touch. There is a slight amount of shedding upon washing, and it takes a bit of time to dry fully.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #7/4.5mm needles for small circumference in the round
1 US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inches/60 cm long
US #9/5.5mm needles for small circumference in the round
US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 24-40 inches / 60-100cm long (for Body; make sure needle is at least six inches smaller around than the finished garment body circumference)

Notions
stitch markers
stitch holders or waste yarn
yarn needle

GAUGE

14.5 sts x 24 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in St st with larger needles
15.5 sts x 18 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in colorwork with larger needles
Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

For a shorter neck depth, adjust the rate of increases symmetrically on the neck edges of the Right Front Shoulder and Left Front Shoulder charts, working increases into "S" patt as shown on Back Chart. Once all increases have been completed, join the two pieces together (with a m1 increase between them as in Joining round of Body). Once the two pieces are joined, continue in Back Chart over these sts until armhole shaping has been complete, then join the two pieces for the Body.

CHARTS

View and download CHARTS here by size

XS | S | M | L | 1X | 2X | 3X | 4X | 5X

DIRECTIONS

Right Front Shoulder
Using larger needle, CO 10[11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 13, 14, 15] sts.
Work Rows 1-34[36, 40, 44, 48, 48, 50, 50, 52] of Right Front Chart. 29[33, 37, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60] sts.
Break yarn and place sts on the needle.

Left Front Shoulder
Using larger needle, CO 10[11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 13, 14, 15] sts.
Work Rows 1- 34[36, 40, 44, 48, 48, 50, 50, 52] of Left Front Chart. 29[33, 37, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60] sts.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Back
Using larger needle, CO 49[51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65] sts.
Work Rows 1-34[36, 40, 44, 48, 48, 50, 50, 52] of Back Chart. 59[67, 75, 81, 89, 97, 105, 113, 121] sts.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Body
Joining round: With larger circ and RS facing, work Row 35[37, 41, 45, 49, 49, 51, 51, 53] of Right Front Chart across held Right Front sts, m1, work Row 35[37, 41, 45, 49, 49, 51, 51, 53] of Left Front Chart across held Left Front sts, pm, then work Row 35[37, 41, 45, 49, 49, 51, 51, 53] of Back Chart over held Back sts. Pm and join to work in the rnd. 118[134, 150, 162, 178, 194, 210, 226, 242] sts.

Next round: Work Rnd 1 of Body Chart to m, working 28-st repeat 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] times, sl m, work Rnd 1 of Body Chart to m, working 28-st repeat 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4] times.

Cont in Body Chart until Rnd 66[66, 64, 62, 61, 61, 63, 62, 60] has been completed. 126[142, 158, 170, 186, 202, 218, 234, 250] sts.

Change to smaller circ.

Rib inc rnd: Using MC, k1, m1, (p2, k2) to 2[2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] sts before m, p 2[2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] , sm, k 2[2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] , p1, m1p, (k2, p2) to end. 128[144, 160, 172, 188, 204, 220, 236, 252] sts.

Work in (k2, p2) rib as est for 8 rounds. BO loosely in patt.

SLEEVES (make 2)
Using MC and smaller needles for working small circumference in the round, CO 28[32, 32, 36, 36, 40, 40, 40, 44] sts. Pm and join to work in the rnd.

Rib rnd: (K2, p2) around.
Rep Rib rnd 8 times more.

Change to larger needles.

Sizes XS, S, M, 3X and 5X Only:
Inc round: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit 14[14, 11, -, -, -, 6, -, 4] sts rounds.
Repeat last 15[15, 12, -, -, -, 7, -, 5] rounds 5[5, 7, -, -, -, 13, -, 14] more times. 40[44, 48, -, -, -, 68, -, 74] sts.

Sizes L, 1X, 2X, and 4X Only:
Inc round: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit -[-, -, 8, 7, 7, -, 4, -] rounds.
Increase round: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit -[-, -, 9, 6, 6, -, 5, -] rounds.
Repeat last -[-, -, 19, 15, 15, -, 11, -] rows -[-, -, 4, 5, 5, -, 8, -] more times. -[-, -, 56, 60, 64, -, 76, -] sts.

Sizes 1X, 2X, and 3X Only:
Inc round: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts increased. -[-, -, -, 62, 66, 72, -, -] sts.

Size 5X Only:
Inc round: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1. 2 sts increased.
Knit 4 rounds.
Repeat last 5 rounds 2 more times. 80 sts.

All Sizes:
 40[44, 48, 56, 62, 66, 70, 76, 80] sts.

Work even in St st for 6[6, 0, 0, 3, 5, 0, 0, 6] rounds or until Sleeve measures desired length to underarm.

Shape sleeve cap:
Note: Begin to work flat.

Cont in St st, BO 2[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] at beg of next 2 rows, BO 0[2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at beg of foll 0[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] rows, BO 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] sts at beg of next 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2] rows, then BO 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0] at beg of next 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0] rows. 36[34, 34, 38, 42, 46, 42, 52, 54] sts.

Work in St st for 5 rows.
Decrease row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Rep last 6 rows 1[3, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2] times more. 32[26, 28, 32, 32, 40, 36, 46, 48] sts.

All Sizes except S:
Work in St st for 3 rows.
Work Decrease row.
Rep last 4 rows 0[-, 2, 2, 0, 2, 3, 3, 2] times more. 30[-, 22, 26, 30, 34, 28, 38, 42] sts.

All Sizes:
Purl 1 WS row.
Work Decrease row.
Rep last 2 rows 5[2, 0, 2, 2, 4, 3, 3, 6] times more. 18[20, 20, 20, 24, 24, 20, 30, 28] sts.

Cont in St st, BO 3[3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3] sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 2[3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 0, 5, 5] sts at beg of foll 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 0, 2, 2] rows. 8[8, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12] sts.

BO rem sts and break yarn, leaving about a 24-40 inch/60-100cm tail for seaming.

FINISHING

Sew shoulders and sleeves using mattress stitch.

Neckband
With RS facing, MC, and smaller short circ, pick up and knit 29[29, 31, 31, 31, 31, 35, 35, 35] sts across back neck, 33[37, 43, 43, 47, 51, 55, 55, 59] sts down left front neck, pick up and knit 1 st from centre front neck and place removeable m in this st, then 34[38, 44, 44, 48, 52, 56, 56, 60] sts up right front neck. Pm and join to work in the round. 96[104, 118, 118, 126, 134, 146, 146, 154] sts.

Round 1: (P2, k2) to 2 sts before marked st, p2, k1 in marked st, p 2[2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0] , (k2, p2) to end.

Round 2: Work in rib patt as est to 1 st before marked st, S2KPO, patt to end. 2 sts decreased.
Round 3: Work in rib patt as est to marked st, K1, work in rib patt as est to end.
Rep Rounds 2-3 2 times more, then rep Round 2 once more. 88[96, 110, 110, 118, 126, 138, 138, 146] sts.

BO in rib.

Sew in all ends and block to desired dimensions.

A - Shoulder width:  2.5[2.75, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75] inches / 6.5[7, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9, 8.5, 9, 9.5] cm
B - Cross Back width:  12.75[13.25, 13.75, 14.25, 14.75, 15.25, 15.75, 16.25, 16.75] inches / 32.5[33.5, 35, 36, 37.5, 38.5, 40, 41.5, 42.5] cm
C - Back neck width: 7.5[7.5, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9] inches / 19[19, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 20.5, 23, 23, 23] cm
D - Armhole depth: 7.5[8, 9, 9.75, 10.75, 10.75, 11, 11, 11.5] inches / 19[20.5, 23, 25, 27.5, 27.5, 28, 28, 29] cm
E - Chest circumference: 30.5[34.5, 38.75, 41.75, 46, 50, 54.25, 58.25, 62.5] inches / 77.5[87.5, 98.5, 106, 117, 127, 138, 148, 159] cm
F - Hip circumference:  32.5[36.75, 40.75, 43.75, 48, 52.25, 56.25, 60.5, 64.5] inches / 82.5[93.5, 103.5, 111, 122, 132.5, 143, 153.5, 164] cm
G - Body length:  16.75[16.75, 16.25, 15.75, 15.5, 15.5, 16, 15.75, 15.25] inches / 42.5[42.5, 41.5, 40, 39.5, 39.5, 40.5, 40, 38.5] cm
H - Sleeve length from armhole: 17.75[17.75, 17.75, 17.5, 17.25, 17.75, 18.25, 18.25, 17.75] inches / 45[45, 45, 44.5, 44, 45, 46.5, 46.5, 45] cm
I - Upper arm circumference:  11[12.25, 13.25, 15.5, 17, 18.25, 19.25, 21, 22] inches / 28[31, 33.5, 39.5, 43, 46.5, 47.5, 53.5, 56] cm
J - Wrist circumference (stretched):  7.75[8.75, 8.75, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 12.25] inches / 19.5[22, 22, 25.5, 25.5, 28, 28, 28, 31] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Kate designs out of San Diego, CA. Her work has been featured in Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, Noro magazine, and other publications.

She can be reached on Ravelry, Instagram, or her website.

Pattern & images © 2022 Kate Scalzo