Mountain, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Montanha Azul

beauty shot

by Isabel Nascimento

Tangy

Montanha Azul means "blue mountain" in Portuguese. It's a warm and comfortable winter sweater. The inspiration for this piece came from the beauty of the sky and the delicacy of snowflakes combined with a rustic Portuguese wool. A very simple design in terms of construction, combined with an equally simple slip-stitch pattern that adorns the front of the piece, makes it a unique item where each knitter can adapt the colors and dimensions to their personal taste.

spacer model + photos: Isabel Nascimento

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X/2X, 3X, 4X/5X, 6X]
shown in size S with 4 inches/10 cm of ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Front chest width: 17[19.5, 22, 24.5, 27, 29.5, 32, 34.5] inches / 43[49.5, 56, 62, 68.5, 75, 81.5, 87.5] cm
Length: 15.25[15.25, 16.25, 16.25, 16.25, 17.25, 17.25, 18.25] inches/ 38.5[38.5, 41.5, 41.5, 41.5, 44, 44, 46.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Alentejo woll (Alentajo wool) Rosários 4 [100% wool; 131 yd/120 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]
Yarn A (Natural; 01): 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins
Yarn B(Blue; 33): 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a worsted-weight yarn made of rustic 100% wool. Any wool or wool blend of the correct weight should work, though superwash wool may allow the garment to stretch out of shape.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
Set of US #10/6 mm needles for working flat
Set of US #10/6 mm needles for working short circumference in the round

Notions
stitch marker
yarn needle

GAUGE

16 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch
14 sts/22 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Stockinette stitch

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method:
The piece is worked starting from the bottom of the Front. The Front is worked in two colors using the slip stitch technique to form the pattern. After reaching the neckline, each shoulder is worked separately. The shoulders are continued and stitches cast on at the Back Neck to work the Back from the top (shoulders) down, and in only one colour. Once the Front and Back are completed, the collar is picked up and worked in rib. The side seams are joined, leaving an opening for each sleeve. The wide and long sleeves are worked in the round from the top down without decreases. The very high collar is picked up from the neck opening and worked in the round in K1, P1 rib.

Technique:
- working 2 rows of slipped stitches in one row (video tutorial)

CHARTS

Row 1 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 2 [RS]: With yarn B, knit to end of row.
Row 3 [WS]: With yarn A, p3, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyif, p3. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 4 [WS]: With yarn B, purl to end of row.
Row 5 [RS]: With yarn A, k3, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyib, k3. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 6 [RS]: With yarn B, knit to end of row.
Rows 7-8 [WS]: Repeat Rows 3-4.
Row 9 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 10 [RS]: With yarn B, k8, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyib, k8.
Row 11 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 12 [WS]: With yarn B, p8, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyif, p8.
Rows 13-14 [RS]: Repeat Rows 9-10.
Row 15 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 16 [WS]: With yarn B, purl to end of row.
Row 17 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 18 [RS]: With yarn B, k3, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyib, k3.
Row 19 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 20 [WS]: With yarn B, p3, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyif, p3.
Rows 21-22 [RS]: Repeat Rows 17-18.
Row 23 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 24 [WS]: With yarn B, purl to end of row.
Row 25 [RS]: With yarn A, k8, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyib, k8. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 26 [RS]: With yarn B, knit to end of row.
Row 27 [WS]: With yarn A, p8, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyif, p8. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 28 [WS]: With yarn B, purl to end of row.
Rows 29-30 [RS]: Repeat Rows 25-26.
Row 31 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 32 [WS]: With yarn B, p3, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyif, p3.
Row 33 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 34 [RS]: With yarn B, k3, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyib, k3.
Row 35 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 36 [WS]: With yarn B, p3, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 6 sts, sl3 wyif, p3.
Row 37 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 38 [RS]: With yarn B, knit to end of row.
Row 39 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 40 [WS]: With yarn B, p8, (sl3 wyif, p7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyif, p8.
Row 41 [RS]: With yarn A, knit to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 42 [RS]: With yarn B, k8, (sl3 wyib, k7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyib, k8.
Row 43 [WS]: With yarn A, purl to end of row. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 44 [WS]: With yarn B, p8, (sl3 wyif, k7) to last 11 sts, sl3 wyif, p8.

DIRECTIONS

FRONT
With circular needle and yarn A, cast on 69[79, 89, 99, 109, 119, 129, 139] sts. Do not join.

Begin pattern stitch following chart or written instructions above.

Repeat Rows 1-44 until work measures approx. 14[14, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 17] inches / 35.5[35.5, 38, 38, 38, 40.5, 40.5, 43] cm, or desired length to neckline, ending after an even-numbered WS row.

Place center 21 sts on stitch holder for centre Front neck. Place last 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] sts on a separate holder for Right Front Neck.

Shape left front neck:
Note: Continue working in pattern stitch as established during neck shaping.

Row 1 [RS]: Patt 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] . Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] .
Row 3 [WS]: Patt 3 and place these sts on holder, patt to end. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 4 [WS]: Patt 3 and place these sts on holder, patt to end.
Row 5 [RS]: Patt 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] . Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 6 [RS]: Patt 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] .
Row 7 [WS]: Patt to end. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 8 [WS]: Patt to end.

Work even in patt if necessary until work measures 15.25[15.25, 16.25, 16.25, 16.25, 17.25, 17.25, 18.25] inches / 38.5[38.5, 41.5, 41.5, 41.5, 44, 44, 46.5] cm from cast-on edge, or 1.25 inch / 3 cm from center front neck holder.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Shape right front neck:
Join yarn to 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] sts held for Right Front neck with RS facing for next row.

Row 1 [RS]: Patt 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] . Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt 24[29, 34, 39, 44, 49, 54, 59] .
Row 3 [WS]: Patt to last 3 sts, place last 3 sts on holder. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 4 [WS]: Patt to last 3 sts, place last 3 sts on holder.
Row 5 [RS]: Patt 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] . Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 6 [RS]: Patt 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] .
Row 7 [WS]: Patt to end. Do not turn; slide sts back to opposite end of needle.
Row 8 [WS]: Patt to end.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Back
Next row [RS]: With yarn B, k 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] sts from left shoulder holder, cast on 33 sts, k 18[23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48, 53] sts from right shoulder holder. 69[79, 89, 99, 109, 119, 129, 139] sts.

Cont over these sts in St st until Back measures 15.25[15.25, 16.25, 16.25, 16.25, 17.25, 17.25, 18.25] inches / 38.5[38.5, 41.5, 41.5, 41.5, 44, 44, 46.5] cm or the same length as Front.

BO all sts.

Collar
Note: For a looser fit of the collar, pick up 1-5 additional stitches at each side of the front neck and 1-5 additional stitches across the back neck. Make sure to end with an even number of stitches.
 With yarn A, circular needle, and RS facing, picking up from inside the edge stitch, pick up and knit 9 sts down left front neck, knit across 21 held sts of center front neck, pick up and knit between 9 sts up right front neck, pick up and knit between 33 sts across back neck. 72 sts.

Rib rnd: (K1, p1) around.
Rep Rib rnd until collar measures 7 in/18 cm.

BO loosely in patt.

Sleeves
Fold body so WS are together and cast-on/bind-off edges are aligned at bottom. Join side seams from 9[8.5, 9, 8.75, 8.25, 9, 8, 8] inches / 23[21.5, 23, 22, 21, 23, 20.5, 20.5] cm below shoulder fold to bottom hem, leaving an armhole opening approx. 6.25[6.75, 7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.25, 9.25, 10.25] inches / 16[17, 18.5, 19, 20.5, 21, 23.5, 26] cm long on each side.

Left Sleeve
With yarn A and needles for working short circumference in the round, starting at the centre of underarm, pick up and knit 22[24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 36] sts up front armhole edge, then 22[24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 36] sts down back armhole edge. Pm and join to work in the rnd. 44[48, 50, 52, 56, 58, 64, 72] sts.

Work even in St st until Sleeve measures 17[17, 17, 17, 17, 16, 16, 15] inches / 43[43, 43, 43, 43, 40.5, 40.5, 38] cm.

Bind off.

Right Sleeve
With yarn A and needles for working short circumference in the round, starting at centre of underarm, pick up and knit 22[24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 36] sts up back armhole edge, then 22[24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 36] sts down front armhole edge. Pm and join to work in the rnd. 44[48, 50, 52, 56, 58, 64, 72] sts.

Work even in St st until Sleeve measures 17[17, 17, 17, 17, 16, 16, 15] inches / 43[43, 43, 42, 42, 41, 41, 38] cm.

Bind off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block to measurements.

A—Front chest width: 17[19.5, 22, 24.5, 27, 29.5, 32, 34.5] inches / 43[49.5, 56, 62, 68.5, 75, 81.5, 87.5] cm
B—Back chest width: 19.5[22.25, 25.25, 28, 30.75, 33.75, 36.5, 39.5] inches / 49.5[56.5, 64, 71, 78, 85.5, 92.5, 100.5] cm
C—Length: 15.25[15.25, 16.25, 16.25, 16.25, 17.25, 17.25, 18.25] inches / 38.5[38.5, 41.5, 41.5, 41.5, 44, 44, 46.5] cm
D—Sleeve circumference: 12.5[13.75, 14.25, 14.75, 16, 16.5, 18.25, 20.5] inches / 32[35, 36, 37.5, 40.5, 42, 46.5, 52] cm
E—Sleeve length: 17[17, 17, 17, 17, 16, 16, 15] inches / 43[43, 43, 43, 43, 40.5, 40.5, 38] cm
F—Back neck width: 9.5 inches / 24 cm
G—Wingspan: 51[53.5, 56, 58.5, 61, 61.5, 64, 64.5] inches / 129.5[136, 142, 148.5, 155, 156, 162.5, 164] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Isabel Nascimento is passionate about knitwear design. She's an engineer by profession, and divides her free time between yoga and knit design. She's 51 years old and the mother of two children.

Find more of her designs on Ravelry.