Daydream, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Daydream

beauty shot

by Angeline Webb

Mellow

The Daydream sweater is perfect for those laid-back days when you want to feel cozy without sacrificing style. Its relaxed fit drapes beautifully, giving it that comfy, lived-in look. The simply shaped, roomy modified drop sleeves add to its easygoing charm making it the ideal choice for layering over leggings, jeans, or even your favorite loungewear. The Daydream Sweater offers just the right amount of texture and warmth, whether you’re sipping coffee on a chilly morning or curled up with a good book.

spacer model + photos: Angeline Webb

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size L with 5.5 inches/14 cm of positive ease at underarm; 3.5 inches/9 cm of positive ease at fullest part of chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 31.25[35.25, 38.5, 42.5, 48, 51.25, 57.5, 60, 64] inches / 79[89.5, 97.5, 107.5, 122, 130, 146.5, 152.5, 162.5] cm
Length: 19.5[20, 20.25, 20.5, 20.75, 21, 21, 21.5, 21.5] inches / 49.5[51, 51.5, 52, 52.5, 53.5, 53.5, 54.5, 54.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Knit Picks Heatherly Sport [80% acrylic, 20% wool; 328yds/300m per 3.5oz/100g hank]; color: Atmosphere; 4[4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] hanks

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a sport-weight 4-ply acrylic and wool blend. The yarn is smooth and soft. A 100% synthetic or 100% wool would be an equally good substitute.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #6/4mm circular needle, 32-inch/80cm long or longer
US #6/4mm needles for working short circumference in the round
US #6/4mm circular needle, 16-inch/40cm length (for collar)
US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 32-inch/80cm long or longer
US #7/4.5mm needles for working short circumference in the round

Notions
stitch markers, including 2 removable
scrap yarn or stitch holders
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

20 sts/26 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Stockinette Stitch on US #7/4.5mm needles

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

Construction method: The sweater body is knit from top to bottom. Knitting begins with back shoulders worked back and forth to underarms before putting stitches on a holder. Stitches are then picked up for front shoulders and worked back and forth to underarms where front and back are joined and worked in rounds down to lower hem. The sleeves are then picked up directly from the body and, after working the caps back and forth, are then joined to work in rounds down to the cuffs.

Fit: The sweater is best worn with 2-4 inches/5-10 cm of positive ease; select a finished circumference that provides this amount of ease.

Garter Stitch (worked in the round)
Rnd 1: Purl all sts.
Rnd 2: Knit all sts.
Rep Rnds 1-2 for pattern.

2x2 Rib (worked in the round, over a multiple of 4 sts)
Rnd 1: (K2, p2) around.
Rep this rnd for patt.

Techniques:

The long-tail cast-on is used for the Back to create a firm shoulder seam.
A simple backwards loop cast-on is used for neck and underarm shaping.
LT: slip 1 st to cn and hold to front, k1, k1 from cn
RT: slip 1 st to cn and hold to back, k1, k1 from cn

CHART

Neck Detail Chart (written instructions)
Row 1 [RS]: LT, knit to 2 sts before next m, RT.
Row 2 and every foll WS row: Purl.
Row 3: k1, LT, k8, RT, k1.
Row 5: k2, LT, k6, RT, k2.
Row 7: k3, LT, k4, RT, k3.
Row 9: k4, LT, k2, RT, k4.
Row 11: k5, LT, RT, k5.
Row 13: k6, RT, k6.
Row 15: k5, RT, LT, k5.
Row 17: k4, RT, k2, LT, k4.
Row 18 [WS]: Purl.

DIRECTIONS

BACK
With larger long circ, CO 66[72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 92, 94, 104] sts using long-tail cast-on method.

Work even in St st for 43[45, 49, 53, 55, 59, 61, 65, 69] rows, ending after a WS row.

Break yarn and place all sts on holder.

Right Front Shoulder
With RS of Back facing and using larger circ, pick up and knit 15[18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 34] sts from the first 15[18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 34] CO sts of Back.
Work even in St st for 5 rows, ending after a WS row.

Shape right front neck:
Inc row [RS]: Knit to last st, M1L, k1. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows 2 times more, then rep Inc row once more. 19[22, 24, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 38] sts.

Next row [WS]: CO 2 sts at beg of row, purl to end. 21[24, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 40] sts.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Next row [WS]: CO 3 sts at beg of row, purl to end. 24[27, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 43] sts.
Next row [RS]: Knit.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Left Front Shoulder
With RS of Back facing and using larger circ, pick up and knit 15[18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 34] sts from the last 15[18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 34] CO sts of Back.
Work even in St st for 5 rows, ending after a WS row.

Shape left front neck:
Inc row [RS]: K1, M1R, knit to end. 1 st increased.
Next row [WS]: Purl to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. 19[22, 24, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 38] sts.

Next row [RS]: CO 2 sts at beg of row, knit to end. 21[24, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 40] sts.
Next row [WS]: Purl.
Next row [RS]: CO 3 sts at beg of row, knit to end. 24[27, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 43] sts.

Join Fronts:
Joining row [WS]: P 24[27, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 43] across Left Shoulder sts, CO 18 sts for center neck, p 24[27, 29, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 43] sts from held Right Shoulder sts. 66[72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 92, 94, 104] sts.

Place removable stitch markers at each end of center 14 sts of Front.

Neck Detail
Work in St st for 18 rows, working Neck Detail Chart over 14 sts between markers.

Work even in St st for 8[10, 14, 18, 20, 24, 26, 30, 34] rows, ending after a WS row.

Lower Body
Joining Row [RS]: Knit across 66[72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 92, 94, 104] Front sts, CO 6[8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 28] sts, pm, CO 6[8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 28] sts, k across 66[72, 76, 82, 84, 88, 92, 94, 104] Back sts, CO 6[8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 28] sts, pm for beg of rnd, CO 6[8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 28] sts and join to work in the rnd. 156[176, 192, 212, 240, 256, 288, 300, 320] sts.

Knit to new beg of rnd m, then work even in St st for 67[67, 65, 64, 62, 60, 57, 57, 54] rnds more.

Work in Garter St for 4 rnds, beginning with a purl rnd.

Change to smaller circ and work even in 2x2 Rib for 12 rnds.

BO all sts loosely in patt.

Sleeves
With RS facing and using larger needles for working short circumference in the round, pick up and knit 66[70, 76, 80, 86, 90, 96, 100, 106] sts from vertical armhole edge, from corner to corner (do not pick up sts along underarm cast-on; this is approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows). Do not join.

Work even in St st for 7[7, 9, 11, 13, 13, 19, 19, 23] rows.

Next row [RS]: Knit to end, CO 1[1, 2, 2, 6, 8, 8, 10, 8] sts, pm for new beg of rnd, CO 1[1, 2, 2, 6, 8, 8, 10, 8] sts. Join to work in the rnd and knit to new beg of rnd. 68[72, 80, 84, 98, 106, 112, 120, 122] sts.

Dec rnd [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.

Cont in St st, rep Dec rnd every 8[8, 6, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2] rnds 3[11, 15, 4, 24, 2, 8, 15, 17] more times, then every 10[0, 0, 6, 0, 4, 4, 4, 4] rnds 6[0, 0, 13, 0, 24, 21, 18, 17] times. 48[48, 48, 48, 48, 52, 52, 52, 52] sts.

Work even in St st for 7[5, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] rnd(s).

Work Garter St for 4 rnds, beginning with a purl rnd.

Change to smaller size needle and work even in 2x2 Rib for 12 rnds. BO all sts loosely in patt.

Repeat for other sleeve.

Collar
With circ for collar, RS facing, and beg at neck edge of left shoulder, pick up and knit 9 sts down left neck edge, 18 sts across center neck, 9 sts up right neck edge, and 36 sts across back neck. Pm and join to work in the round. 72 sts.

Work even in 2x2 Rib for 8 rnds.

BO all sts loosely in patt.

FINISHING

Sew underarm seam. Weave in ends and block to measurements.

A—Chest circumference: 31.25[35.25, 38.5, 42.5, 48, 51.25, 57.5, 60, 64] inches/ 79.5[89.5, 98, 108, 122, 130, 146, 152.5, 162.5] cm
B—Back neck width: 7.25 inches /18.5 cm
C—Shoulder width: 3[3.5, 4, 4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6.75] inches/ 7.5[9, 10, 11.5, 12, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 17] cm
D—Front neck drop: 2.5 inches /6.5 cm
E—Upper arm circumference: 13.5[14.5, 16, 16.75, 19.5, 21.25, 22.5, 24, 24.5] inches / 34.5[37, 40.5, 42.5, 49.5, 54, 57, 61, 62] cm
F—Sleeve length: 17.75[18.25, 18.5, 19.5, 19.75, 20.25, 21.25, 21.5, 22.25] inches/ 45[46.5, 47, 49, 49.5, 50, 51.5, 54, 54.5] cm
G—Cuff circumference (stretched): 9.5[9.5, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5] inches / 24[24, 24, 24, 24, 26.5, 26.5, 26.5, 26.5] cm
H—Armhole length: 6.5[7, 7.5, 8.25, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inches/ 16.5[18, 19, 21, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5] cm
I—Body length: 13[13, 12.75, 12.5, 12.25, 12, 11.5, 11.5, 11] inches/ 33[33, 32.5, 32, 31, 30.5, 29, 29, 28] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Angeline is a US-based designer whose knitwear designs have been published by Knit Picks, Knitty, Circulo, as well as independently on Ravelry. She is an active member in her local yarn group where she teaches knitting techniques and encourages fellow fiber artists.

Find her on Ravelry.