Vandalia: Knitty First Fall 2012

by Berroco Design Team

A feminine and easy fitting pullover in an easy texture. An offset keyhole detailing at the neckline is enhanced by a large decorative button.

The yarn used, Berroco Elements, boasts a unique two-toned effect. A shimmering nylon mesh encloses soft wool, allowing the fibers to peek through and create a gentle halo of color.

And the name? The subtle brick pattern of the sweater reminded us a little of this historic home, in Vandalia, IL.

photos: Chris Vaccaro


SIZE XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size S with 2 inches of ease)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 34[38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58] inches
Length: 24[24, 25, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 27] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Berroco Elements [51% Wool, 49% Nylon; 153 yds per 50 g ball]; color: Rubidium; 6[6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] balls

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #6/4 mm straight needles
1 set US #8/5 mm straight needles
16-inch US #6/4 mm circular needle

Notions
stitch holder
yarn needle
1 1.25-inch button or decorative pin

GAUGE

18 sts/25 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on larger needles
28 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in k2, p2 ribbing on smaller needles

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

Pattern Stitch
(Multiple of 4 +2 sts)
Row 1 [RS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [WS]: K all sts.
Row 3 [RS]: K2, *p2, k2, rep from * across.
Row 4 [WS]: P2, *k2, p2, rep from * across.
Rep these 4 rows for Patt St

DIRECTIONS

Back
With smaller straight needles, CO 118[134, 146, 162, 174, 190, 202] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, * p2, k2, repeat from * across.

Row 2 [WS]: P2, * k2, p2, repeat from * across.

Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 3 inches from beg, ending with a RS row.

Next row [WS]: Change to larger needles and p the next row, decreasing 40[48, 52, 56, 60, 68, 72] sts evenly spaced across the row. 78[86, 94, 106, 114, 122, 130] sts.

Work even in Patt St until piece measures 15[15, 15.5, 15.5, 16, 16, 16] inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes:
Continue to work in Patt St throughout armhole shaping.

BO 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts at beg of the next 2 rows, then BO 2 sts at beg of the following 2 rows. 64[72, 78, 90, 96, 104, 110] sts.

Decrease row [RS]: K1, k2 tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 62[70, 76, 88, 94, 102, 108] sts. 2 sts decreased.

Next row [WS]: Work even.

Rep these 2 rows 4[7, 6, 10, 11, 13, 13] times more. 54[56, 64, 68, 72, 76, 82] sts. 8[14, 12, 20, 22, 26, 26] sts decreased.

Work even until armholes measure 7.5[7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Shoulder shaping:

BO 2[2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts at beg of the next 4 rows, then 1[2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7] sts at beg of the next 2 rows.

BO remaining 44 sts for back neck.

FRONT
Work front same as back until armholes measure 3.5[3.5, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 5, 5.5] inches, ending with a WS row. 54[56, 64, 68, 72, 76, 82] sts.

Divide for Neck Opening:
Next Row [RS]: Work 14[16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26] sts, join another ball of yarn and work to end.

Working both sides of the neck at once using separate balls of yarn, work even until armholes measure 6.5[6.5, 7, 7.5, 7.5. 8, 8.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape Neck:
Next Row [RS]: Work 14[16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28] sts, sl remaining 40[40, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54] sts to holder for right hand side.

Left side:
BO 5 sts at beg of the next row, then dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4 times. 5[7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19] sts.

Work even until armhole measures 7.5[7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

Shape left shoulder: BO 2[2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts at armhole edge twice, then BO 1[2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7] sts at armhole edge once.

Right side: With RS facing, sl 40[40, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54] sts from holder to larger needle. Join yarn and BO 31 sts, work to end.

Dec 1 st at neck edge every RS row 4 times. 5[7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19] sts.

Work even until armhole measures 7.5[7.5, 8, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches, ending with a RS row.

Shape right shoulder:
BO 2[2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6] sts at armhole edge twice, then BO 1[2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7] sts at armhole edge once.

SLEEVES (make 2 the same)
With smaller straight needles, CO 70 sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K2, * p2, k2, repeat from * across.

Row 2 [WS]: P2, * k2, p2, repeat from * across.

Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 3 inches from beg, ending with a RS row.

Change to larger needles and p the next row, decreasing 24 sts evenly spaced across the row. 46 sts.

Work in Patt St until sleeve measures 4 inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Increase row [RS]: K1, M1k, work to last st, M1k, k1. 48 sts. 2 sts increased.

Rep Increase row every 2.25[1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5] inches 3[5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16] times more, working increases into Patt St. 54[58, 62, 68, 72, 76, 80] sts. 6[10, 14, 20, 24, 28, 32] sts increased.

Work even until sleeve measures 12 inches from beg, ending with a WS row.

Sleeve cap shaping:
BO 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts at beg of the next 2 rows, then 2 sts at beg of the next 2 rows. 40[44, 46, 52, 54, 58, 60] sts.

Dec 1 st each side every 4th row 2[0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0] times, then every RS row 10[14, 12, 15, 15, 17, 17] times, ending with a WS row. 16[16, 20, 22, 24, 24, 26] sts. 24[28, 26, 30, 30, 34, 34] sts decreased.

BO 2[2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3] sts at beg of the next 2 rows.

BO rem 12[12, 16, 16, 16, 16, 20] sts.

FINISHING
Sew shoulder seams. Sew in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams.

Neckband:
With RS facing and using circular needle, beg at bottom of keyhole neck opening, pick up and knit 15 sts up right edge of keyhole neck opening, 31 sts across front neck edge, 13 sts up right front neck shaping, 44 sts across back neck edge, 13 sts down left front neck shaping, 5 sts across front neck edge, then 15 sts down left edge of neck opening. Pm for beg of rnd. 136 sts.

Purl 1 rnd.

BO all sts purlwise.

Place top right edge of neck opening over top left edge of neck opening so that they overlap slightly and sew button or fasten pin through both thicknesses.

ABOUT THE DESIGNERS

designername Left to right, Brenda York, Amanda Keep, Norah Gaughan. They work here.

Awesome.