INTRODUCTION

Carnivore

by Amy Gunderson

When I first started knitting back in about 2008, I couldn't knit enough socks. I ate. Them. Up. Knitty was my go-to as a resource for sock patterns because there were/are so many techniques represented in the variety of offerings. A memorable pattern for me was Baroque, designed by Janice Kang. Baroque is a beautiful display of twist stitch knitting in an all-over pattern, and is the gentle inspiration for this design.

Carnivore is knit from the bottom up in the round, and begins with a central twist stitch panel. It has a gentle A-line shape, and waist shaping occurs at princess lines. Front and back are divided at the armholes and knit flat. The central twist stitch panel is divided in two for a V-neck. The twist stitch cables flanking the divided twist stitch panels continue beyond the front as back neck extensions. They are sewn down along the back neckline to form edging. A tidy 2-stitch I-cord worked from the wrong side finishes the armholes.

model: Amy Gunderson

photos: Rachel Brockman

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X]
shown in size S with 0.5 inches/1.5 cm of negative ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust circumference: 29.25[33.5, 37.75, 42, 45.25, 49.5, 52.75, 57] inches/ 74.5[85, 96, 106.5, 115, 125.5, 134, 145] cm
Length from shoulder: 23.5[24, 24.5, 25, 25.25, 25.5, 25.75, 26] inches/ 59.5[61, 62, 63.5, 64, 65, 65.5, 66] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme [100% cotton; 180yd/165m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]; color: #640 Sulphur; 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #6/4mm circular needle, 32 inch/80 cm
1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 32 inch/80 cm
1 set US #6/4mm double pointed needles

Notions
8 stitch markers in different colors
stitch holders
yarn needle

GAUGE

19 sts/24 rounds/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.]

Right Twist (RT): K2tog but do not slip sts from needle, knit the first st again, slip both sts from needle.
Right Purl Twist (RPT): K2tog but do not slip st from needle, purl the first st again, slip both sts from needle.
Left Twist (LT): Knit the second st on the left needle through the back loop, knit the first st through the front loop, slip both sts from needle.
Left Purl Twist (LPT): Purl the second st on the left needle through the back loop, knit the first st through the front loop, slip both sts from needle.

Sloped Bind-Off: On the row before the bind-off row, slip the last st purlwise with yarn held in front. On the bind-off row, slip the first 2 sts purlwise with yarn held in back, pass the first slipped st over the second slipped st, bind off remaining stitches as usual.

I-Cord Bind-Off: Cast on 2 stitches to the first stitch on the left needle using the knitted method. *K1, k2tog tbl (1 st bound off), sl 2 sts back to left needle; repeat from * until all sts have been bound off. Bind off remaining 2 sts.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

BODY
With smaller circular needle, CO 174[194, 214, 234, 250, 270, 286, 306] sts. Pm and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Round 1: *P1, k1 tbl; repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 2-6: Repeat Round 1.

Switch to larger needle.
Next round: K 28[33, 38, 43, 47, 52, 56, 61] , pm, work Set-up Round 1 of Center Panel chart over next 32 sts, pm, k 28[33, 38, 43, 47, 52, 56, 61] , pm for side, k 87[97, 107, 117, 125, 135, 143, 153] . 1 st increased, 175[195, 215, 235, 251, 271, 287, 307] sts.
Next round: Knit to m, work Set-up Round 2 of Center Panel chart to m, knit to end of round.
Next round: Knit to m, work Set-up Round 3 of Center Panel chart to m, knit to end of round.
Work as est through Round 5 of Center Panel.

Shape Waist
Next round: K 27[30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 43, 46] , pm for shaping, k 1[3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15] sts to Center Panel m, work Round 6 of Center Panel to m, k 1[3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15] , pm for shaping, k 27[30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 43, 46] to side m, k 27[30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 43, 46] , pm for shaping, k 33[37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61] , pm for shaping, knit to end.

Decrease round: Knit to 2 sts before shaping m, ssk, sl m, work to next shaping m, sl m, k2tog, knit to side m; rep from * 1 more time. 4 sts decreased.
Repeat Decrease round every 8 rounds 8 more times. 139[159, 179, 199, 215, 235, 251, 271] sts remain.

Remove shaping markers.
Work even in patt until piece measures 14 inches/35.5 cm or desired length from cast-on edge, ending with any even numbered round except 2, 10, 20, or 26.

Set-up Neck Shaping:
Round 1: Knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, work next corresponding row of Left Front chart over 16 sts, pm, work Row 1 of Neck Prep chart, pm, work next corresponding row of Right Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, k1, k2tog, knit to end. 1 st decreased, 138[158, 178, 198, 214, 234, 250, 270] sts remain.
Round 2: [Work to m, sl m] 2 times, work Round 2 of Neck Prep chart to m, work to end. 1 st increased, 139[159, 179, 199, 215, 235, 251, 271] sts.
Round 3: Knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, work Left Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, sl m, work Right Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, k1, k2tog, knit to end.
Round 4: [Work to m, sl m] 2 times, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, work to end. 2 sts increased, 141[161, 181, 201, 217, 237, 253, 273] sts.
Round 5: Knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, work Left Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, sl m, work Right Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, k1, k2tog, knit to end.
Round 6: [Work to m, sl m] 2 times, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, work to end.
Round 7: Knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, work Left Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, sl m, work Right Front chart over 16 sts, sl m, k1, k2tog, knit to end. 1 st decreased, 140[160, 180, 200, 216, 236, 252, 272] sts remain.
Round 8: [Work to m, sl m, 2 times, work next row of Neck Prep chart to m, work to end. 1 st increased, 141[161, 181, 201, 217, 237, 253, 273] sts.

Divide Fronts and Back:
Break yarn. Sl next 36[41, 46, 51, 55, 60, 64, 69] Left Front sts to right needle, ending in the center of the Neck Prep chart. Attach yarn to next st.

Row 1 [RS]: Work Row 1 of Left Twist Column over 5 sts to m, sl m, work next row of Right Front chart to m, sl m, k1, k2tog (neck decrease), knit to 3[4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16] sts before side m, bind off next 6[8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32] underarm sts, knit across back sts to last 3[4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16] sts before side m, bind off next 6[8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32] underarm sts, knit across Left Front to 3 sts before m, ssk (neck decrease), k1, sl m, work Left Front chart to m, sl m, work Row 1 of Right Twist Column over 5 sts to end. 63[71, 77, 83, 87, 93, 97, 103] back sts remain, 32[36, 39, 42, 44, 47, 49, 52] sts remain each front. Place Back sts on holder. Place Right Front sts on separate holder.

Shape Left Front Armhole and Neck:
Note: The next row will be an even numbered/WS row. Odd numbered rows will be RS rows and are read from right to left. Even numbered rows will be WS rows and are read from left to right. READ AHEAD as shaping happens in two places at the same time.

Decrease for Armhole [WS]: Work Right Twist column to m, sl m, work Left Front chart to m, sl m, purl to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2. 1 st decreased, 31[35, 38, 41, 43, 46, 48, 51] sts remain.
Decrease for Armhole + Neck [RS]: K2, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sl m, work in patt to end. 2 sts decreased, 29[33, 36, 39, 41, 44, 46, 49] sts remain.

Continue to work an Armhole Decrease (k2tog on RS rows/p2tog on WS rows at Armhole edge) every row 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6] more times, then work an Armhole Decrease every RS row, 0[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4] times. At the same time, work a Neck Decrease (ssk before marker) every RS row, 7[8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9] more times. After all decreases are complete, 22[23, 25, 26, 27, 27, 28, 30] sts remain.

Work even in patt with no further decreases until Armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25] cm from the armhole bind-off, ending with WS row.

Shape Left Shoulder
Using the sloped bind off method (see Notes), bind off 5[6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] sts at the beginning of the next RS row, 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts at the beginning of the next RS row, and 6[6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9] sts at the beginning of the next RS row. 5 sts remain.

Work Back Neck Extension
Work even in Right Twist Column patt until piece measures 6[6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25] / 15.25[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] cm, ending with RS row. Place sts on holder.

Shape Right Front Armhole and Neck
Note: The next row will be an even numbered/WS row. Odd numbered rows will be RS rows and are read from right to left. Even numbered rows will be WS rows and are read from left to right.

Decrease for Armhole [WS]: P2, ssp, purl to m, sl m, work Right Front chart to m, sl m, work Left Twist column to end. 1 st decreased, 31[35, 38, 41, 43, 46, 48, 51] sts remain.
Decrease for Armhole + Neck [RS]: (Work in patt to m, sl m) 2 times, k1, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. 2 sts decreased, 29[33, 36, 39, 41, 44, 46, 49] sts remain.

Continue to work an Armhole Decrease (ssk on RS rows/ssp on WS rows at Armhole edge) every row 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6] more times, then work a Armhole Decrease every RS row, 0[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4] times. At the same time, work a Neck Decrease (k2tog after marker) every RS row, 7[8, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9] more times. After all decreases are complete, 22[23, 25, 26, 27, 27, 28, 30] sts remain.

Work even in patt with no further decreases until Armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25] cm, ending with RS row.

Shape Right Shoulder
Using the sloped method, bind off 5[6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] sts at the beginning of the next WS row, 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts at the beginning of the next WS row, and 6[6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9] sts at the beginning of the next WS row. 5 sts remain.

Work Back Neck Extension
Work even in Right Twist Column patt until piece measures 6[6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25] / 15.25[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] cm, ending with RS row. Graft sts together with other back neck extension using Kitchener stitch.

Shape Back Armholes
Return back sts to needle.
Decrease row [WS]: P2, ssp, purl to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2. 2 sts decreased.
Decrease row [RS]: K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. 2 sts decreased.
Continue to work a Decrease row every row, 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6] more times, then work a Decrease Row every RS row, 0[2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4] times. 59[63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 79] sts remain.

Work even in patt with no further decreases until Armhole measures 2[2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75] inches/ 5[6.5, 7.5, 9, 10, 11, 11.5, 12] cm, ending with WS row.

Shape Back Left Neck:
Row 1 [RS]: Knit across 26[27, 29, 30, 31, 31, 32, 34] back right sts, attach new ball of yarn and bind off center 7[9, 9, 9, 9, 11, 11, 11] sts, knit across remaining 26[27, 29, 30, 31, 31, 32, 34] back left sts. Place back right sts on holder.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2. 1 st decreased.
Row 3: K2, k2tog, knit to end. 1 st decreased. Continue to decrease 1 st every row, 2 more times, then decrease 1 st every RS row, 5 times. 17[18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26] sts remain.

Work even in Stockinette st until Armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25] cm, ending with RS row.

Shape Left Shoulder:
Using the sloped method, bind off 5[6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] sts at the beginning of the next WS row, 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts at the beginning of the next WS row, and 6[6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9] sts at the beginning of the next WS row.

Shape Back Right Neck:
Return back right sts to needle.
Row 1 [WS]: P2, ssp, purl to end. 1 st decreased.
Row 2 [RS]: Knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. 1 st decreased.
Continue to decrease 1 st every row, 2 more times, then decrease 1 st every RS row, 5 times. 17[18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26] sts remain.

Work even in Stockinette st until Armhole measures 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25] cm, ending with WS row.

Shape Right Shoulder:
Using the sloped method, bind off 5[6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8] sts at the beginning of the next RS row, 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] sts at the beginning of the next RS row, and 6[6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9] sts at the beginning of the next RS row.

FINISHING

Sew shoulder seams. Sew edge of back neck extensions to back neck, stretching to fit. Extensions will be shorter than the actual length of the back neck in order to not pucker.

Work Armhole Edging:
With dpns and RS facing, pick up and knit 72[84, 88, 102, 106, 120, 122, 126] sts evenly around armhole. Turn. Bind off all sts using the I-Cord method from the WS.

Weave in ends and block to finished measurements.

A: Hem circumference: 36.75[40.75, 45, 49.25, 52.75, 56.75, 60.25, 64.5] inches/ 93.5[103.5, 114.5, 125, 134, 144, 153, 164] cm
B: Chest circumference: 29.25[33.5, 37.75, 42, 45.25, 49.5, 52.75, 57] inches/ 74.5[85, 96, 106.5, 115, 125.5, 134, 145] cm
C: Neck to hem length: 23.5[24, 24.5, 25, 25.25, 25.5, 25.75, 26] inches/ 59.5[61, 62, 63.5, 64, 65, 65.5, 66] cm
D: Hem to underarm length: 15.5 inches/39.5 cm
E: Armhole depth: 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75] inches/ 18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25] cm
F: Shoulder width: 4.5[4.75, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 5.75, 6, 6.25] inches/ 11.5[12, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 14.5, 15, 16] cm
G: Back neck width: 3.75[4.25, 4.25, 4.25, 4.75 4.75, 4.75, , ] inches/ 9.5[11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, ] cm
H: Back neck extension: 6[6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25] / 15.25[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Amy Gunderson is creative director for Universal Yarn by day and dog cuddler by night. She also does a variety of freelance knit and crochet design, tech editing, and design work. Amy also loves to sew, weave, and do other assorted crafty and arty things and is constantly frustrated by the lack of time in which to do all of these things.

She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Kirk, and their adorable dogs Suzy and Charli. Find her on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2018 Amy Gunderson.