The Barbra, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com

INTRODUCTION

The Barbra

beauty shot by Mel Kennelly

Tangy

This pattern is inspired by one of my favorite vintage blouses. The bold graphic is worked with a combination of intarsia and stranded colorwork. This pullover uses a basic drop-shoulder construction. The front and back of sweater are knitted separately and then seamed at shoulders. Side seams are seamed, and sleeves are then picked up and worked in the round from the top down.

As Barbie-mania has gripped the world at the moment, you might want to swap out the orangey apricot color details for something in bright pink! The picture in the yarn section below shows what that might look like.

spacer model: Mel Kennelly

spacer photos: Margaux Hufnagel

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X]
shown in size M with 4-6 inches/10-15 cm of ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm: 35[38, 41.25, 44.25, 51.75, 56.5, 59.5, 64, 67, 73] / 89[96.5, 105, 112.5, 131.5, 143.5, 151, 162.5, 170, 185.5] cm
Length: 20.5 inches/53 cm for all sizes

MATERIALS

Yarn
Berroco Remix Light; [30% Nylon, 27% Cotton, 24% Acrylic, 10% Silk, 9% Linen; 432 yds/400 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein]
[MC1]#6949 Nightfall; 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] balls
[MC2] #6901 Birch; 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] ] balls
[CC] #6997 Apricot; 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] balls

Yarn Characteristics
Remix Light is a lightweight DK yarn made from recycled fibers (a blend of cotton, nylon, acrylic, silk, and linen). The airiness from the small amount of linen and silk is what gives this fabric such a soft breezy hand. If choosing a substitute, look for a cotton blend or a airy wool to keep the fabric weight down.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US 5/3.75mm needles for working flat
1 set US 5/3.75mm double-pointed needles, or preferred needles for working small circumferences

Notions
stitch markers
scissors
yarn needle

Editor's note: this is what the design details might look like if you choose a bright pink instead of the apricot

GAUGE

21 sts/ 33 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: This pullover is a basic drop-shoulder construction. Front and back of sweater are knitted bottom up separately and then seamed at shoulders. Side seams are then seamed, and sleeves are picked up and worked from the top down.

Techniques:

Intarsia (video) or Stranded Colorwork worked flat (video)

CHARTS

View and download the CHART here

DIRECTIONS

FRONT
Work ribbing:
Using CC, cast on 94[102, 110, 118, 138, 150, 158, 170, 178, 194] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: *K2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: *P2, k2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until ribbing measures 2 inches/5 cm, ending after a WS row.

Work body:
Row 1 [RS]: Using MC1, k 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] , drop MC1 and knit remaining k 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] sts with MC2.
Row 2 [WS]: Using MC2, p 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] , change to MC1 and secure by wrapping yarns together, p 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] .

Repeat Rows 1-2 until front measures 4.5 inches/ 11.25 cm from cast on edge, ending after a WS row.

Row 3 [RS]: With MC1, k 27[31, 35, 39, 49, 55, 59, 65, 69, 76] , pm, work Row 1 of chart, pm, knit to end of row with MC2.
Row 4 [WS]: With MC2, purl to marker, sm, work next row of chart, sm, purl to end of row with MC1.
Row 5: With MC1, knit to marker, sm, work next row of chart, sm, knit to end of row with MC2.
Repeat Rows 4-5 until chart is completed.

Row 6 [RS]: Using MC2, p 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] , change to MC1, purl to end of row.

Work Neck shaping:
Row 1 [RS]: k 37[41, 45, 49, 59, 65, 69, 75, 79, 87] BO 20 sts (changing to MC2 after 10 sts and breaking MC1), knit to end of row.

Work Right shoulder:
Row 2 [WS]: Purl until last 2 sts, p2tog. 36[40, 44, 48, 58, 64, 68, 74, 78, 86] sts.
Row 3 [RS]: K2tog, knit to end of row. 35[39, 43, 47, 57, 63, 67, 73, 77, 85] sts.
Repeat Rows 2-3 12 more times. 11[15, 19, 23, 33, 39, 43, 49, 53, 61] sts.
Bind off all sts.

Work Left shoulder:
Attach MC2 on the outer edge of left shoulder section.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit until last 2 sts, k2tog. 36[40, 44, 48, 58, 64, 68, 74, 78, 86] sts.
Row 2: P2tog, purl to end of row. 35[39, 43, 47, 57, 63, 67, 73, 77, 85] sts.

Repeat Rows 1-2 12 more times. 11[15, 19, 23, 33, 39, 43, 49, 53, 61] sts.
Bind off all sts.

BACK
Work Ribbing:
Using CC, cast on 94[102, 110, 118, 138, 150, 158, 170, 178, 194] sts.

Row 1 [RS]: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 [WS]: *P2, k2; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1-2 until your piece measures 2 inches/5 cm from cast on edge, ending after a WS row.

Work Body:
Row 1 [RS]: Using MC1, k 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] , drop MC1 and knit the next 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] sts with MC2.
Row 2 [WS]: Using MC2, p 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] , change to MC1 and secure by wrapping yarns together, p 47[51, 55, 59, 69, 75, 79, 85, 89, 97] .
Repeat Rows 1-2 until BACK measures 19.75 inches/ 50 cm from cast on edge, ending after a WS row.
Row 3: K 17[21, 25, 29, 39, 45, 49, 55, 59, 67] , BO 60 sts (changing to MC 2 after 30 sts and breaking MC1), knit to end of row.

Work Left shoulder:
Row 4 [WS]: Using MC2, purl to last 2 sts, p2tog, 16[20, 24, 28, 38, 44, 48, 54, 58, 66] sts.
Row 5 [RS]: K2tog, knit to end of row 15[19, 23, 27, 37, 43, 47, 53, 57, 65] sts.
Repeat Rows 4-5 2 more times 11[15, 19, 23, 33, 39, 43, 49, 53, 61] sts.
BO all sts.

Work Right shoulder:
Rejoin MC1 to beginning of row.
Row 1 [RS]: Knit to last 2 sts, k2tog, 16[20, 24, 28, 38, 44, 48, 54, 58, 66] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: P2tog, purl to end of row, 15[19, 23, 27, 37, 43, 47, 53, 57, 65] sts.
Repeat Rows 4-5, 2 more times 11[15, 19, 23, 33, 39, 43, 49, 53, 61] sts.
BO all sts.

Join Front and Back:
With right sides together, match up back and front shoulders, attach along shoulder seams using mattress stitch.

Sew side seams together, leaving a 6.5[7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inch / 16.5[18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5] cm armhole on each side.

Sleeves
Using DPN or circular needles, pick up and knit 34[36, 40, 42, 44, 48, 48, 50, 52, 56] sts on the front of the armhole, and 34[36, 40, 42, 44, 48, 48, 50, 52, 56] sts on the back using the corresponding color to the side you are working on. Pm and join to work in the round. 68[72, 80, 84, 88, 96, 96, 100, 104, 112] sts.

Work in the round in St st until sleeves measures 15 inches/38 cm or 1 inch/2.5 cm less than desired sleeve length from pickup round, matching the MC to the side you are working (ie, on the side that is MC2, use MC2 for sleeve).

Work Sleeve Ribbing:
Switch to CC.
Round 1 [RS]: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end of row.
Round 2 [WS]: *P2, k2; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until ribbing measures 1 inch/2.5 cm.

BO all sts in pattern.

Neck
With RS facing, using dpns or circular needle, and beginning at left shoulder seam, pick up and knit 6 sts along left front neck edge, pick up and knit 20 sts from front BO, pick up and knit 6 sts along right front neck edge, then pick up and knit 52 sts from back. Place marker and join for working in the round. 84 sts for all sizes.

Work even in k2, p2 ribbing to end of round, sm. Continue working in this manner until ribbing is 1 inch/2.5 cm. Bind off in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block as desired.

A – Armhole depth: 6.5[7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5] inch/ 16.5[18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 23.5, 24, 25.5, 26.5] cm
B – Body length from underarm: 13.75[13.25, 12.75, 12.25, 11.75, 11.25, 11, 10.75, 10.25, 9.75] inches/ 35[33.5, 32.5, 31, 30, 28.5, 28, 27.5, 26, 25] cm
C – Shoulder width: 2[2.75, 3.5, 4.25, 6.25, 7.5, 8.25, 9.25, 10, 11.5] inches/ 5[7, 9, 11, 16, 19, 21, 23.5, 25.5, 29] cm
D – Neck width: 8.5 inches/21.5 cm
E – Body width: 18[19.5, 21, 22.5, 26.25, 28.5, 30, 32.5, 34, 37] inches/ 45.5[49.5, 53.5, 57, 66.5, 72.5, 76, 82.5, 86.5, 94] cm
F – Sleeve length: 16 inches/40.5 cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Mel Kennelly is new to the knitwear design world. She just finished up her Master of Science at the University of Rhode Island for textile history and conservation. Knitting was the activity she used to help unwind from school, but now it's her full-time gig at Berroco Yarns! When left to her own devices, her designs have an affinity for retro silhouettes and bold patterns. She loves to knit everywhere she goes but her favorite place to create is on her couch with her cattle dog, Blaze, resting on her feet.

Find more of her work on Ravelry.