  by
Kristin Spurkland
Knit in one piece, this flirty shell
requires almost no finishing. Just join the shoulders,
work in yarn ends, and you're done!
I suggest adding some embellishment
around the neckline--if you're going to wear a deep
V neckline, you may as well go for it and draw a bit
more attention to yourself.
I have made this shell twice. The
first time I embellished with teardrop shaped beads
from a bead store; the second time a glass pendant
from a necklace with a broken chain.
The shell should be fitted. Knit
it to your bust size or slightly smaller.
NOTES
Work all decs 2 sts
in from selvage.
Example: K2, K2tog, knit to last
4 sts, SSK, K2.
Using a row counter will make the
armhole and neck shaping much easier. You could also
track your rows with paper and pencil. Whatever you
do, I strongly recommend that you find some system
to track the shaping. Your shell will fit better and
be more fun to knit if you do!
Front armhole is worked slightly
longer than back. This creates a back neck drop when
the shoulder seams are sewn, but without having to
work any back neck shaping.
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model: Kristin
Spurkland
photo: Todd
Jackson |
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| XS [S, M, L, XL, XXL] - shown in
size S |
| |
Chest: 32.5 [35, 37.75, 40.5,
43, 45.75] inches
Length: 18.75 [18.75, 19.75, 20.75, 21.75, 21.75]
inches |
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Rowan Kidsilk Haze [70% super
kid mohair, 30% silk; 210m
(229yds) per 25g skein];
color: 595 Liqueur; 3 [3, 4, 4, 5, 5] skeins (also
shown in 589 Majestic)
1 26-32 inch US #7/4.5mm
circular needle
1 26-32 inch US #8/5mm
circular needle
1 US #8/5mm double-point
or straight needle
Stitch markers
4 small stitch holders
Waste yarn
Yarn needle
Optional
Beads or other embellishment
Sewing thread in a color
to match yarn
Sewing needle
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| 18 sts/26 rows =
4 inches in stockinette stitch with larger needle
and 2 strands of Kidsilk Haze held together. |
| |
 Body
With smaller needle and 2 strands held
tog, CO 146[158, 170, 182, 194, 206] sts.
P1 row flat, without joining.
Next row: K36[39, 42, 45, 48, 51], pm (this
is the first "side seam" marker), slip
1 purlwise, K72[78, 84, 90, 96, 102], pm (second
"side seam" marker), slip 1 purlwise,
K36[39, 42, 45, 48, 51].
Join and pm (you might want to use different color
than the side seam markers).
Round 1: K.
Round 2: *K to first side seam marker,
slip marker, slip next st purlwise, rep from * with
second side seam marker, k to end of round.
Change to larger needle and rep Rounds 1 and 2 until
shell measures 12[12, 13, 13, 14, 14] inches from
beg, ending with a Round 1.
Divide for Front and Back
K36[39,
42, 45, 48, 51], remove side seam marker, K1. Turn.
P73[79, 85, 91, 97, 103], remove second side seam
marker, P1.
These 74[80, 86, 92, 98, 104] sts will be worked
for the back. Place rem 72[78, 84, 90, 96, 102]
sts on waste yarn.
The remainder of the sweater will be worked back
and forth.
Back
Dec 1 st
at each end of next then every foll 2nd row 0[0,
0, 0, 1, 5] times; every foll 4th row 0[0, 4, 10,
11, 9] times; every foll 6th row 1[6, 4, 0, 0, 0]
times then every foll 8th row 4[0, 0, 0, 0, 0] times.
Work even until you have completed 43[43, 43, 47,
47, 47] rows from beg of shaping, ending with WS
facing.
Next row: P13[14, 15, 16, 16, 17] and
place these sts on holder, BO center 36[38, 38,
38, 40, 40] sts knitwise, P rem 13[14, 15, 16, 16,
17] and place these sts on another holder. Break
yarn.
Left Front
Transfer
36[39, 42, 45, 48, 51] sts from waste yarn to larger
needle. The seam st that was worked on the back
will be knit again for the front.
With RS facing, join yarn and k into the seam st,
K36[39, 42, 45, 48, 51]. (37[40, 43, 46, 49, 52]
sts on needle)
Turn and P 1 row.
Armhole and Neck Shaping
[worked simultaneously]
Dec 1 st at armhole edge of next then every
foll 2nd row 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 5] times; every foll
4th row 0[0, 4, 10, 11, 9] times; every foll 6th
row 1[6, 4, 0, 0, 0] times then every foll 8th row
4[0, 0, 0, 0, 0] times.
Work even until you have completed 46[46, 46, 50,
50, 50] rows from beg of shaping, ending with RS
facing. Place rem sts on holder.
At the same time, dec 1 st at neck edge
of next then every foll 2nd row 13[15, 15, 13, 15,
15] times and then every foll 4th row 4[3, 3, 5,
4, 4] times.
Work even at neck edge until armhole shaping is
complete.
Right Front
Transfer rem waste yarn sts to larger needle.
With RS facing, join yarn. K36[39, 42, 45, 48, 51],
then k into the seam st. (37[40, 43, 46, 49, 52]
sts on needle)
Turn and P 1 row.
Work armhole and neck shaping as for left front.
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Holding RSs tog, join shoulders
with a 3 needle BO.
Weave in ends. You can use the tail
from your cast on to sew up the little split at the
back lower hem created by working the first couple
rows flat, or you can leave the split open. In the
sample garment, this was left open.
Using a steam iron, block hem, armhole,
and neck edges flat. Do this by holding the iron an
inch or two above the work, not by touching the iron
to your knitting! If you touch your shell with the
iron, you may scorch it. You can also wet block the
shell if you have the time but, if you're like me,
you'll want to wear it right away.
If desired, sew beads or other embellishment
around the neck edge. I find it easiest to use sewing
thread in a matching color, as it is stronger and
easier to thread through a sewing needle than knitting
yarn.
Enjoy!
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 Kristin
Spurkland is a designer and knitting teacher living
in Portland, OR. Her first book, "Knits
from the Heart -- Quick Projects for Generous Giving",
was published in March by Martingale & Company.
She can be reached through her website.
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| Pattern & images
© 2004 Kristin Spurkland. Contact Kristin. |
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