Pioneer Top - Knitty, Spring 2009

model: K-bomb

photos: K-Bomb and Tony C

by K-bomb

"pi·o·neer:
One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.
One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development."

I think back to when I was a child and the power would go out at my grandparents' house. Reality was put on pause and, for a couple of days, I felt like a pioneer in a new world. Everything within my grasp was looked at with new eyes. The couch was no longer what it seemed; for it had turned into a fortress in the mountains, and the carpet was red hot lava my brother and I had to ski down with pillows on our feet. Creativity and imagination ruled this small chunk of time.

Your world is only as small as you deem it to be. You discover new things every day. Sometimes it helps to turn off the noise and just sit in a pile of yarn, thinking of all the new possibilities that are waiting to be made.

This is a raglan v-neck sweater worked from the top down. Just a bit of cable running down the back and sides to keep you interested, but not enough to prevent you from bringing this to movie night!

SIZE

XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in XS)
Note: This sweater is intended to fit snugly, with approx. 2 inches of negative ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 30[32.5, 35.5, 41, 44, 46.5, 50] inches
Length: 21[22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27] inches at center back

MATERIALS

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport [100% superwash wool; 200 yds/182m per 70 gr] #16: Pioneer; 3[4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins

Recommended needle size:

1 US #5/3.75mm circular needle; 24-inch length for smaller sizes, 32-inch length for larger sizes

1 set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles

1 US #F/5 / 3.75mm crochet hook
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

6 stitch markers
Waste yarn
Yarn needle
Row counter (optional)
Cable needle

GAUGE

20 sts x 32 rows= 4 inches in stockinette st

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

If you are using the yarn listed or another hand-painted yarn, working alternate rows with two different balls of yarn will help prevent pooling.

C2B (Cable 2 Back): Slip next st to cable needle and hold to back of work, k1 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

Cable Column (Worked back and forth over 6 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: P1, k1, C2B, k1, p1.
Row 2 [WS]: K1, p4, k1.
Repeat these 2 rows for Cable Column.

Cable Column (Worked in the round over 6 sts):
Round 1: P1, k1, C2B, k1, p1.
Round 2: P1, k4, p1.
Repeat these 2 rounds for Cable Column.

Instructions for basic crochet stitches can be found here.

Crochet sts used in this pattern:
sl st: slip stitch
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet

DIRECTIONS

YOKE
Using circular needle, CO 66[68, 74, 78, 84, 90, 94] sts. Do not join work.

Row 1 [RS]: K5, place marker, k3[3, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6], p1, k4, p1, k3[3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6], place marker, k3[4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 6], [p1, k4] five[five, five, seven, seven, seven, seven] times, p1, k3[4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 6], place marker, k3[3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6], p1, k4, p1, k3[3, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6], place marker, k5.

Row 2 [WS]: Work in pattern as set, knitting all k sts and purling all p sts.

Row 3 [RS]: K4, yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, k2[2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5], work Cable Column, k2[2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5], yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, k2[3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 5], [work Cable Column, k4] 2[2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3] times, work Cable Column, k2[3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 5], yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, k2[2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5], work Cable Column, k2[2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5], yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo, k4. 74[76, 82, 86, 92, 98, 102] sts.
This row establishes Cable Columns for back and sleeves.

Continue working Cable Columns as established.

Row 4 [WS]: Work all sts in pattern.
Row 5 (Raglan and Neckline Increase Row) [RS]: K2, m1, [work in pattern to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo] four times, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2. 10 sts increased.
Row 6 [WS]: Work all sts in pattern.
Row 7 (Raglan Increase Row) [RS]: [Work in pattern to 1 st before marker, yo, k1, slip marker, k1, yo] four times, k to end. 8 sts increased.

Repeat Rows 4-7 8[9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15] times more, then work Rows 4-5 once more.
There are 246[266, 290, 330, 354, 378, 400] sts: 35[38, 41, 47, 50, 53, 56] sts for each front, 52[56, 62, 69, 75, 81, 86] sts for each sleeve, and 72[78, 84, 98, 104, 110, 116] sts for back.

LOWER BODY
At this point, the sleeves and body will be divided. The lower body will be worked, then the sleeves will be worked.

The neckline increases will continue until the combined fronts have 6[6, 10, 10, 12, 12, 16] sts more than the back. This will make the front approx. 1[1, 2, 2, 2.5, 2.5, 3] inches wider than the back, providing more ease over the bust than across the back.

Dividing Row [WS]: P to first marker, remove marker, place next 52[56, 62, 69, 75, 81, 86] sts (all sts to next marker) on hold on waste yarn, leave marker in place, work in pattern to next marker, remove marker, place next 52[56, 62, 69, 75, 81, 86] sts (all sts to next marker) on hold on waste yarn, leave marker in place, p to end. 142[154, 166, 192, 204, 216, 228] sts: 35[38, 41, 47, 50, 53, 56] sts for each front, and 72[78, 84, 98, 104, 110, 116] sts for back.

Work 2 rows in pattern.
Neckline Increase Row [RS]: K2, m1, work in pattern to last 2 sts, m1, k2. 144[156, 168, 194, 206, 218, 230] sts.

Work 1 row in pattern.

Next Row [RS]: K to 6 sts before marker, work Cable Column, slip marker, k1, C2B, k1, p1, work in pattern to 5 sts before next marker, p1, k1, C2B, k1, slip marker, work Cable Column, k to end.
This row sets Cable Column pattern for sides of sweater; two Cable Columns are worked together at each side. Continue working this pattern as set throughout lower body.

Continue in pattern, working Neckline Increase Row every fourth row 3[3, 5, 6, 7, 7, 9] times more. 150[162, 178, 206, 220, 232, 248] sts when all Neckline Increase Rows are complete: 39[42, 47, 54, 58, 61, 66] sts for each front, and 72[78, 84, 98, 104, 110, 116] sts for back.

Do not turn work after last Neckline Increase Row! Place marker and join work; from this point, work lower body in the round.

Continue in pattern until work measures 14.75[15.25, 15.75, 15.75, 16.25, 16.75, 17.25] inches from underarm, or 1 inch less than desired length. When measured straight down center back, work measures 19[20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25] inches.

Next Round: Remove center front marker; k to first side seam marker. This point will now be beginning of round. Second side seam marker may be removed.

Lower Edging:
Rounds 1-2: [K1, p1] to end.
Rounds 3-4: [P1, k1] to end.
Repeat these 4 rounds once, then work Rounds 1-2 once more. Loosely BO all sts.

SLEEVES
Carefully remove held sts of one sleeve from waste yarn and place sts on double-point needles. Join yarn at underarm. 52[56, 62, 69, 75, 81, 86] sts.

Work 14 rounds in pattern, or until sleeve is 1 inch less than desired length. For sizes L, 1X and 2X only, decrease 1 st on last round before edging. Work lower edging as for body.

Work remaining sleeve in the same way.

FINISHING

Neckline Edging:
Beginning at center front of neckline with RS facing, work crocheted edging along right front neckline edge, around CO neckline edge, then down left front neckline edge to center front, as follows. (When working along right and left front neckline edge, count the end of each row as 1 st.)

Sc in first st, [ch 1, skip 2 sts, 5 hdc in next st, ch 1, skip 2 sts, sc in next st] to end; complete last repeat by working sl st into first sc of round. Fasten off.

Weave in ends, sewing up small holes at underarms. Block as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername K-bomb wishes that her yarn budget could be taken out before taxes, just like her health care. In the meantime, she can be found sneaking her knitting into any social gathering to stow away in a corner, listening to the comforting sound of clacking needles and laughter of good friends.