Portland has more nicknames than any small city should have. Stumptown, Rip City, Bridgetown, Portlandia, Beervana and on and on. But probably the best known is the Rose City. Roses can be found on our manhole covers, filling rose gardens, and giving name to our neighborhoods, races, elephants and festivals.
Rosarian was named for its concentric layers that remind me of an open rose bloom. It is shown photographed at Peninsula Park's rose garden established in 1909.
Unlike most sweaters with a defined body, Rosarian does not include the typical sweater pieces: body, sleeves, underarm, etc. But instead has a body that encircles the shoulders and upper arms with elbow length arm openings just above the fitted waistband.
Rosarian's unique shape and drapy fabric create a flattering silhouette for most any body type and the rows of dropped stitches make for a speedy knit to kick off your warm weather knitting.
Rosarian is knit in CoBaSi, a fingering weight cotton with a little silk and bamboo for shine and drape and just enough elastic to keep its shape; the perfect summer sweater yarn.
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle 16-inch US #6/4mm circular needle 32[32, 32, 32, 40, 40, 40]-inch US #6/4mm circular needle
22 sts/38 rnds = 4" in stockinette stitch using smaller needle
20 sts/16 rnds = 4" in Stitch Pattern (see Pattern Notes) using larger needle
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
The critical measurement of the sweater is the waistband (high hip circumference). Rosarian is designed to sit at the high hip with 0-3 inches of negative ease.
wrap3: Wrap yarn around needle as if to YO 3 times.
drop wrap3: Drop all 3 yarnovers from needle.
Making a Stitch Pattern gauge swatch:
Cast on desired number of sts and join to work in the rnd. Rnd 1: (K1, wrap3) around. Rnd 2: (K1, drop wrap3) around. Rnds 3-6: Knit.
Rep Rnds 1-6 until gauge swatch is desired length. Cast off and cut swatch to lay flat (if necessary) to measure gauge.
DIRECTIONS
NECKBAND
Using 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle, CO 120[120, 120, 120, 132, 132, 132] sts. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rep Rnds 1-2 twice more.
Yoke Note: Transfer to 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle as needed.
Row 5: Sl1, k122[122, 122, 122, 144, 144, 144], turn. Row 6: Sl1, p105[105, 105, 105, 127, 127, 127], turn. Row 7 [RS]: Sl1, (knit to 1 st before first short row gap, pick up right leg of st below next st on LH needle and place on LH needle, k2tog) three times, (knit to next gap, pick up right leg of st below next st on LH needle and place on LH needle, k2tog) 3 times, knit to marker. 220[220, 220, 220, 242, 242, 242] sts.
**All Sizes:
Adding additional length (optional): Note: Each repeat of Rnds 1-6 will add 1.5 inches in length. Rnd 1: (K1, wrap3) around. Rnd 2: (K1, drop wrap3) around. Rnds 3-6: Knit.
Change to 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle.
Next rnd: K40[45, 53, 58, 63, 68, 73], place next 68[68, 65, 65, 73, 85, 86] sts on holder, k83[93, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145], place next 67[67, 65, 65, 73, 85, 86] sts on holder, k42[47, 52, 57, 62, 67, 72]. 165[185, 210, 230, 250, 270, 290] sts rem.
Rib rnd: (K3, p2) around.
Rep Rib rnd until rib measures 3 inches.
Bind off all sts using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.
Sleeve Edges:
Place sts held for one sleeve onto 16-inch US #6/4mm needle. Pm for beg of rnd. Rnd 1: Purl. Rnd 2: Knit. Rnd 3: Purl.
Bind off using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.
Repeat for other sleeve.
FINISHING
Weave in ends. Soak and block garment.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
By day Melinda designs at a commercial architecture firm in the yarn-bombed City of Roses, Portland, Oregon. By night she designs knitwear in her fiber-filled home. She has numerous patterns available for download on Ravelry and Knit Picks and published in the books First Light and Under 100 Knit Collection.
You can find out more about Melinda's designs on her website.
