INTRODUCTION

Recital

by Jennifer Swetland

Often, the simplest garments in my closet become my favorites. I want to knit more sweaters that will fit in that area of my wardrobe without getting bored with construction. This short-sleeved sweater makes the most of simple stockinette stitch, both in terms of style and an interesting construction.

The back starts with a provisional cast-on and is worked from the bottom-up. The front is worked on larger needles, from side-to-side to make the cowl neckline as drapey as possible. The super soft merino/wool blend yarn helps with the drape as well.

Two simple folds are made at each shoulder before sewing the shoulder seams. Then, sleeves are picked up and worked down, and the bottom ribbing is worked last.

model: Jennifer Swetland

photos: Paul Swetland

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Shown in size Small on 35 inch/90 cm bust.
Choose a size with 1-3 inches/2.5-7.5 cm negative ease at the bust.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 28[32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inches/ 71[81.5, 91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132] cm
Length: 18.75[19.25, 19.5, 19.75, 20, 20.25, 20.25] inches/ 47.5[49, 49.5, 50, 51, 51.5, 51.5] cm from back neckline to back hem edge

MATERIALS

Shibui Staccato [70% superwash merino wool/30% silk; 191yd/175m per 50g skein]; color: Imperial 2039 4[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #4/3.5mm circular needle, 32 inches/80cm or longer
US #5/3.75mm circular needle, 32 inches/80cm or longer
set US #4/3.5mm dpns or needles desired to work sleeves

Notions
stitch markers
waste yarn or stitch holders for holding stitches
yarn needle

GAUGE

28 sts/36 rows = 4"/10 cm in stockinette stitch on smaller needles
25 sts/34 rows = 4"/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

The back is provisionally cast-on and worked from the bottom-up on smaller needles. Next, the front is worked side-to-side on larger needles. After seaming the sides and shoulders, sleeves are picked up and worked down with short row shaping for the sleeve caps. Finally, a ribbed hem is picked up and worked down.

1x1 Rib worked in the round
All rnds: [K1, p1]

1x1 Rib worked flat (odd number of sts)
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): *P1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.

DIRECTIONS

BACK
Using smaller needles and provisional cast-on method of choice, CO 99[107, 117, 129, 143, 157, 171] sts.

Row 1 (RS): Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. 101[109, 119, 131, 145, 159, 173] sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Work in St st until back measures 1.5 inches/4 cm from the cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Bust increases:
Inc Row (RS): K5, m1r, k to last 5 st, m1l, k5

Work Inc row every 18[12, 10, 8, 8, 8, 8] rows 2[4, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7] more times. 107[119, 133, 147, 161, 175, 189] sts.

Work even in St st until back measures 8.75[9, 9, 9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 9.5] inches/ 22[23, 23, 23.5, 23.5, 24, 24] cm from the cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Armhole shaping:
Next row (RS): BO 5[8, 9, 9, 11, 13, 17] , knit to end.
Next row (WS): BO 5[8, 9, 9, 11, 13, 17] , purl to end. 97[103, 115, 129, 139, 149, 155] sts.

Dec row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 st, k2tog, k1.
Dec row 2 (WS): P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 st, ssp, p1.

Repeat Dec rows 1-2 0[0, 0, 1, 2, 2, 3] more times. 93[99, 111, 121, 127, 137, 139] sts.

Work Dec row 1 every RS row 4[5, 6, 4, 6, 6, 7] more times. 85[89, 99, 113, 115, 125, 125] sts.

Work even in St st until back measures 14[14.5, 14.75, 15, 15.25, 15.5, 15.5] inches/ 35.5[37, 37.5, 38, 38.5, 39.5, 39.5] cm from the cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shoulder shaping:
Dec row 3 (RS): BO 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] , knit to last st, sl1.
Dec row 4 (WS): BO 6[6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8] , purl to last st, sl1.

Repeat Dec rows 3-4 3 more times. 37[41, 43, 57, 59, 61, 61] sts.

Work in 1x1 rib for 1 inch/2.5 cm. BO all sts.

FRONT
Using larger needles and the long-tail method, CO 44 sts.

Next row (WS): Purl to last 4 st, pm, p1, k1, p1, k1.

Inc row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end, turn work, CO 11[12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14] st using cable CO method.
Next row (WS): Purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 3 more times. 88[92, 96, 96, 100, 100, 100] sts.

Next row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end.
Next row (WS): Purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2] more times.

Inc Row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end, turn work, CO 17[18, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20] st using cable CO method.
Next row (WS): Purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times. 139[146, 150, 153, 157, 160, 160] sts.

Next row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end.
Next row (WS): P to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.

Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 14[15, 16, 17.5, 19, 20, 22] inches/ 35.5[38, 40.5, 44.5, 51, 56, ] cm at the shorter edge (the edge without seed stitch and stitch marker), ending with a RS row.

Dec row (WS): BO 17[18, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20] st, purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.
Next row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times. 88[92, 96, 96, 100, 100, 100] sts.

Next row (WS): Purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end
Next row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 0[0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2] more times.

Dec row (WS): BO 11[12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14] st, purl to m, sm, (p1, k1) to end.
Next row (RS): (K1, p1) to m, sm, knit to end.

Repeat these 2 rows 3 more times. 44 sts.

BO all rem sts.

ASSEMBLY
Sew sides together from hem to underarm. At cowl neck edge of front (seed stitch border), fold 1 inch/2.5 cm edge to wrong side. Make one fold in the middle of each front shoulder to make edge match back shoulder edge length (see diagram at right for details). Sew shoulder seams.

SLEEVES
Right sleeve:
Using smaller needles, beg at underarm seam and pick up and knit 4[6, 7, 7, 9, 11, 15] sts from underarm bind off, 24[26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35] sts evenly along back armhole, and 32[34, 36, 39, 41, 44, 46] sts evenly along front armhole. Pm to mark beg of rnd. 60[66, 72, 76, 82, 88, 96] sts.

Short row 1: K 35[38, 41, 44, 47, 51, 55] , w&t.
Short row 2: P 10[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14] , w&t.
Short row 3: Knit to wrapped st, knit wrapped st (no need to knit the wrap with the wrapped stitch), w&t.
Short row 4: Purl to wrapped, purl wrapped st (no need to purl the wrap with the wrapped stitch), w&t.

Rep Short rows 3-4 until 8 sts remain unworked, 4 on each side of the beg of rnd marker, ending with a purl row.

Next row: Knit to beg of rnd m.

Next rnd: Knit to 1 st before wrapped stitch. To close the hole formed by the w&t, slip next st purlwise, pick up st below the wrap, knit this st tog with slipped st. Knit to end of rnd.

Work in St st in the rnd for 2[2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6] rounds.

Work 1x1 ribbing for 10[10, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12] rounds. Bind off in patt.

Left sleeve:
Using smaller needles, pick up and knit 32[34, 36, 39, 41, 44, 46] sts evenly along front armhole, 24[26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35] sts evenly along back armhole, and 4[6, 7, 7, 9, 11, 15] st from underarm bind off. Pm to mark beg of rnd. 60[66, 72, 76, 82, 88, 96] sts.

Short row 1: K 35[38, 41, 44, 47, 51, 55] , w&t.
Short row 2: P 10[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14] , w&t.
Short row 3: Knit to wrapped st, knit wrapped st (no need to knit the wrap with the wrapped stitch), w&t.
Short row 4: Purl to wrapped st, purl wrapped st (no need to purl the wrap with the wrapped stitch), w&t.

Rep Short rows 3-4 until 8 st remain unworked, 4 on each side of the round marker, ending with a purl row.

Next row: Knit to beg of rnd m.
Next row: Knit to 1 st before wrapped stitch. To close the hole formed by the w&t, slip next st purlwise, pick up st below the wrap, knit this st tog with slipped st. Knit to end of rnd.

Work in St st in the rnd for 2[2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6] rounds.

Work 1x1 ribbing for 10[10, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12] rounds. Bind off in patt.

WAIST RIBBING
Using smaller needles, move held stitches of provisional cast on from waste yarn onto needles. Knit those 99[107, 117, 129, 143, 157, 171] st, pick up 99[107, 117, 129, 143, 157, 171] st evenly along bottom front edge. Work 1x1 rib in the round for 3 inches/7.5 cm. Bind off all stitches in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block to schematic measurements.

A (neckline drape): 19.25[20.25, 21.25, 22.75, 25, 26, 28.75] inches/ 49[51.5, 54, 58, 63.5, 66, 73] cm
B: 22.25[23.25, 24, 24.5, 25, 25.5, 25.5] inches/ 56.5[59, 61, 62, 63.5, 65, 65] cm
C: 14[15, 16, 17.5, 19, 20, 22] inches/ 35.5[38, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5, 51, 56] cm
D: 7 inches/18 cm
E: 12.25[12.75, 14.25, 16.25, 16.5, 17.75, 17.75] inches/ 31[32.5, 36, 41.5, 42, 45, 45] cm
F: 8.75[9, 9, 9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 9.5] inches/ 22[23, 23, 24, 24, 24, 24] cm
G: 15.75[16.25, 16.5, 16.75, 17, 17.25, 17.25] inches/ 40[41.5, 42, 42, 43, 44, 44] cm
H: 14.25[15.25, 16.75, 18.5, 20.5, 22.5, 24.5] inches/ 36[38.5, 42.5, 47, 52, 57, 62] cm
I: 8.5[9.5, 10.25, 10.75, 11.75, 12.5, 13.75] inches/ 21.5[24, 26, 27.5, 30, 32, 35] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Jennifer is from Pennsylvania but now lives in Florida with her husband, two sons, dog, and cat. She has been knitting for fifteen years and has been making up designs for herself and tweaking patterns for almost as long. This is her second design for Knitty.

She blogs about sewing and knitting at SouthShoreHandmade. She is JennyAnne on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2017 Jennifer Swetland. Contact Jennifer