INTRODUCTION

Quetzal

by Rachel Brockman

Summers in the southeastern United States can be brutally humid. And while I've grown more used to the humidity the longer I've lived here, the weather is exactly why I'm drawn to quick knit tops in plant fibers to keep me comfortable while strolling in the sun.

Quetzal is the perfect top for warm days. Simple twisted stitches dance across the fabric of the work to create the illusion of diamonds throughout. Knit in Luxor, the stitches are crisp, and it has just the right amount of drape. This top is easy to dress up or down. Wear it on its own for days when the heat is at its peak, or layered underneath a cardigan when you need a touch of extra warmth. Either way, this piece will transition you from spring to summer in a snap.

model: Taylor Little

photos: Salt Paper Studio

SIZE

 XS[S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in Small size, modeled with .5 inches / 1.5 cm ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Bust:  31.25[34.75, 38, 41.25, 44.75, 48, 51.25, 54.75, 58, 61.25] inches / 79.5[88.5, 96.5, 105, 113.5, 122, 130, 139, 147.5, 155.5] cm
Length:  22[22.5, 23, 23.5, 24.25, 24.75, 25.25, 25.75, 26.5, 26.5] inches / 56[57, 58.5, 59.5, 61.5, 63, 64, 65.5, 67.5, 67.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Fibra Natura Luxor [100% mercerized Egyptian cotton; 137 yds/125 m per 50g]; color: 105-14 Tropical Green: 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10] skeins

Yarn characteristics: Quetzal is knit using Luxor – a smooth, 100% mercerized Egyptian cotton that boasts a lovely sheen and excellent stitch definition.

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 needles for knitting flat
US #5/3.75mm needles for knitting flat

Notions
stitch markers
removable stitch markers
stitch holder or waste yarn
US G-6 (4mm) crochet hook (for neck and armhole edging)
yarn needle

GAUGE

24 sts/28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in Little Diamonds pattern with larger needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

This sweater is knit flat in pieces from the bottom up. After seaming, a single crochet edging is applied to the neck and armholes.

Techniques:

• Left Twist (LT): Knit the second st on the left needle through the back of the loop, knit the first st through the front of the loop, slip both sts from needle.
• Right Twist (RT): K2tog but do not slip sts from needle, knit the first st again, slip both sts from needle.
• Sloped Bind-off: On the row before the bind-off row, slip the last stitch of the row purlwise with yarn in back. On the bind-off row, slip 2, pass the first slipped st over the second slipped st, bind off rem sts as usual.

K1, P1 Rib
Worked over an even number of sts
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Rep Row 1 for patt.

CHARTS

Little Diamonds Pattern
Worked over a multiple of 10 sts + 6
Row 1 [RS]: *K1, LT, RT, k5; rep from * to last 6 sts, k1, LT, RT, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: Purl.
Row 3: *K1, RT, LT, k5; rep from * to last 6 sts, k1, RT, LT, k1.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: *K6, LT, RT; rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: *K6, RT, LT; rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.
Rows 10-12: Rep Rows 4-6.
Rep Rows 1-12 for patt.

DIRECTIONS

FRONT
With smaller needles, CO 96[106, 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176, 186] sts.
Work in K1, P1 Rib until piece measures 1[1, 1, 1, 1.25, 1.25, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5, 1.5] inches / 2.5[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4] cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Main Body
Work Little Diamonds patt over all sts until piece measures 14.75[14.75, 14.75, 14.75, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15.25, 15.25] inches / 37.5[37.5, 37.5, 37.5, 38, 38, 38, 38, 38.5, 38.5] cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Shape armholes:
Note: Maintain Little Diamonds patt throughout armhole shaping. If there are not enough sts to complete a Right or Left Twist, work these sts in Stockinette Stitch instead.

Cont in patt, BO 4[6, 6, 8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 14] sts at beg of next 2 rows. 88[94, 104, 110, 120, 126, 136, 142, 152, 158] sts rem.

Dec row [RS]: K1, k2tog, patt to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 2 sts dec'd.
Dec row [WS]: P1, ssp, patt to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 2 sts dec'd.
Rep last 2 rows 5[6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16] more times, then rep RS Dec row 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0] time. 62[64, 66, 68, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90] sts rem. **

Work even in patt until armhole measures 3.25[3.75, 4.25, 4.75, 5.25, 5.75, 6.25, 6.75, 7.25, 7.25] inches / 8.5[9.5, 11, 12, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17, 18.5, 18.5] cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape front neck:
Note: Use the sloped bind-off method when shaping the neck. Maintain Little Diamonds patt as est throughout neck shaping. If there are not enough sts to complete a Right or Left Twist, work these sts in Stockinette Stitch instead.

Next row [RS]: Cont in patt as est over 23[24, 25, 26, 26, 28, 30, 30, 32, 34] Left Front sts, BO center 16[16, 16, 16, 18, 18, 18, 22, 22, 22] neck sts, cont as est over 23[24, 25, 26, 26, 28, 30, 30, 32, 34] Right Front sts to end.

Place Left Front sts on holder and cont on Right Front sts only.

Right Front
Row 1 [WS]: Work even in patt.
Row 2 [RS]: BO 2 sts, patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. 15[16, 17, 18, 18, 20, 22, 22, 24, 26] sts rem.

Next row [WS]: Work even in patt.
Next row [RS]: BO 1 st, patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 5 more times. 9[10, 11, 12, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 20] sts rem.

Work even in patt as est until armhole measures 7.25[7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.25, 11.25] inches / 18.5[19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5, 28.5, 28.5] cm.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Left Front
Return Left Front sts to needle, ready to work a WS row. Join yarn.
Row 1 [WS]: BO 2 sts, patt to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. 15[16, 17, 18, 18, 20, 22, 22, 24, 26] sts rem.

Next row [WS]: BO 1 st, patt to end.
Next row [RS]: Patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 5 more times. 9[10, 11, 12, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 20] sts rem.

Work even in patt as est until armhole measures 7.25[7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.25, 11.25] inches / 18.5[19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5, 28.5, 28.5] cm.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

BACK
Work as for Front to **.

Work even in patt until armhole measures 4.25[4.75, 5.25, 5.75, 6.25, 6.75, 7.25, 7.75, 8.25, 8.25] inches / 11[12, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17, 18.5, 19.5, 21, 21] cm, ending after a WS row.

Shape back neck:
Note: Use the sloped bind-off method when shaping the neck. Maintain Little Diamonds patt as est throughout neck shaping. If there are not enough sts to complete a Right or Left Twist, work these sts in Stockinette Stitch instead.

Cont in patt as est over 17[18, 19, 20, 20, 22, 24, 24, 26, 28] Right Back sts, BO center 28[28, 28, 28, 30, 30, 30, 34, 34, 34] neck sts, cont as est over 17[18, 19, 20, 20, 22, 24, 24, 26, 28] Left Back sts to end.

Place Right Back sts on holder and cont on Left Back sts only.

Left Back
Row 1 [WS]: Patt to end.
Row 2 [RS]: BO 2 sts, patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 1 more time. 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 18, 20, 20, 22, 24] sts rem.

Next row [WS]: Patt to end.
Next row [RS]: BO 1 st, patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. 9[10, 11, 12, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 20] sts rem.

Work even in patt as est until armhole measures 7.25[7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.25, 11.25] inches / 18.5[19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5, 28.5, 28.5] cm.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Right Back
Return Right Back sts to needle, ready to work a WS row. Join yarn.
Row 1 [WS]: BO 2 sts, patt to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 1 more time. 13[14, 15, 16, 16, 18, 20, 20, 22, 24] sts rem.

Next row [WS]: BO 1 st, patt to end.
Next row [RS]: Patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. 9[10, 11, 12, 12, 14, 16, 16, 18, 20] sts rem.

Work even in patt as est until armhole measures 7.25[7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.25, 11.25] inches / 18.5[19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5, 28.5, 28.5] cm.

Break yarn and place sts on holder.

FINISHING

Soak pieces in cool water with a bit of soap, if desired. Remove from water, place on a towel, and roll the towel up to absorb the excess water. Unroll towel and place on a flat surface, patting it into shape. Let dry. With RS facing together, join Right Front and Right Back shoulders using three-needle bind-off. Rep for Left Front and Left Back shoulders. Sew side seams. Weave in ends.

Neck Edging
With crochet hook and beg at Right Shoulder, join yarn and work single crochet evenly around neck edge. Fasten off.

Armhole Edging
With crochet hook, beg at center of underarm, join yarn and work single crochet evenly around armhole edge. Fasten off. Repeat for other side.

Weave in rem ends.

A - Front/Back Width: 16[17.75, 19.25, 21, 22.75, 24.25, 26, 27.75, 29.25, 31] inches / 40.5[45, 49, 53.5, 58, 61.5, 66, 70.5, 74.5, 79] cm
B - Length from Hem to Underarm:  14.75[14.75, 14.75, 14.75, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15.25, 15.25] inches / 37.5[37.5, 37.5, 37.5, 38, 38, 38, 38, 38.5, 38.5] cm
C - Armhole Depth: 7.25[7.75, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.75, 11.25, 11.25] inches / 18.5[19.5, 21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5, 28.5, 28.5] cm
D - Front Neck Drop: 4 inches / 10 cm
E - Back Neck Drop: 3 inches / 7.5 cm
F - Neck Width: 7.25[7.25, 7.25, 7.25, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75, 8.25, 8.25, 8.25] inches / 18.5[18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 19.5, 19.5, 19.5, 21, 21, 21] cm
G - Shoulder Width: 1.5[1.75, 1.75, 2, 2, 2.25, 2.75, 2.75, 3, 3.25] inches / 4[4.5, 4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 7, 7, 7.5, 8.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Rachel Brockman is the creative lead for Universal Yarn and also designs independently. When she isn't knitting, she's probably playing with her pups, climbing, or watching John Carpenter's The Thing for the millionth time with her husband.

You can find her on Ravelry as Racheleilei and on Instagram as rachbrocknits.

Pattern & images © 2021 Rachel Brockman