by Paula Pereira

Winter allows us to go for comfort, warmth and coziness. It’s an invitation to fun knitting time!

My inspiration for Talula was the unique pleasure of simplicity. Novice or experienced, any knitter can make it, and reap the rewarding feeling of a self-made wardrobe. Talula is worked seamlessly with a 3-Needle Bind Off at the shoulders. It is worked from the bottom-up with drop shoulders and lots of positive ease for the body, along with tapered sleeves, as a wintery take on boxy shaping. The back is comfortably longer than the front, for extra freedom of movement!

Neck ribbing and i-cord edges complete the sweater for a nicely finished look.

SIZE
XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size S with 10 inches of positive ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust: 40[43.25, 48, 51.25, 56, 59.25, 64] inches
Length from Front cast-on: 24.75[25.5, 26, 27, 28.25, 29.75, 31] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Sincere Sheep Bannock [100% Targhee wool; 280yd/256m per 4oz/113g skein]; colour: Vit C 5[5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below — every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 32- to 40-inch circular needle, US #7/4.5mm
1 32- to 40-inch circular needle, US #9/5.5mm
1 20-inch circular needle, US #6/4mm
1 20-inch circular needle, US #8/5mm
1 set of US #7/4.5mm needles for working small circumference in the round (DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short)

Notions
waste yarn or stitch holders
stitch markers
yarn needle
cable needle (optional)

GAUGE

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

Back and front ribbed hems are worked separately with 3-st i-cord edging at each end. Work is then joined in the round and worked to the underarm. Front and Back are again separated at the underarms and worked to the shoulders. Shoulders are joined using a 3-needle Bind Off.

Stitches are picked up from the armhole for each sleeve and worked down to the cuff.

Stitches for the funnel neck collar are picked up from the neck and worked in the round for 1.5 inches. After this point, collar is worked back and forth with i-cord edging as for ribbed hem.

When using a 3-Needle Bind off, shoulders will most likely stretch horizontally under the weight of the sleeve when worn. Sleeves are made shorter in this pattern to accommodate this extra length. If a firmer seam at the shoulder is used, you may wish to make the sleeves longer to account for less length resulting from the drop-shoulder. Schematic shows measurements during blocking and before being stretched (worn). 

A Portuguese translation of this pattern can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Row 1 [RS]: K1, sl1 wyif, k1, (p2, k2) to last 5 sts, p2, k1, sl1 wyif, k1.

Row 2 [WS]: Sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif, (k2, p2) to last 5 sts, k2, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif.

Repeat Rows 1-2 six times more.

Row 3 [RS]: K1, sl1 wyif, k1, (p1, k1) to last 3 sts, k1, sl1 wyif, k1.

Row 4 [WS]: Sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif, (p1, k1) to last 3 sts, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif.

Repeat Rows 3-4 six times more.**

Change to US #7/4.5mm circular needle.

Row 5 [RS]: K1, sl1 wyif, k to last 2 sts, sl1 wyif, k1.

Row 6 [WS]: Sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif, p to last 3 sts, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif.

Repeat Rows 5-6 eleven times more.

Break yarn and leave sts on spare needle or holder.

Front Hem
Work as for Back Hem to **.

Body
With US #7/4.5mm circular needle and RS facing, work across Front Hem sts as follows: Pm for beg of rnd, k2tog, k100[108, 120, 128, 140, 148, 160], ssk. Across held Back Hem sts: Pm, k2tog, k100[108, 120, 128, 140, 148, 160], ssk. Join to work in the rnd. 204[220, 244, 260, 284, 300, 324] sts.

Next rnd: *K2tog, k to 2 sts before m, ssk; rep from * once more. 200[216, 240, 256, 280, 296, 320] sts.

Next rnd: *K to 1 st before next m, sl 1 to cn and hold in back, remove m, k1, replace m, k1 from cn; rep from * once more. Knit to end of rnd.
Note: These crossed sts at each side "seam" will prevent gaps from forming between decreases on previous rounds. Alternatively, you may wish to work these two complete rounds in only St st.

Work even in St st until work measures 17[17.5, 17.5, 18, 18.75, 19.25, 19.75] inches from Front cast-on edge.

Inc rnd: *K1, M1R, k to 1 st before m, M1L, k1; rep from * once more. 4 sts inc'd.
Knit 1 rnd.
Rep last 2 rnds twice more. 212[228, 252, 268, 292, 308, 332] sts.

Front:
Row 1 [RS]: Remove m, k to next m, turn, leaving rem 106[114, 126, 134, 146, 154, 166] sts of rnd on holder for Back.

Work even in St st on these sts until work measures 4.5[4.5, 5, 5.5, 5.75, 6.25, 6.75] inches from armhole division, ending after a WS row.

Shape right front neck:
Neck division row [RS]: K41[45, 51, 55, 59, 62, 67] and place these sts on holder for left front neck, BO 24[24, 24, 24, 28, 30, 32] sts, knit to end. Continue on these 41[45, 51, 55, 59, 62, 67] sts for right front neck only.

Purl 1 row.
Next row [RS]: BO 3 sts, k to end.
Rep last 2 rows 0[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time more. 38[39, 45, 49, 53, 56, 61] sts.

Purl 1 row.
Next row [RS]: BO 2 sts, k to end.
Rep last 2 rows 2[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time(s) more. 32[35, 41, 45, 49, 52, 57] sts.

Sizes S, M, L, 1X, 2X, and 3X Only:
Purl 1 row.
Next row [RS]: BO 1 st, k to end.

All Sizes:
32[34, 40, 44, 48, 51, 56] sts.

Work even in St st for 1[1, 1, 1, 5, 9, 11] rows. Armhole measures approx. 5.75[6, 6.5, 7, 7.75, 8.75, 9.5] inches.

Shape right shoulder:
Row 1 [RS]: K to 5[5, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12] sts before end of row, w&t.
Row 2: P to end.

Row 3 [RS]: K to 6[6, 6, 6, 10, 11, 13] sts before last w&t, w&t.
Row 4: P to end.
Rep last 2 rows 2[2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1] times more.

Next row [RS]: K to end of row, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Purl 1 row.

Knit 1 row.
Next row [WS]: BO 3 sts, p to end.
Rep last 2 rows 0[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time more. 38[39, 45, 49, 53, 56, 61] sts.

Knit 1 row.
Next row [WS]: BO 2 sts, p to end.
Rep last 2 rows 2[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time(s) more. 32[35, 41, 45, 49, 52, 57] sts.

Sizes S, M, L, 1X, 2X, and 3X Only:
Knit 1 row.
Next row [WS]: BO 1 st, p to end.

All Sizes:
32[34, 40, 44, 48, 51, 56] sts.

Work even in St st for 1[1, 1, 1, 5, 9, 11] rows. Armhole measures approx. 5.75[6, 6.5, 7, 7.75, 8.75, 9.5] inches.

Shape left shoulder:
Row 1 [WS]: P to 5[5, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12] sts before end of row, w&t.
Row 2: K to end.

Row 3 [WS]: P to 6[6, 6, 6, 10, 11, 13] sts before last wrapped st, w&t.
Row 4: K to end.
Rep last 2 rows 2[2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1] time(s) more.

Next row [WS]: P to end of row, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Work even in St st until work measures 5[5.25, 5.75, 6.25, 7, 8, 8.75] inches from underarm division, ending after a WS row.

Shape shoulders:
Row 1 [RS]: K to last 5[5, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12] sts, w&t.

Row 2 [WS]: P to last 5[5, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12] sts, w&t.

Row 3: K to 6[6, 6, 6, 10, 11, 13] sts before last wrapped st, w&t.

Row 4: P to 6[6, 6, 6, 10, 11, 13] sts before last wrapped st, w&t.

Rep last 2 rows 2[2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1] time(s) more.

Next row [RS]: K to end, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Next row: P to end, working wraps with wrapped sts.
Next row: K35[37, 43, 47, 51, 54, 59], BO 36[40, 40, 40, 44, 46, 48] sts, k to end. Continue on these 35[37, 43, 47, 51, 54, 59] sts only for left shoulder.

Right shoulder:
Join yarn to 35[37, 43, 47, 51, 54, 59] sts for right shoulder with WS facing.

Row 1 [WS]: BO 2 sts, p to end. 33[35, 41, 45, 49, 52, 57] sts.

Row 2 [RS]: K to end.

Row 3: BO 1 st, p to end. 32[34, 40, 44, 48, 51, 56] sts.

Row 4: K to end.

Row 5: P to end.
Place sts on holder.

Sleeves
(See Pattern Notes on sleeve length)

Join sts held for shoulders using 3-Needle Bind off.

With US #7/4.5mm needles for working small circumference in the round and starting at bottom of underarm division, pick up and knit 27[29, 31, 33, 37, 42, 46] sts to shoulder seam, then 27[29, 31, 33, 37, 42, 46] sts to underarm (approx. 3 sts for every 5 rows). Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd. 54[58, 62, 66, 74, 84, 92] sts.

Knit 18[12, 12, 9, 6, 5, 5] rnds.

Dec rnd: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, ssk. 2 sts dec'd.

Rib rnd: (K1, p1) around.
Rep last rnd until ribbing measures 3 inches, then BO loosely in patt.
Repeat for other sleeve.

FINISHING
Funnel Neck:
Using US #6/4mm circ and starting at the center back neck, pick up and knit 21[23, 23, 23, 25, 26, 27] sts to left shoulder, 15[17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19] to center front neck BO, 24[24, 24, 24, 28, 30, 32] from center BO, 15[17, 17, 17, 19, 19, 19] to shoulder, then 21[23, 23, 23, 25, 26, 27] sts to center of back neck. Join to work in the rnd and pm for beg of rnd. 96[104, 104, 104, 116, 120, 124] sts.

Rib rnd: (K2, p2) around.
Rep last rnd 9 times more.

Change to US #8/5mm circ and beg working flat as foll:
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif, p1, (k2, p2) to last 4 sts, k1, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif.
Row 2 [WS]: K1, sl1 wyif, k1, p1, (k2, p2) to last 4 sts, k2, sl1 wyif, k1.
Rep last 2 rows 8 times more.
BO loosely in patt.

Weave in ends. Block to measurements.

Paula Pereira loves everything about knitting. She lives in Sao Paulo with her husband, 2 dogs, and tons of beautiful fibers.

Find her on Ravelry, and at peaceknitlove.com