Baltimore Tea Party, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a Fair Isle colorwork pullover with integrated braid trim, using softly variegated yarn.

INTRODUCTION

Baltimore Tea Party

beauty shot

by Ann Weaver

Piquant

Baltimore Tea Party is a micro-macro experimentation with pattern, color, and texture: The arrow pattern on the body and sleeeves is the large-scale version of the twisted stitches around the hem, cuffs, and collar.

Knit yours in a variegated yarn plus a solid for a soft effect like mine (which reminds me of teacups and dried flowers), or choose high-contrast solids for a more graphic effect.

spacer model: Ann Weaver

spacer photos: Astrid Albert

SIZE

XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
shown in size XS

Note: When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 34.75[38.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50.75, 54.75, 58.75] inches/ 88.5[98.5, 108.5, 119, 129, 139, 149] cm
Length: 24.75[25.75, 27, 27.75, 28.75, 28.75, 29.5] inches/ 63[65.5, 68.5, 70.5, 73, 73, 75] cm

Note: Pullover is meant to fit with 1-2 inches/2.5-5 cm of positive ease.

The sample is a 34.75 inch bust size, and is worn by a model with a 32 inch bust.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Space Cadet Vega [100% superwash Merino; 215 yd/199m per 100g skein];
[MC] Sage; 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8] skeins
[CC] Molten Cool; 2[2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #7/4.5mm circular needles, 16- and 32-inch lengths, or size needed to obtain gauge
US #8/5mm circular needles, 16- and 32-inch lengths, or one size larger than size needed to obtain gauge

Notions
2 stitch markers, 1 in a second color to indicate beg of rnd
yarn needle

GAUGE

18 sts/22 rnds = 4"/10 cm in stockinette stich on smaller needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

I recommend working the colorwork sections of this sweater using needles a size larger than the size needed to obtain gauge. This will keep your colorwork loose.

Braids
Setup Rnd: *K1 MC, k1 CC; rep from * around.
Rnd 1: Holding both yarns in front and bringing each yarn under the other when switching colors, *p1 MC, p1 CC; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: Holding both yarns in front and bringing each yarn over the other when switching colors, *p1 MC, p1 CC; rep from * around.

CHARTS

arrow chart

Sleeve increase chart, size XS | S | M | L | 1X | 2X | 3X

DIRECTIONS

BODY
Using MC and larger 32-inch circ needle, CO 78[87, 96, 105, 114, 123, 132] sts for back, pm to indicate side “seam”; CO 78[87, 96, 105, 114, 123, 132] sts for front, pm of second color to indicate beg of rnd. 156[174, 192, 210, 228, 246, 264] sts total.

Join CC.

Work Braids pattern, working Rnds 1-2 9[9, 9, 9, 11, 11, 13] times total.

Change to smaller 32-inch circ needle. Carrying CC along inside of work, knit 7[7, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10] rnds using MC.

Change to larger 32-inch circular needle and begin working Rnd 1 of the Arrow Chart, repeating the chart 26[29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44] times around the circumference of the sweater. Work through Rnd 7 of the Arrow Chart.

Carrying CC along inside of work, knit 7 rnds using MC.

Rep previous 14 rnds 4 more times, then rep 7-rnd Arrow Chart one more time. 5 full reps of Arrow Chart total.

Separate front from back at underarms as follows:

Next rnd: *Using MC, knit to 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts before marker, BO 10[10, 12, 12, 14, 14, 16] sts, removing marker; rep from * once. 68[77, 84, 93, 100, 109, 116] sts each for front and back.

Set body aside and knit sleeves.

SLEEVES (make 2)
Using MC and larger double-point needles, CO 44[44, 44, 50, 50, 50, 50] sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts. Place marker of second color to indicate beg of rnd.

Work Braids pattern, working Rnds 1-2 9[9, 9, 9, 11, 11, 13] times total.

Change to smaller double-point needles. Carrying CC along inside of work, knit 7[7, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10] rnds using MC.

AT THE SAME TIME: On Rnd 7[7, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10] , inc 4 sts evenly spaced as follows: K 5[5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 6] , M1R, *k 11[11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 12] , M1R; repeat from * three times, knit to end. 48[48, 48, 54, 54, 54, 54] sts.

Change to larger double-point needles. Begin working Rnd 1 of the Arrow Chart, repeating the chart 8[8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 9] times around the circumference of the sleeve. Work through Rnd 7 of the Arrow Chart.

Sleeve increases:
Begin working sleeve increases according to the Sleeve Increase Chart for your size as follows, working stranded rnds using the larger ndls and plain rnds using the smaller ndls:

Rnd 1 (inc rnd): Using MC, knit to last st, pm, m1R, k1, m1L. 50[50, 50, 56, 56, 56, 56] sts.

Note: At this point, you will have two markers: the beginning of rnd marker and a marker 1 st to the right of this marker. All sleeve increases will take place between these two markers.

Work remaining rnds of Sleeve Increase Chart for your size. 4[6, 8, 7, 9, 13, 15] inc rnds total, 56[60, 64, 68, 72, 80, 84] sts.

On last rnd, BO last 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts, then BO first 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8] sts of next rnd, removing markers. 46[50, 52, 56, 58, 66, 68] sts.

Place sleeve sts on stitch holder or waste yarn and set aside.

Work second sleeve in the same way.

Yoke
Join Body to Sleeves as follows:
Pick up body and, using MC, knit back sts, knit sts of first sleeve, knit front sts, knit sts of second sleeve, pm to indicate beg of rnd. 228[254, 272, 298, 316, 350, 368] sts total.

Work 5 more rnds in MC.

Sizes -[S, M, -, -, 2X, 3X] only:
Next rnd: *K2tog, k -[125, 134, -, -, 173, 182] ; rep from * once.

Sizes -[-, -, L, 1X, -, -] only:
Next rnd: *k2tog, k -[-, -, 72, 77, -, -] k2tog, k -[-, -, 73, 77, -, -] ; rep from * once.

228[252, 270, 294, 312, 348, 366] sts.

Join CC and begin working Rnd 1 of the Arrow Chart, repeating the chart 38[42, 45, 49, 52, 58, 61] times around the circumference of the Yoke. Work through Rnd 7 of the Arrow Chart.

Decrease yoke as follows:

Dec Rnd 1: With MC, *k1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. 152[168, 180, 196, 208, 232, 244] sts.

Using MC, knit 7[10, 12, 14, 15, 15, 15] more rnds.

Work Braids pattern, working Rnds 1-2 3 times total.

Using MC, knit 7[10, 12, 14, 15, 15, 15] rnds.

Dec Rnd 2: With MC, *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to last 2[0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1] sts, k 2[0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1] . 102[112, 120, 131, 139, 155, 163] sts.

Sizes -[-, -, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] only:
Knit 1 rnd using MC, dec 1 st as follows: K2tog, knit to end.

102[112, 120, 130, 138, 154, 162] sts.

Work Braids pattern, working Rnds 1-2 3 times total.

BO loosely using MC. I recommend using the sewn BO.

FINISHING

Sew underarm seams.

Weave in all ends and wet block.

schematic

SCHEMATIC MEASUREMENTS:
A: 24.75[25.75, 27, 27.75, 28.75, 28.75, 29.5] inches/ 63[65.5, 68.5, 70.5, 73, 73, 75] cm
B: 15.75[15.75, 16.25, 16.25, 17, 17, 17.5] inches/ 40[40, 41.5, 41.5, 43, 43, 44.5] cm
C: 9[10, 10.75, 11.5, 12, 12, 12] inches/ 23[25.5, 27.5, 29, 30.5, 30.5, 30.5] cm
D: 34.75[38.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50.75, 54.75, 58.75] inches/ 88.5[98.5, 108.5, 119, 129, 139, 149] cm
E: 12.5[13.25, 14.25, 15, 16, 17.75, 18.75] inches/ 32[33.5, 36, 38, 40.5, 45, 47.5] cm
F: 18.25[18.25, 18.75, 18.75, 19.5, 19.5, 20.25] inches/ 46.5[46.5, 47.5, 47.5, 49.5, 49.5, 51.5] cm
G: 9.75[9.75, 9.75, 11, 11, 11, 11] inches/ 25[25, 25, 28, 28, 28, 28] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Ann Weaver sees knitting patterns in container ships, Tom Waits lyrics, Moby-Dick, classic cocktails, and the work of artists like Josef Albers and Mark Rothko. When she is not traveling to teach knitting workshops, Ann lives in Baltimore, where she works as a freelance editor and writer and spends her free time volunteering and working to bring change to her community.

You can follow Ann on Instagram and find her designs on Ravelry.