Baltimore Tea Party

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

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];
spacer [MC] Sage; 5[5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8] skeins
spacer [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]
spacer US #7/4.5mm circular needles, 16- and 32-inch lengths, or size needed to obtain gauge
spacer US #8/5mm circular needles, 16- and 32-inch lengths, or one size larger than size needed to obtain gauge

Notions
spacer 2 stitch markers, 1 in a second color to indicate beg of rnd
spacer 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.

Pattern & images © 2017 Ann Weaver. Contact Ann