Miscellany, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Miscellany

beauty shot

by J.Miyo Knits

Tangy

This is a thick, relaxed fit, modified drop shoulder sweater that incorporates some simple intarsia to create a bold, color-blocked look. I really wanted to find a way to incorporate a variety of leftover yarns to make a cohesive, intentional piece that didn't look like just a collection of scraps. I like the way a simple garter stitch allows for colors to be introduced in a more diffuse way in areas a strong stripe isn't preferred. These garter stitch sections have a stockinette stitch ridge outline. Holding two yarns throughout also helps in creating smooth color transitions by changing out only one strand at a time. I was able to incorporate 17 different yarns in the sample.

All the pieces are knit flat except for the collar. This is meant to be a simple piece, accessible for those new to intarsia.

spacer model + photos: Gempathy.Makes (Gem)

SIZE

Women's XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size L with 5 inches/12.5 cm of ease at largest part of chest.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust: 34.5[38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5, 54.5, 58.5, 62.5, 66.5] inches/ 87.5[98, 108, 118, 128.5, 138.5, 148.5, 159, 169] cm
Body Length: 20[20.5, 21, 21.5, 22, 22.5, 23, 23.5, 24] inches/ 51[52, 53.5, 54.5, 56, 57, 58.5, 59.5, 61] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Because this is a scrappy project, many partial skeins were used. With 2 strands of worsted (or a heavy DK) weight held double, the total approximate yardage is: 1155[1300, 1427, 1584, 1719, 1866, 2008, 2175, 2324] yd / 1056[1189, 1305, 1449, 1572, 1706, 1836, 1989, 2125] m

Color A: 2 dark worsted-weight yarns, 541[609, 668, 741, 804, 873, 939, 1018, 1087] yd / 494, 557, 611, 678, 735, 799, 931, 994] m total each
Color B: 2 light worsted-weight yarns, 541[609, 668, 741, 804, 873, 939, 1018, 1087] yd / 494, 557, 611, 678, 735, 799, 931, 994] m total each
hem/cuffs/collar in Color A OR B: 75[84, 92, 102, 111, 120, 130, 140, 150] yd / 68[77, 84, 94, 101, 110, 118, 128, 137] m

How to make Color A and B: The working yarn is made up of two strands of worsted-weight yarns to create a dark set (Color A) and a light set (Color B). New yarns may be introduced at any point while knitting. To create Color A in the sample, one dark yarn was held constant throughout, while the color changes occurred with the other strand. For Color B, two light colors were used throughout, with scraps replacing one of these strands to create thin contrast stripes.

If new yarns are introduced on the wrong side, the color change effect will be more subtle, as seen in Color A of the sample. To create a gradient, a new second yarn was worked on a wrong side row and the next right side row, and then the original second yarn was worked on the next wrong side and right side rows, before switching to the new yarn again. Alternating between the second yarns multiple times will create a slower transition to the new color combination.

If new yarns are introduced on the right side, the result will be more of a striping effect as seen in Color B of the sample. A more bold effect may be achieved by changing both strands of yarn at once instead of one at a time. For an ombre effect, the scraps can be added in order from the darkest to lightest shades.

When choosing yarn combinations, they don't need to be all dark yarns for Color A as long as the overall effect has enough of either a shade or is in strong contrast to Color B. Choosing a main shade to be held throughout all of a Color's sections will unify the body and sleeve areas, whether or not the secondary yarns added are the exact same.

A mix of solid and variegated shades were used in the sample. Holding a solid shade with a variegated yarn will make the variegation appear more subtle, and the pops of color could help to hide the location of yarn changes. To keep the overall appearance of Color A dark while incorporating lighter variegated yarn in some areas, the variegated strand was alternated with a darker color every two rows.

For an overall more cohesive look, save some of the scraps used from the body to use for the adjacent sleeve section. Also save enough yarn from the front body ribbing to complete the back body ribbing. If preferred, more advanced knitters could omit the ribbing while making the body pieces and instead pick up and knit the ribbing in the round after seaming the body pieces together.

Yarn Characteristics
The sample shown uses a variety of worsted-weight yarns held double in both solid and variegated colors. The yarns are a mix of wool and manufactured fibers.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 US #10/6mm circular needle, 32-inch/80-cm
1 US #9/5.5mm circular needle, 32-inch/80-cm

Notions
stitch holder
stitch marker
yarn needle

GAUGE

12 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in garter stitch with larger needles

Note: gauge is always taken after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

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

For simplicity, the two sides of the intarsia will be referred to as Color A and Color B even though they can encompass any number of yarns/colors. For a stronger striping effect, I suggest introducing new colors on right side rows. For more subtle changes, I suggest changing only one of the strands at a time and introducing new colors on wrong side rows. To create the thin stripes as in the Color A side of the sample, a contrasting color was worked every 9th and 10th row. In the sample, Color B was used for the waistband, cuffs, and collar.

Construction method:
The front and back of the body are knit flat separately from the hem up. Stitches for the sleeves (also knit flat) and collar are picked up after the shoulders are seamed together.

Techniques:

intarsia (photo tutorial)

DIRECTIONS

FRONT
With smaller needles, CO 53[59, 65, 71, 77, 83, 89, 95, 101] sts in waistband color.
Row 1 [RS]: K1, (k1, p1) to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, (k1, p1) to last st, p1.
Repeat Rows 2-3 once more.
Row 5: K1, (k1, p1) to last 27[30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51] sts, k1, pm, LLI, (p1, k1) to last st, k1. 1 st increased. 54[60, 66, 72, 78, 84, 90, 96, 102] sts.
Row 6: P2, (k1, p1) to m, sm, p1, (k1, p1) to last st, p1.

Cut yarn if waistband color is different from Color A. Switch to larger needles.
Row 7: With Color A, knit to m, sm, join Color B, knit to end.
Row 8: With Color B, p2, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 7-8 until piece is approximately 12 inches/30.5 cm long or until preferred underarm length is reached, ending after a WS row.

Work Armhole shaping:
Row A1 [RS]: With Color A, BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] sts, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to end.
Row A2 [WS]: With Color B, BO 3[3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7] sts, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to end. 48[54, 58, 64, 68, 74, 78, 84, 88] sts.

Row A3 (decrease row): With Color A, k1, ssk, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Row A4: With Color B, knit to 1 st before m, p1, with Color A, p1, knit to end.
Repeat last 2 rows twice more. 42[48, 52, 58, 62, 68, 72, 78, 82] sts.

Row A5 [RS]: With Color A, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to end.
Row A6 [WS]: With Color B, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 7[8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18] more times, or until the length from the underarm bind off is 4[4.75, 5, 5.75, 6, 6.75, 7, 7.75, 8] inches/ 10[12, 12.5, 14.5, 15, 17, 18, 19.5, 20.5] cm.

Work Neck shaping:
Row A7 [RS]: K 15[18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31, 32] , BO 12[12, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18] , knit to end.
Place right (as it faces you) shoulder sts on hold and continue with left shoulder.

Left Shoulder
Row A8 [WS]: Knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Row A9 [RS]: K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
Row A10: Knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat the last 2 rows 4[4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] more times. 10[13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26] sts.

Row A11 [RS]: Knit to end.
Row A12 [WS]: Knit to last st, p1.
Repeat the last 2 rows 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1] more time(s).

Work short row shaping:
Short row 1 [RS]: K 6[8, 8, 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 16] , w&t.
Short row 2 [WS]: Knit to last st, p1.
Short row 3: K 3[4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] , w&t.
Short row 4: Knit to last st, p1.
BO all sts with a standard BO.

Right Shoulder
Place sts for Right Shoulder back on needles.
Row A8 [WS]: P2, knit to end.
Row A9 [RS]: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
Row A10: P2, knit to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows 4[4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] more times. 10[13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26] sts.

Row A11 [RS]: Knit to end.
Row A12 [WS]: P1, knit to end.
Row A13: Knit to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0] more time(s).

Work short row shaping:
Short row 1 [WS]: P1, k 5[7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 13, 15, 15] , w&t.
Short row 2 [RS]: Knit to end.
Short row 3: P1, k 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] , w&t.
Short row 4: Knit to end.
BO all sts with a standard BO.

BACK
Work as for Front through Row A4.

Row A5 [RS]: With Color A, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to end.
Row A6 [WS]: With Color B, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to end.
Repeat last 2 rows 11[13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23] more times, or until the length from the underarm bind off is 5.5[6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5] inches/ 14[15, 16.5, 18, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24] cm.

Work Neck BO:
Row A7 [RS]: K 14[17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 27, 30, 31] , BO 14[14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20] , knit to end.
Place right shoulder sts on hold and continue with left shoulder.

Left Shoulder
Row A8 [WS]: Knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Row A9 [RS]: K1, sk2p, knit to end. 2 sts decreased.
Row A10: Knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Row A11: K1, ssk, knit to end. 1 st decreased.
Row A12: Knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat the last 2 rows 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] more time(s). 10[13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26] sts.

Sizes XS-2X only:
Row A13: Knit to end.
Row A14: Knit to last st, p1.

All Sizes, work short row shaping:
Short row 1 [RS]: K 6[8, 8, 10, 12, 14, 14, 16, 16] , w&t.
Short row 2 [WS]: Knit to last st, p1.
Short row 3: K 3[4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8] , w&t.
Short row 4: Knit to last st, p1.
BO all sts with a standard BO.

Right Shoulder
Place sts for Right Shoulder back on needles.
Row A8 [WS]: P2, knit to end.
Row A9 [RS]: Knit to last 4 sts, k3tog, k1. 2 sts decreased.
Row A10: P2, knit to end.
Row A11: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased.
Row A12: P2, knit to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1] more time(s).

Row A13: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 1 st decreased. 10[13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26] sts.

Sizes XS-2X only:
Row A14 [WS]: Knit to last st, p1.
Row A15 [RS]: Knit to end.

All Sizes, work short row shaping:
Short row 1 [WS]: P1, k 5[7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 13, 15, 15] , w&t.
Short row 2 [RS]: Knit to end.
Short row 3: P1, k 2[3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] , w&t.
Short row 4: Knit to end.
BO all sts with a standard BO.

Seam Shoulders:
Before picking up sts for the sleeves, the shoulders need to be seamed together using a mattress stitch. To match the stockinette ridge on the sleeves, the shoulders should be sewn together with the WS of each shoulder facing you, which will turn the bound off edges to the RS to create the ridge.

Sleeves (work 2)
Note: Sts will only be picked up along the vertical edge of the armholes; be sure not to pick up sts along the diagonal decrease edge or underarm BO. The color change should occur at the shoulder seam.

Row 1 [RS]: With Color A, pick up and knit 18[20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30] sts, pm, with Color B, pick up and knit 18[20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30] sts. Note: If your gauge is different from the pattern gauge, pick up 1 st per every 2 rows instead.
Row 2 [WS]: With Color B, p1, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last st, p1.
Row 3: With Color A, k1, M1L, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to last st, M1R, k1. 2 sts increased.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat the last 2 rows three more times. 44[48, 50, 54, 56, 60, 62, 66, 68] sts.

Row 11 [RS]: With Color A, knit to m, sm, with Color B, knit to end.
Row 12 [WS]: With Color B, p2, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat the last 2 rows 3[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4] more times.

Sizes XS-2X:
Row 13 [RS]: With Color A, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sm, with Color B, k1, k2tog, knit to end. 2 sts decreased.
Row 14 [WS]: With Color B, p2, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 11-12 a total of 5 times.
Repeat last 12 rows 5[4, 4, 2, 2, 0, -, -, -] more time(s). 32[38, 40, 48, 50, 58, -, -, -] sts.

All Sizes:
Next row [RS]: With Color A, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sm, with Color B, k1, k2tog, knit to end. 2 sts decreased.
Next row [WS]: With Color B, p2, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 11-12 a total of 3 times.
Repeat last 8 rows 0[0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1] more time(s). 30[36, 38, 42, 44, 48, 50, 60, 64] sts.

Sizes S-5X only:
Next row [RS]: With Color A, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sm, with Color B, k1, k2tog, knit to end. 2 sts decreased.
Next row [WS]: With Color B, p2, knit to 1 st before m, p1, sm, with Color A, p1, knit to last 2 sts, p2.
Repeat Rows 11-12 once.
Repeat last 4 rows –[2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 11, 12] more times. -[30, 32, 32, 34, 34, 36, 36, 38] sts.

All Sizes:
Continue to repeat Rows 11-12 4[7, 17, 14, 15, 14, 24, 27, ] times when the sleeve measures 16.5[16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 16.25, 16.25, 16, 15.25, 15] inches/ 42[42, 42, 42, 41.5, 41.5, 40.5, 38.5, 38] cm, or until sleeve is approx 1 inch/2.5 cm short of preferred length.

Sleeve Cuff:
Next row [RS]: With sleeve cuff color, k1, k2tog, knit to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 4 sts decreased.
Next row [WS]: P2, (k1, p1) to 2 sts before m, k1, rm, p2tog, (k1, p1) to last st, p1. 1 st decreased. 25[25, 27, 27, 29, 29, 31, 31, 33] sts.
Ribbing row 1: K1, (k1, p1) to last 2 sts, k2.
Ribbing row 2: P2, (k1, p1) to last st, p1.
Repeat the last 2 rows once more.
BO in pattern loosely.

Neckband
Rnd 1: Using the same color as the waistband, pick up and knit approx 66[66, 70, 72, 74, 74, 74, 76, 78] sts around the neck, starting from the back of the neck. Make sure this is an even number of sts.
Rnd 2: (K1, p1) around.
Repeat Rnd 2 4 more times.
BO in pattern.

FINISHING

Using a mattress stitch, seam together the sides of the sweater, the underarm seams, and along the bottoms of the sleeves. The diagonal decreases on the underarm shaping should be seamed to the diagonal increases at the top of the sleeve, and the underarm BOs should be seamed to the straight edge of the sleeve. Weave in ends and block as desired.

A – Chest circumference at underarm: 34.5[38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5, 54.5, 58.5, 62.5, 66.5] inches/ 87.5[98, 108, 118, 128.5, 138.5, 148.5, 159, 169] cm
B – Length to underarm: 12 inches/30.5 cm
C – Armhole depth: 7[7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches /18[19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm
D – Upper arm circumference: 14[15.25, 16, 17.25, 18, 19.25, 20, 21.25, 22] inches/ 35.5[38.5, 40.5, 44, 45.5, 49, 51, 54, 56] cm
E – Sleeve length: 17.5[17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 17.25, 17.25, 17, 16.25, 16] inches/ 44.5[44.5, 44.5, 44.5, 44, 44, 43, 41.5, 40.5] cm
F – Wrist circumference: 7.5[7.5, 8.25, 8.25, 9, 9, 9.5, 9.5, 10.25] inches / 19[19, 21, 21, 23, 23, 24, 24, 26] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername I've used the moniker "J" since I was a child, and have been a crafter about just as long. My love for knitting began over 20 years ago, and I love making sweaters, even if I don't get to wear them for long in the warm California weather. When I'm not knitting, you can find me either reading science fiction books, playing a cozy video game, gardening, or spoiling my guinea pigs.