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Nestucca Bay

Last winter in the midst of a snowstorm in NYC, I found myself on a bar crawl. Despite the weather, we were determined to stick it out. Each time we changed location, we all put on multiple layers to brave the cold. Every time we arrived at a new place, we all started peeling layers off so we'd look a bit less like snowmen.

As we layered up preparing for another trek, my friend and I started discussing one of the garments she was wearing. It was a lightweight sweater with no armhole seams and a square neckline.

The garment construction stuck in my mind. During a stash-diminishing exercise, I started playing with creating a chunky, stripey ribbed interpretation.

This sweater is literally made from two tubes, one for the body, and one for the shrug-like sleeves. The rib makes the body nice and fitted, and really warm. However, the square neckline makes this a cute sweater to wear on a cold night out. The sleeves are stockinette, and very slightly belled. It can be tried on as you go, and easily adjusted to fit the way you want. It's a fast knit, and there is no seaming!

model: Cassie Rovitti photos: Melissa McClain

SIZE
XS [S, M, L, XL] (shown in size S)
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 27 [29, 31, 33, 36] inches
Note: Will stretch up to 40[43, 46, 49, 54] inches

Cross-back width: 19[20, 21.5, 23, 24.5]
Length: 22.5[23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5] inches

Designer's note: The 3x1 rib used for the body of the sweater is very stretchy, which makes it accommodating for a wide variety of shapes and measurements. For reference, my chest is about 36 inches, and I'm wearing size S in the photo.

Important Note: Be sure to choose a size with a cross-back measurement that is at least .5 inches longer than the width of your back, measured from center of armpit to center of armpit, when your arms are held forward. (Have a friend help you take this measurement!)

 

MATERIALS

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran [55% Merino Wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere; 100yds/ 90m per 50g ball]
[MC] #300 Black 6 [7, 8, 9, 10] balls
[CC1] #612 Eggplant; 1 ball
[CC2] #105 Brown; 1 [1, 1, 1, 2] balls
[CC3] #201 Teal; 1 [2, 2, 2, 2]balls
[CC4] #501 Pea Green; 1 ball
[CC5] #607 Purple; 1 [2, 2, 2, 2] balls

This allows for the stripe layout exactly per the pattern, and will leave a lot left over of the contrast colors. A solid version would require 10 [11, 12, 13, 15] balls.

1 set US #8/5mm double-point needles
1 24-inch or 32-inch US #8/5mm circular needle
Stitch marker
Split ring markers or safety pins
Tapestry needle
Waste yarn
Crochet hook

GAUGE

20 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
24 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in 3x1 Rib

 

PATTERN NOTES

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

The first sleeve is cast on at the side back using the Crochet Cast On method. (If you prefer, you can use another provisional cast on method.) After the first sleeve is worked, you will remove the crochet chain from the cast on edge, and pick up the live stitches to begin working the second sleeve.

Crochet Cast On
Using waste yarn, work a crochet chain several sts longer than the number of sts to be cast on. Starting 1 or 2 sts in from end of chain and using working yarn, pick up and k 1 st in the back loop of each st until the required number of sts have been worked. Later, the chain will be unraveled and the resulting live sts picked up.

3x1 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
Round 1: [K3, p1] around.
Repeat this round for 3x1 Rib.

DIRECTIONS

Sleeves
Using Crochet Cast On and MC, CO 50 [55, 60, 65, 70] sts onto circular needle.
Work in stockinette st, slipping first st of each row, until work measures 19[20, 21.5, 23, 24.5] inches, ending with a WS row.

K next row onto double-point needles, dividing sts evenly between needles. Place marker and join to begin working in the round.
*Cont in stockinette st, working in the round, until work measures 6.5[6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5] inches from join.

Work stripe patt as follows:
K 12 rounds CC2.
K 3 rounds CC4.
K 5 rounds CC3.
K 8 rounds CC5.
K 1 round using MC.
Next Round: [K10[11, 12, 13, 14], m1] 5 times. 55[60, 65, 70, 75] sts.

Cont in stockinette st, using MC, until work measures 20 [20, 20.5, 21, 21.5] inches from join, or desired length.

P 1 row.
BO all sts knitwise.*

Remove crochet chain from CO edge and place live sts on double-point needles, dividing evenly between needles. Place marker and join to begin working in the round.

Work from * to * as for first sleeve. When completed, finished piece will resemble a shrug, with a large opening at the center, between two sleeves.

Designate one edge of this opening as the front, and the other edge as the back. (When the finished sweater is worn, the “front” edge of this piece will form the side and back edges of the neckline.) Place a split ring marker or safety pin at the center of the back edge, and at each corner of the opening (the points where the front and back edges meet). Place a marker or pin 3.25[3.75, 4.5, 5, 5.5] inches from each corner, along the front edge. (See diagram below.)

Body
Using MC and circular needle, CO 48[48, 48, 48, 52] sts.

Lay the sleeve section so that the opening faces up, with the front edge towards you.

Continuing from the stitches you have just cast on and beginning at the front marker on your left, pick up and k 16[19, 22, 25, 28] sts between front marker and side marker (approx. 4 sts for every 5 rows), pick up and k 80[86, 92, 98, 108] sts along the back edge (approx. 7 sts for every 10 rows), and 16[19, 22, 25, 28] sts between side marker and front marker. 160[172, 184, 196, 216] sts on needle.

Ensuring that CO sts are not twisted, join to begin working in the round.

Work in 3x1 Rib to side marker, remove split marker or pin and place stitch marker to indicate beg of round. Remove remaining markers.

Work 11[12, 13, 14, 16] rounds in 3x1 Rib using MC.

Continuing in 3x1 Rib, work in stripe patt as follows:
Work 6 rounds CC4.
Work 4 rounds CC3.
Work 11 rounds CC1.
Work 14 rounds MC.
Work 6 rounds CC5.
Work 11 rounds CC2.
Work 16 rounds CC3.
Work 4 rounds CC4.
Work 16 rounds CC5.
Cont in MC until work measures 17.5[18, 18.5, 19, 19.5] inches, or desired length. BO loosely in patt.

 
FINISHING

Weave in ends.

Try on sweater. If neckline seems too loose, use MC to sew edges of Sleeves and edges of Body together until neckline is desired size.

Block as desired. Be sure not to stretch ribbed body while blocking!

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Cassie lives in Brooklyn with a lot of yarn.

When she isn't knitting, she rambles about knitting at autumnsweater.typepad.com.