A basic sweater knitted in aran-weight yarn using three simple stitches—K1, P1 rib, stockingstitch and a 2-row pattern repeat. This sweater has a shaped front hem, a longer back hem and angled stitch detail on the sleeves.
YARN
erika knight for John Lewis aran wool 100% pure wool
Approx. 160m (175yd) per 100g (3½oz) ball
NOTE
Design shown in all photos is a size Medium. Colour: Ecru. Model: UK size 6–8. Height: 5’6”.
MATERIALS
Quantity:
6(7:7:8) x 100g (3½oz) balls
5mm needles
4.5mm circular needle—length 40cm
Stitch markers
Stitch holders
Large-eyed blunt-tipped sewing needle
NOTE
Yarn amounts given are based on average requirements and are approximate.
TENSION
17 sts and 23 rows to 10cm measured over st st using 5mm needles after steaming. Change needle size as necessary to ensure the correct tension.
BACK
Using 5mm needles cast on 101(109:119:127) sts and work in K1, P1 rib as foll:
Row 1 (RS): [K1, P1] to last st, K1.
Row 2: [P1, K1] to last st, P1.
Rep last 2 rows 15 times more, ending with RS facing for next row, pm at both ends of last row.
Beg with a K row cont in St st until work meas 38(42:46:50)cm from cast-on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armholes:
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 95(103:113:121) sts.
Next row (dec, RS): K3, K2tog, K to last 5 sts, K2tog tbl, K3.
Next row: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until 87(95:105:113) sts. Cont straight until armhole meas
18(19:20:21)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape back neck and shoulders:
Next row (RS): K to last 5(5:6:7) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to last 5(5:6:7) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: K to last 9(10:12:13) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to last 9(10:12:13) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: K to last 13(15:18:19) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to last 13(15:18:19) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: K to last 17(20:23:25) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to last 17(20:23:25) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: K to last 21(25:28:31) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to last 21(25:28:31) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: K6(6:7:8), turn and leave rem 60(64:70:74) sts on a holder. 27(31:35:39) sts.
Next row: Cast off 2 sts, P to end of row, picking up wraps as you work. 25(29:33:37) sts.
Cut yarn leaving a long end.
Slip these sts onto a holder for shoulder.
With RS of work facing slip centre 33(33:35:35) sts onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem 27(31:35:39) sts and work as foll:
Next row: Cast off 2 sts, K to end of row picking up wraps as you work. 25(29:33:37) sts.
Cut yarn leaving a long end.
Slip these sts onto a holder for shoulder.
FRONT
Using 5mm needles, cast on 91(99:109:117) sts and work in K1, P1 rib as foll:
Next row (RS): [K1, P1] to last st, K1.
Next row: [P1, K1] to last st, P1.
Next row (inc): Rib 5, M1, rib as set to last 5 sts, M1, rib to end of row.
Cont in rib as set, working a 5-st selvedge edge at either end and inc 1 st at both ends inside selvedge edge, as above, on every foll 4th row until 101(109:119:127) sts, incorporating new sts into rib patt.
Work 3 rows straight, pm at both ends of last row.
Cont in rib patt throughout as foll:
Row 1 (RS): [P1, K1] to last st, P1.
Row 2: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until work meas
34(38:42:46)cm from cast-on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape armholes:
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 95(103:113:121) sts.
Next row (dec, RS): Patt 3, K2tog, patt to last 5 sts, K2tog tbl, patt 3.
Next row: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until 87(95:105:113) sts.
Keeping patt correct cont straight until armhole meas 11(12:13:14)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape neck:
Next row (RS): Patt 34(38:42:46), turn and leave rem 53(57:63:67) sts on a holder.
Cast off 2 sts at beg of next and foll alt row. 30(34:38:42) sts.
Next row (dec, RS): Patt to last 5 sts, K2tog, patt 3.
Next row: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until 25(29:33:37) sts.
Keeping patt correct cont straight until armhole meas 18(19:20:21)cm ending with WS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder:
Next row (WS): P to last 5(5:6:7) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: Patt to end of row.
Next row: P to last 9(10:12:13) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: Patt to end of row.
Next row: P to last 13(15:18:19) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: Patt to end of row.
Next row: P to last 17(20:23:25) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: Patt to end of row.
Next row: P to last 21(25:28:31) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: Patt to end of row.
Next row: P to end of row picking up wraps as you work.
Cut yarn leaving a long end.
Slip these 25(29:33:37) sts onto a holder for shoulder.
With RS of work facing slip centre 19(19:21:21) sts onto another holder.
Rejoin yarn to rem 34(38:42:46) sts and work as foll:
Keeping patt correct, cast off 2 sts at beg of this and foll alt row. 30(34:38:42) sts.
Next row (WS): P to end of row.
Next row (dec): Patt 3, K2tog tbl, patt to end of row.
Next row: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until 25(29:33:37) sts.
Keeping patt correct cont straight until armhole meas 18(19:20:21)cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape shoulder:
Next row (RS): Patt to last 5(5:6:7) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to end of row.
Next row: Patt to last 9(10:12:13) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to end of row.
Next row: Patt to last 13(15:18:19) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to end of row.
Next row: Patt to last 17(20:23:25) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to end of row.
Next row: Patt to last 21(25:28:31) sts, wrap next st, turn.
Next row: P to end of row.
Next row: Patt to end of row picking up wraps as you work.
Cut yarn leaving a long end.
Slip these 25(29:33:37) sts onto a holder for shoulder.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
Using 5mm needles cast on 55(57:59:61) sts and work in K1, P1 rib as foll:
Row 1 (RS): [K1, P1] to last st, K1.
Row 2: [P1, K1] to last st, P1.
Rep last 2 rows 8 times more.
Cont in St st with centre st detail as foll:
Next row (RS): K26(27:28:29), P1, K1, P1, K to end of row.
Next row: P26(27:28:29), K1, P1, K1, P to end of row.
Next row (inc): K26(27:28:29), M1, rib 3 as set, M1, K to end of row. 57(59:61:63) sts.
Working extra sts in St st, inc as above on either side of 3 rib sts at centre, on every foll 4th row until 67(69:71:73) sts.
Work 3 rows straight with rib detail, ending with RS facing for next row.
Beg with a K row, cont in St st across all sts and work straight until sleeve meas 45(46:47:47)cm from cast-on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape top:
Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 61(63:65:67) sts.
Next row (dec, RS): K3, K2tog, K to last 5 sts, K2tog tbl, K3.
Next row: P to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows until 53(55:57:59) sts.
Cast off 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows. 45(47:49:51) sts.
Cast off loosely.
Join both shoulders using the three-needle cast-off method with WS of work tog so that the seam is on the outside of your work.
NECKBAND
With RS facing, using 4.5mm circular needle and starting at left shoulder, pick up and K 24(24:24:26) sts down left front neck, patt as set across 19(19:21:21) sts from centre front holder, 24(24:24:26) sts up right neck, 4 sts across right back neck, 33(33:35:35) sts from centre back holder and 4 sts across left back neck, pm to show start of round. 108(108:112:112) sts.
Round 1: K to end of round.
Round 2: [K1, P1] to end of round.
Rep round 2 until neckband meas 7cm.
Cast off loosely in rib.
Weave in any ends on the WS of the work. Choose a flat padded surface or blocking board, pin work out to measurements with WS facing. Cover with a damp cloth and gently steam, avoiding ribbing. Leave to dry flat.
Sew in sleeves.
Join sleeve and side seams, leaving open below markers.
