Although it’s knitted entirely in simple stockinette stitch, this jacket is constructed in an unusual way. The back and sleeves are knitted conventionally, but the fronts are knitted sideways, so the ruffle “grows” out from the front edges.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The first size jacket took a total of 27 hours, including finishing.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is a supple, lightweight yarn that’s a mix of 55% merino wool, 33% microfiber, and 12% cashmere. It has approximately 99 yds. (90 m) to a 50 g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball.
SIZES
To fit: bust 34 to 36[38 to 40:42 to 44:46 to 48] in. (86 to 91[97 to 101.5:107 to 112:117 to 122] cm)
Actual measurements: bust 38[42¼:46½:51] in. (97[107:118:129.5] cm) excluding wrap-over; length 23[23¾:24½ :25] in. (58.5[60.5:62:63.5] cm); sleeve 18¾ in. (47.5 cm). Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes; where there is one figure, it refers to all sizes.
YOU WILL NEED
• 13(15:17:19) x 50 g balls (approx. 22¾[26 :29¾:33¼] oz.) of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in shade 502
• pair of size US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles
• 39-in. (99-cm) long size US 8 (5 mm) circular needle
• pin or brooch (optional)
GAUGE
18 sts and 24 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over st-st on size US 8 (5mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg = beginning; cont = continue; dec = decrease; foll = following; inc = increase; k = knit; kfb = k into front and back of st; p = purl; RS = right side; skpo = slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over; sl = slip; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette st; tog = together; WS = wrong side; yb = yarn to back of work; yf = yarn to front of work; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
Cast on 87(97:107:117) sts. Beg k row, st-st 16 rows.
Dec row (RS) K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, skpo, k2. 85(95:105:115) sts. Cont in st-st, dec in this way at each end of 3 foll 8th rows. 79(89:99:109) sts.
St-st 9 rows.
Inc row (RS) K1, kfb, k to last 3 sts, kfb, k2. 81(91:101:111) sts.
Cont in st-st, inc in this way at each end of 3 foll 8th rows.
87(97:107:117) sts.
St-st 17 rows.
Shape armholes. Bind off 4(5:6:7) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
79(87:95:103) sts.
Dec in same way as before at each end of next 6(7:8:9) RS rows.
67(73:79:85) sts.
St-st 31(33:35:37) rows.
Shape neck. Next row (RS) K22(24:26:28), turn and complete right-hand side on these sts. [Bind off 2 sts at beg of next row and dec 1 st at end of foll row] twice.
16(18:20:22) sts. P 1 row. Bind off. With RS facing, bind off center 23(25:27:29) sts, k to end. 22(24:26:28) sts.
[Dec 1 st at end of next row and bind off 2 sts at beg of foll row] twice. 16(18:20:22) sts. P 1 row. Bind off.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 68 sts.
Shape side and armhole.
Row 1 (RS) K.
Row 2 P33, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 34 sts.
Row 3 Sl 1, yb, k33.
Row 4 P26, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 7 more sts.
Row 5 Sl 1, yb, k24, kfb, k1.
Row 6 P20, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 7 more sts.
Row 7 Sl 1, yb, k18, kfb, k1.
Row 8 P. 70 sts.
Row 9 K to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 71 sts. Work Rows 8 and 9 0(1:2:3) more times, then work Row 8 again. 71(72:73:74) sts.
Next row K to last 2 sts, kfb, k1, cast on 34(37:39:41) sts. 106(110:113:116) sts.
Shoulder. St-st 20(24:26:30) rows, ending with a k row.
Shape neck. Next row (WS) Bind off 8(9:10:11) sts, p to end. 98(101:103:105) sts.
Dec row (RS) K to last 3 sts, skpo, k1. 97(100:102:104) sts.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at end of next 22(23:24:25) RS rows. 75(77:78:79) sts.
St-st 2 rows. Leave sts on a holder.
Cast on 68 sts.
Shape side and armhole.
Row 1 (RS) K.
Row 2 P.
Row 3 K33, yf, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 34 sts.
Row 4 Sl 1, p33.
Row 5 Kfb, k25, yf, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 7 more sts.
Row 6 Sl 1, p 27.
Row 7 Kfb, k19, yf, sl 1, yb, turn and leave 7 more sts.
Row 8 Sl 1, p21.
Row 9 Kfb, k to end. 71 sts.
Row 10 P.
Work Rows 9 and 10 0(1:2:3) more times, then work Row 9 again. 72(73:74:75) sts.
Next row P72(73:74:75), cast on 34(37:39:41) sts. 106(110:113:116) sts.
Shoulder. St-st 20(24:26:30) rows, ending with a p row.
Shape neck. Next row (RS) Bind off 8(9:10:11) sts, 1 st on right needle, k2tog, k to end. 97(100:102:104) sts. P 1 row.
Dec row (RS) K1, k2tog, k to end. 96(99:101:103) sts.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at beg of next 21(22:23:24) RS rows.
75(77:78:79)sts.
P 1 row. Leave sts on a holder.
SLEEVES
Cast on 57(63:69:75) sts.
Beg k row, st-st 12 rows.
Dec row (RS) K2, [k2tog, k1, skpo, k1] 9(10:11:12) times, k1. 39(43:47:51) sts. St-st 7(3:7:7) rows.
Inc row (RS) K1, kfb, k to last 3 sts, kfb, k2. 41(45:49:53) sts.
Cont in st-st, inc in this way at each end of 11(12:13:14) foll 8th(8th:6th: 6th) rows. 63(69:75:81) sts.
St-st 5(1:15:9) rows.
Shape top. Bind off 4(5:6:7) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 55(59:63:67) sts.
Dec row K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, skpo, k1. 53(57:61:65) sts.
Cont in st-st, dec in this way at each end of next 5(6:7:8) RS rows. 43(45:47:49) sts.
St-st 7 rows.
Dec as before at each end of next 4 RS rows. 35(37:39:41) sts.
P1 row.
Next row (RS) Bind off 2 sts, k to last 2 sts, skpo. 32(34:36:38) sts.
Next row Bind off 2 sts, p to last 2 sts, p2tog. 29(31:33:35) sts.
Work last 2 rows 3 more times. 11(13:15:17) sts. Bind off.
RUFFLE
Join shoulders. Using circular needle, slip 75(77:78:79) sts from right front holder, pick up and k 39(43:47:50) sts up right front neck, 39(42:42:44) sts around back neck, and 39(43:47:50) sts down left front neck, k 75(77:78:79) sts from left front holder. 267(282:292:302) sts.
Row 1 and every WS row P.
Row 2 Kfb, [k4, kfb] 53(56:58:60) times, k1. 321(339:351:363) sts.
Row 4 Kfb, [kfb, k4, kfb] 53(56:58:60) times, kfb, k1. 429(453:469:485) sts.
Row 6 Kfb, [k2, kfb, k4, kfb] 53(56:58:60) times, k2, kfb, k1. 537(567:587:607) sts.
Row 8 K.
Row 10 Kfb, [k4, kfb] 107(113:117:121) times, k1. 645(681:705:729) sts.
Row 12 K.
Row 14 Kfb, [k6, kfb, k4, kfb] 53(56:58:60) times, k6, kfb, k1. 753(795:823:851) sts.
Row 16 K.
Row 18 K.
Bind off knitwise.
TO FINISH
Press according to yarn label. Set in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams. Weave in yarn ends.
TIPS
• To create a smoother line when binding off the groups of 2 stitches to shape the back neck and top of the sleeves, slip the first stitch.
• When sewing the shoulders and side seams, you will need to join approximately 9 stitches to every 12 rows.
• Always sew with the right side of the garment facing you; it’s easier to join stitches and rows this way, and to match the sleeve shapings.
• Pin the seams at regular intervals before joining, to make sure that they don’t slip as you sew. Use either blunt-pointed knitter’s pins or large glass-headed pins, and insert them at right angles to the seam; this way, they won’t work loose.
• If you don’t have a circular needle, you can use 2 pairs of straight needles to hold the stitches for the ruffle. Simply knit until the first needle is nearly full, then continue with the second, then the third needle.
Use the fourth to knit with. Take care not to leave loose stitches when changing needles.
This stylish jacket is gently shaped at the sides to give a flattering fit and has high armholes with slim sleeves that flare over the wrists.
