The main reason why this sweater is so quick to knit is its ease of construction. When you work stockinette stitch in the round, all you do is knit; there are no purl rows to slow you down. If you’re one of those people whose purl rows are noticeably deeper than her knit rows, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how even your work is. The other time-saver is the minimal finishing required: You have only two tiny underarm seams to sew up, and your sweater will be ready to wear!
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The 1st size sweater took 15 hours to knit.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Noro Kureyon is a hand-spun-look, pure wool roving yarn with 109 yds. (100 m) to a 50 g (approx. 1¾ oz.) ball. The colors are random dyed and shaded from bright to dark, which produces a splashy, striped effect when knitted.
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 39½[44 :48: 53] in. (100[112:122:134.5] cm); length 22[23½:24:25] in. (56[60:61:63.5] cm); sleeve 19 in. (48 cm). Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes; where there is only one figure, it refers to all sizes.
YOU WILL NEED
• 10(12:13:15) x 50 g balls (approx. 17½[21:22¾:26¼] oz.) of Noro Kureyon in shade 124
• 16-in. (40.5-cm) long size US 8 (5 mm) circular needle
• 24-in. (61-cm) long size US 8 (5 mm) circular needle
• set of double-pointed size US 8 (5 mm) needles
GAUGE
18 sts and 24 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over st-st on size US 8 (5 mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
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; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette stitch; tog = together; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
TIPS
• The sweater is worked in the round, from the neck downward, apart from a few rows worked back and forth when shaping armholes. This enables you to try on the sweater when it’s partly finished and adjust the sleeve length, if necessary.
• Take care not to twist the stitches on the needle when joining the first round.
• Place a marker to show the beginning of the rounds.
• Use the circular needle to work back and forth in rows, leaving the other stitches unworked on the needle.
SWEATER
BODY
Collar. Using short circular needle, cast on 85(85:90:90) sts. K every round for st-st until collar measures 8 in. (20 cm).
Shape yoke. Change to longer circular needle when necessary.
Inc Round 1 [Kfb, k3, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 119(119:126:126) sts.
K 2 rounds.
Inc Round 2 [Kfb, k5, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 153(153:162:162) sts.
K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 3 [Kfb, k7, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 187(187:198:198) sts.
K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 4 [Kfb, k9, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 221(221:234:234) sts.
K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 5 [Kfb, k11, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 255(255:270:270) sts.
K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 6 [Kfb, k13, kfb] 17(17:18:18) times. 289(289:306:306) sts.
2nd size only K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 7 [Kfb, k15, kfb] 17 times.
3rd and 4th sizes only K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 7 [Kfb, k15, kfb] 18 times.
4th size only K 4 rounds.
Inc Round 8 [Kfb, k17, kfb] 18 times.
All sizes 289(323:342:378) sts.
K every round in st-st until yoke measures 8 [9:9½:10¼] in.
(20[23:24:26] cm) from inc round 1.
Shape armholes. The yoke is divided, and the back and front are worked in rows while increasing to shape the armholes, then joined again to work the body in rounds. The stitches for the sleeves are left until later.
Row 1 of back (RS) Sl 1, k84(94:102:113), turn and leave 205(229:240:265) sts for sleeves and front. P 1 row.
Inc row (RS) Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 86(96:104:115) sts.
Cont in st-st, inc in this way at each end of next 2(2:3:3) RS rows. 90(100:110:121) sts. Break yarn and leave sts on needle.
Slip next 60(67:69:76) sts onto a holder for left sleeve.
Row 1 of front (RS) K next 85(95:102:113) sts, turn and leave remaining 60(67:69:76) sts on a holder for right sleeve. P 1 row.
Inc in same way as back at each end of next row and on foll 2(2:3:3) RS rows. 91(101:110:121) sts.
Body. Joining round (RS) K
90(100:110:121) sts of back and 91(101:110:121) sts of front.
181(201:220:242) sts.
K 24 rounds.
Dec Round 1 K1, k2tog, k84(94:104:115), skpo, k2, k2tog, k85(95:104:115), skpo, k1. 177(197:216:238) sts.
K 7 rounds.
Dec Round 2 K1, k2tog, k82(92:102:113), skpo, k2, k2tog, k83(93:102:113), skpo, k1. 173(193:212:234) sts.
K 7 rounds.
Dec Round 3 K1, k2tog, k80(90:100:111), skpo, k2, k2tog, k81(91:100:111), skpo, k1. 169(189:208:230) sts.
K 7 rounds.
Dec Round 4 K1, k2tog, k78(88:98:109), skpo, k2, k2tog, k79(89:98:109), skpo, k1.
165(185:204:226) sts.
K every round until sweater measures 22[23½ :24:25] in. (56[60:61:63.5] cm) from inc round 1 of yoke. Bind off.
SLEEVES
With RS facing, k 60(67:69:76) sts from left sleeve holder. P 1 row.
Inc in same way as back at each end of next row and on foll 2(2:3:3) RS rows. 66(73:77:84) sts. Change to double-pointed needles.
Round 1 K22(24:25:28) sts on first needle, 22(24:26:28) sts on second needle, and 22(25:26:28) sts on 3rd needle. 66(73:77:84) sts.
K 6 rounds.
Dec round K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, skpo, k1. 64(71:75:82) sts.
Cont to k every round in st-st, dec in this way on 6(9:10:12) foll 8th rounds. 52(53:55:58) sts.
K every round until sleeve measures 19 in. (48 cm) from Round 1.
Bind off.
Work right sleeve in the same way.
TO FINISH
Press according to yarn label. Join underarm seams. Weave in yarn ends.
TIPS
• If you prefer, you could use a very short circular needle to work the sleeves instead of double-pointed needles, or you could use long double-pointed needles throughout.
• Use the spare circular needle as a stitch holder.
• Placing a marker before each section on the first increase round of the yoke will cut down the counting time on the following increase rounds. Just slip the markers each time on the rounds in between.
• Use a different-colored marker for the beginning of the round so you don’t accidentally take it out when moving markers.
• It’s easy to keep track of the rounds between shaping if you mark each increase and decrease round as you work.
• Leave a marker on the first increase round of the yoke so you can immediately see where to start measuring when checking the length.
Once you learn to knit sweaters in the round, you may find it to be your favorite technique.
Vibrantly shaded yarn adds excitement to this incredibly simple sweater. Knitted almost entirely in the round, it’s in stockinette stitch with little rolled edges and is gently shaped to skim the figure.
