Knitty: Spring 2007

<click for more!

by Carol J. Sulcoski

I designed this sweater for my five-year-old daughter, hoping to create something charming and contemporary -- but not cutesy-poo. Knit in a machine-washable blend, Briar Rose is a cropped, fitted sweater featuring picot edging at cuffs and hem, then a cable rib pattern which transitions into stockinette stitch to speed the finished project along. A touch of sage green helps to stave off excessive pinkitude.

model: Grace photos: Laura Grutzeck

SIZE

2[4, 6-8, 10-12] (shown in size 4)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 21.75[25, 29, 32.75] inches
Length: 12.5[14, 15.5, 17] inches

MATERIALS

RYC Cashsoft DK [57% extra-fine merino, 33% microfibre, 10% cashmere; 142 yd/130 m per 50g skein]

[MC] #520 Bloom; 2 [3, 4, 5] skeins

[CC] #515 Tape; 1 [2, 2, 3] skeins

1 set US #6/4mm straight needles

1 set US #5/3.75mm straight needles

1 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

Cable needle

Stitch holders

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

22 sts / 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US #6/4mm needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

LC (Left Cross): Bring right needle behind first st on left needle and k into back loop of second st on left needle; k first st on left needle; drop both sts from left needle.

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.

Cable Pattern (Worked over a multiple of 10 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, p1, [k4, p2, LC, p2] to last 8 sts, k4, p2, k2.
Even-numbered Rows 2-6 [WS]: P2, k2, p4, [k2, p2, k2, p4] to last 2 sts, k1, p1.
Row 3 [RS]: K1, p1, [C4F, p2, LC, p2] to last 8 sts, C4F, p2, k2.
Row 5 [RS]: Work as for Row 1.
Repeat Rows 1-6 for Cable Pattern.

Rib Pattern (Worked over a multiple of 10 sts):
Row 1 [RS]: K1, p1, [k4, p2, k2, p2] to last 8 sts, k4, p2, k2.
Row 2 [WS]: P2, k2, p4, [k2, p4, k2, p2] to last 2 sts, k1, p1.
Repeat these 2 rows for Rib Pattern.

PATTERN

BACK
Using US #5/3.75mm needle and CC, CO 60[70, 80, 90] sts.
Beginning with a RS row, work 4 rows in stockinette stitch.

Next Row [RS]: K1, [yo, k2tog] to last st, k1. This row is the turning row for the picot hem.
Work 5 more rows in stockinette stitch.

Work Rows 1-6 of Cable Pattern 3[3, 4, 4] times. Break CC.

Using MC, work 4[4, 6, 8] rows in Rib Pattern.

Using larger needle, work in stockinette stitch until work measures 8[8.75, 9.25, 10.25] inches from turning row, ending with a WS row.

Shape Armholes:
BO 4[5, 6, 7] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 52[60, 68, 76] sts.

Next Row [RS]: K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 3[3, 4, 6] times more. 44[52, 58, 62] sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 11.75[13.25, 14.75, 16.25] inches from turning row (armhole measures 3.75[4.5, 5.5, 6] inches), ending with a RS row.

Shape Shoulders:
BO 3[4, 4, 4] sts at beginning of nex 2 rows. 38[44, 50, 54] sts.
BO 4[4, 5, 5] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 30[36, 40, 44] sts.
Next Row [WS]: BO 4[5, 5, 5] sts, p22[26, 30, 34], BO remaining 4[5, 5, 5] sts.
Place remaining sts on stitch holder.

FRONT
Work as for Back through armhole shaping; cont in st st until front measures until work measures 10.25[11.5, 12.75, 14] inches from turning row, ending with RS row.
Next Row [WS]: P16[19, 21, 22], place these sts just worked on a st holder, BO next 12[14, 16, 18] sts, p to end. 16[19, 21, 22] sts on needle.

Next Row [RS]: K to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 4[5, 6, 7] times more.11[13, 14, 14] sts.

Next Row [RS]: BO 3[4, 4, 4] sts, k to end.
P 1 row.
Next Row [RS]: BO 4[4, 5, 5] sts, k to end.
P 1 row.
BO remaining 4[5, 5, 5] sts.

Replace held sts of right front on needle with RS facing and rejoin yarn.
Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to end.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 4[5, 6, 7] times more. 11[13, 14, 14] sts.

K 1 row.
Next Row [WS]: BO 3[4, 4, 4] sts, p to end.
K 1 row.
Next Row [WS]: BO 4[4, 5, 5] sts, p to end.
BO remaining 4[5, 5, 5] sts.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using US #5/3.75mm needle and CC, CO 30[30, 40, 40] sts.
Beginning with a RS row, work 4 rows in stockinette stitch.

Next Row [RS]: K1, [yo, k2tog] to last st, k1. This row is the turning row for the picot hem.
Work 5 more rows in stockinette stitch.

Note: Read ahead. Stitch pattern directions and shaping directions are worked at the same time.
Work Rows 1-6 of Cable Pattern 3[3, 4, 4] times. Break CC.
Using MC, work 12 [12, 16, 16] rows in Rib Pattern.
Using larger needle, work in stockinette stitch.

AT THE SAME TIME, beginning on first row of Cable Pattern, shape sleeve as follows:
Work 4 rows in pattern.

Increase Row: K1, m1, work in pattern to last st, m1, k1.
Work 3[3, 5, 3] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 4[4, 6, 4] rows 4[7, 1, 5] times more. 40[46, 44, 52] sts.

Work Increase Row.
Work 5[5, 7, 5] rows in pattern.
Repeat these 6[6, 8, 6] rows 3[2, 7, 9] times more. 48[52, 60, 72] sts.

Continue in stockinette st until work measures 6.5[7.5, 11, 12.5] inches from turning row, ending with a WS row.

Shape Sleeve Cap:
BO 4[5, 6, 7] sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 40[42, 48, 58] sts.
Next Row [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to last st, ssk, k1.
P 1 row.
Repeat these 2 rows 7[7, 9, 12] times more. 24[26, 28, 32] sts.
BO 2 sts at beginning of next 4 rows.
BO remaining 16[18, 20, 24] sts.

FINISHING

Sew Back and Front together at shoulders.

Neckband
Using circular needle and MC, with RS facing and beginning at right shoulder seam, pick up and k 13[15, 17, 19] sts along right front neckline edge, pick up and k 1 st in each bound off st along center front neckline edge, pick up and k 13[15, 17, 19] sts along left front neckline edge, k held sts of back neck. 60[70, 80, 90] sts.
Work in Rib Pattern until neckband measures 1 inch.
BO all sts loosely in pattern.

Fold hem facings of body and sleeves to inside of work, and sew in place, taking care not to sew too tightly.
Sew sleeves into armholes. Sew sleeve seams and side seams.
Weave in ends and block as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Carol Sulcoski left the dog-eat-dog world of the law for the sheep-eat-grass world of yarn. Her designs have been featured in Knitty.com, Big Girl Knits, and MenKnit.net, and she is currently co-writing a book to be published in spring 2008 by Interweave Press.

Carol blogs at goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com, is dyemistress of Black Bunny Fibers, and is a staff member at Rosie's Yarn Cellar. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children and an inimitable black bunny.