Double Rainbow pullover: Deep Fall 2013

by Rena Varsakis,
The Red Fox and Gown

"Double rainbow all the way across the sky!" From hilarious internet meme to your very own cozy pullover to wear on chilly days, Double Rainbow puts a smile on your face while going around town or your favorite national park. Just don't feed the bears! And, of course, keep your eyes open for that elusive double rainbow.

Double Rainbow is worked top down seamlessly in the round in stockinette stitch. The cowl-neck pullover is worn with 2 inches of ease, so pick a size 2 inches larger than your chest size for a fit like the ones in the photo. For a slimmer fit, choose the size that matches your actual chest size.

model: Rena Varsakis

photos: Sylvia McFadden


SIZE Women's garment: XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] shown in size L with 2 inches ease

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 32[36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56] inches
Length: 25.5[26, 26.5, 27, 28.5, 29, 31] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Rain City Knits DK [100% Bluefaced Leicester; 246 yd/ 225 m per 100g skein];
[MC] Steel Grey; 5 [6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 8] skeins
[CC1] Vermillion Red; 1 skein
[CC2] Bright Orange; 1 skein
[CC3] Lemon Yellow; 1 skein
[CC4] Kelly Green; 1 skein
[CC5] Rain Drop Blue; 1 skein
[CC6] Royal Blue; 1 skein
[CC7] Heliotrope Purple; 1 skein
Note: CCs available in Babycakes DK Sampler Pack from Rain City Knits

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #6/4.0mm double-point needles
1 set US #4/3.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #6/4.0mm circular needle
1 32-inch US #6/4.0mm circular needle
1 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needle

Notions
4 stitch markers
crochet hook
yarn needle
waste yarn

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4" using US #6 / 4.0mm circular needle in stockinette stitch blocked

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

Alternate MC skeins every 2 rounds in order to avoid color pooling with variegated yarn.

Tubular Bind Off: a video is found here

Stripes Pattern:
Follow this order when knitting CCs (to match rainbow: Vermillion Red (CC #1), Bright Orange (CC #2), Lemon Yellow (CC #3), Kelly Green (CC #4), Rain Drop Blue (CC #5), Royal Blue (CC #6) and Heliotrope Purple (CC #7).

DIRECTIONS
SWEATER
Set up round:
Using 16-inch US #6/4.0mm circular needles, CO 80[80, 80, 96, 96, 108, 108] sts in MC and join round. Pm #1 at beg of round.

Cowl:
Begin garter st fabric:
Round 1: K all sts.
Round 2: P all sts
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 two more times.

Beg St st fabric:
K all sts until cowl is 8 inches long.

Yoke:
Set-up round: Slip marker #1, k 30[30, 30, 36, 36, 40, 40], pm #2, k 10[10, 10, 12, 12, 14, 14], pm #3, k 30[30, 30, 36, 36, 40, 40], pm #4, k to end of round. During yoke increases, switch to 32-inch US #6/4.0mm circular needles as required.

Begin increases every second round for yoke and sleeves as follows:
Rnd 1: K all sts.

Rnd 2: *Sm, k1, kfb, k to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, k1; rep from * 3 more times until end of round. 88[88, 88, 104, 104, 116, 116] sts. 8 sts increased.

Rep Rnds 1 and 2 another 21[22, 24, 25, 29, 33, 39] times.

Continue increases only on body sts 3[7, 10, 11, 12, 11, 10] more times. There are 268[292, 320, 348, 384, 424, 468] sts on needles.

Divide body and sleeves.
Place sleeve sts on waste yarn and set aside, leaving 1 st marker under each sleeve, marking beg of round and midpoint. Join round at marker #1. There are 160[180, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280] sts rem for body.

Size XS only: K 2 inches after dividing sleeves.
Size S only: K 1 inch after dividing sleeves.

Body
Begin waist decrease pattern as follows:
Step A: Work 5[4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4] rnds even in patt (k all sts).

Step B: Work decrease rnd as follows: *K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts from marker, SSK, k1; rep once from *. 4 sts decreased.

Rep Steps A and B 7[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] times more. 128[140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 236] sts rem after decreases.

Begin hip increase pattern as follows:
Step C: Work 3 rnds even in patt (k all sts).

Step D: Work increase rnd as follows: *Sm, k1, kfb, k to 2 sts before next marker, kfb, k1; rep once from *. 4 sts increased.

Rep Steps C and D 12[12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 11] times more. 180[192, 212, 232, 252, 268, 284] sts after increases.

Ribbing:
Using 32-inch US #4/3.5mm circular needles, begin ribbing as follows:
Rnd 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of round.

Work even in ribbing patt for 2 inches.
BO using Tubular BO.

Break yarn.

SLEEVES (make 2):
Note: READ AHEAD: Stripe pattern and sleeve decreases are worked AT THE SAME TIME. Please read ahead through all sleeve directions before beginning.

There are 54[56, 60, 64, 72, 82, 94] sts for each sleeve on waste yarn.
Place one set of sleeve sts on US #6/4.0mm dpns.
Work Stripes pattern, alternating CCs and MC, as follows:
Using CC#1: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#2: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#3: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#4: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#5: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#6: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

Using MC: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds.

Using CC#7: k 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10] rnds. Break yarn.

AT THE SAME TIME: work sleeve decreases as follows:
Step A: Work 8[8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 4] rnds in patt (k all sts).

Step B: Work decrease rnd: *K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts from marker, SSK, k1; rep once from *. 2 sts decreased.

Rep Steps A and B 12[12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 25] more times. 28[30, 32, 34, 38, 40, 42] sts rem after sleeve decreases.

Cuff:
Using US #4/3.5mm dpns and MC, begin cuff as follows:
Rnd 1: *K1, p1; rep once from *.
Work even for 2 inches in patt as set.
Bind off using Tubular bind off. Break yarn.

FINISHING
Weave in ends on WS. If needed, graft underarm holes. Wash and block garment.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Rena Varsakis is a knitwear designer and owner of The Red Fox and Gown and she loves to laugh. Rena's design influences arise from working at the Design Museum, London, UK with contemporary emergent and established designers in fashion, photography and more. Life overseas in London and Cambridge provided her with much artistic inspiration that motivates her work today in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Rena has designed for Herdy and Rain City Knits. She can often be found colouring outside the lines.