An ethereal oversize semi-cropped, balloon-sleeve sweater perfect to wear alone or combined with an underneath top. Elora mixes two different fibers (silk and mohair) in the same color palette to create this airy and delicate feeling. This sweater will look amazing combined with a casual dress, a more sophisticated pencil skirt or with your favorite pair of jeans.
Time: 25-35 Hour Pattern
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 39 (43, 47, 51, 54)” to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)”
6-7” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 39”.
Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rnds = 4” [10 cm] in St st alternating CC2 and CC3 for every rnd, after blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Ito KINU (100% silk; 464 yards [425 meters]/50 grams): 350 Angora (CC1, 1 cone), 488 Olive (CC2, 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) cone(s))
Olann Kid Silk Mohair (72% kid mohair, 28% silk; 460 yards [420 meters]/50 grams): Tell us (CC3, 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s))
Needles: US size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles
Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Kfbf: Knit into front, back and front again of same st. (make 3 sts out of 1 st)
Pattern Notes
The sweater is knitted seamlessly top down in the round. Once the yoke is completed, body and sleeves are knitted separately until the desired length. It is worked mainly in stockinette stitch, alternating CC2 and CC3 every other row. Sleeve circumference increases right after the underarm, widening towards the cuff to form the balloon-shape construction. Ribbing starts/finish with a few rows of stockinette stitch in contrast color (CC1) providing an intended contrasted rustic curled finishing.
Pattern
Yoke
With CC1, CO 120 (132, 144, 156, 168) sts.
Pm and join to work in the rnd, being careful to not twist the sts.
Rnds 1-4: Knit.
Rnds 5-12: With CC2, *k1 tbl, p1 tbl; rep from * to end.
Rnds 13-14: Knit.
First increase:
Rnd 1: With CC2, *kfbf, k5; rep from * to end. (160 (176, 192, 208, 224) sts)
Rnd 2: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 3: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.
Rep last 2 rnds 1 (2, 2, 2, 3) more time(s).
Second increase:
Rnd 1: With CC2, *k1, kfbf, k6; rep from * to end. (200 (220, 240, 260, 280) sts)
Rnd 2: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 3: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.
Rep last 2 rnds 4 (5, 5, 5, 6) more times.
Third increase:
Rnd 1: With CC2, *k2, kfbf, k7; rep from * to end. (240 (264, 288, 312, 336) sts)
Rnd 2: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 3: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.
Rep last 2 rnds 8 (10, 10, 10, 12) more times.
Fourth increase:
Rnd 1: With CC2, *k3, kfbf, k8; rep from * to end. (280 (308, 336, 364, 392) sts)
Rnd 2: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 3: With CC2, knit.
Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.
Rep last 2 rnds 4 (5, 5, 5, 6) more times.
Divide sleeves and body: With CC2, k42 (46, 51, 55, 59), place 57 (62, 67, 72, 78) sleeve sts onto st holder or waste yarn, CO 15 (16, 17, 18, 18) sts for underarm, k83 (92, 101, 110, 118), place 57 (62, 67, 72, 78) sleeve sts onto st holder or waste yarn, CO 15 (16, 17, 18, 18) sts for underarm, knit rem 41 (46, 50, 55, 59) sts to end. (196 (216, 236, 256, 272) body sts)
Body:
Rnd 1: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 2: With CC2, knit.
Rep last 2 rnds 28 (31, 33, 36, 38) more times or until desired length.
Ribbing:
Rnds 1-2: With CC2, knit.
Rnds 3-8: *K1 tbl, p1 tbl; rep from * to end.
Rnds 9-12: With CC1, knit.
BO loosely either using needles a couple of sizes bigger or Jennys’ surprisingly stretchy bind-off.
Sleeves:
In the set-up rnd you need to place 3 markers to identify where you will need to increase sts.
Set-up Rnd: With RS facing and CC2, beg in center of underarm, pick up and knit 8 (8, 9, 9, 9) sts along underarm CO, k17 (18, 20, 21, 23), pm, k23, (26, 27, 30, 32), pm, k17 (18, 20, 21, 23), pick up and knit 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts along underarm CO, pm for beg of rnd. (72, 78, 84, 90, 96) sts)
Shape sleeve:
Rnd 1: With CC3, knit.
Rnd 2: With CC2, [kfbf, knit to next marker, sl marker] twice, kfbf, knit to end. (78 (84, 90, 96, 102) sts)
Rep last 2 rnds 9 (9, 10, 10, 11) more times. (132 (138, 150, 156, 168) sts)
Next Rnd: With CC3, knit, removing all but beg of rnd marker.
Next Rnd: With CC2, knit.
Next Rnd: With CC3, knit.
Rep last 2 rnds 19 (22, 23, 26, 27) more times or until desired length.
Cuff:
Rnd 1: With CC2, k2tog to end of rnd. (66 (69, 75, 78, 84) sts rem)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. (44 (46, 50, 52, 56) sts rem)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnds 5-12: *K1 tbl, p1 tbl; rep from * to end.
Rnds 13-16: With CC1, knit.
BO loosely either using needles a couple of sizes bigger or Jennys’ surprisingly stretchy bind-off.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Wash and block to desired measurements. To preserve the curled effect of the ribbing I recommend to place the blocking pins/combs between the 4 rnds of St st with CC1 and the first rnd with CC2