Embrace the beauty of laceweight yarn with the Gossamer Bowback Sweater, an elegant, showstopping piece perfect for all winter long. Light as air yet surprisingly warm, its subtle texture and silvery, neutral hue make this a sweater that pairs well with skirts, dresses or your favorite dark wash jeans. A semi-open back is drawn together with delicate knitted bows to keep the sweater charmingly semi closed.
Time: Month Project
Skill Level: Easy
SIZES: Finished Bust Size 36 (40.5, 45, 49.5, 53.5) (58, 62.5)” to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 46, 50) (54, 58)”
4” positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 36”
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] with larger needles and 2 strands in Main pattern after wet blocking
21 sts and 24 rows = 4″ [10 cm] with smaller needles and 2 strands in K1, p1 rib after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Drops Kid-Silk (75% Mohair, 25% Silk; 230 yards [210 meters] / 0.9 ounces [25 grams]): 44 Moonlight 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) (12, 12) balls.
Needles: US size 6 (4.0mm) 24 and 47” circulars, US Size 8 (5 mm), 47″ circulars
Notions: Cable needle, stitch holders, holder cord / waste yarn, removable markers, tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
K1, P1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts + 1)
Row 1 (RS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1-2 for pattern.
1/1 RC: Sl 1 st on cable needle and hold at back, knit next st from left hand needle, then knit st from cable needle.
1/1 LC: Sl 1 st on cable needle and hold at front, knit next st from left hand needle, then knit st from cable needle.
Special Stitches
Main Pattern (multiple of 10 sts +6)
Row 1 (RS): *K6, 1/1 LC, 1/1 RC; rep from * until last 6 st, k6.
Turning Rows (WS): Purl.
Row 3: *K6, 1/1 RC, 1/1 LC; rep from * until last 6 st, k6.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 7: K1, *1/1 LC, 1/1 RC, k6; rep from * until last 5 st, 1/1 LC, 1/1 RC, k1.
Row 9: K1, *1/1 RC, 1/1 LC, k6; rep from * until last 5 st, 1/1 RC, 1/1 LC, k1.
Row 11: Knit.
Rep Rows 1-12 for pattern.
Pattern Notes
Sweater is knitted with two strands yarn held together.
The body is worked back and forth in one piece to the armholes, then divided for working the front and backs separately.
If you want to make your sweater shorter/longer, work one or less/more 6-rows of Main patt before shaping armholes. Remember that you will require more yarn for a longer sweater.
Bows are knitted separately and sewn instead of the buttons on both, left and right back sides.
Circular needles are used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join, work in rows.
Stitch holder cords / waste yarn is used instead of holders to hold a large number of sts.
Slip st at the beginning of every row.
Pattern
Body
With smaller needles and 2 strands yarn, CO 189 (213, 237, 259, 281) (305, 329) sts.
Work 10 rows in K1, P1 rib.
Change to larger needles.
Set-up Row (RS): P1, k1, p1, knit to last 3 sts, p1, k1, p1.
Next Row (WS): K1, p1, k1, purl to last 3 sts dec evenly 27 (31, 35, 37, 39) (43, 47) sts, k1, p1, k1. (162 (182, 202, 222, 242) (262, 282) sts)
Change to Main pattern.
Row 1 (RS): P1, k1, p1, work in Main patt to last 3 sts, p1, k1, p1.
Row 2 (WS): K1, p1, k1, purl to last 3 sts, k1, p1, k1.
Work even in est patt until piece measures 13.5 (14, 13.5, 14, 13.5) (14, 13.5)” from CO edge, or to desired length to underarm, ending with a WS row.
Divide for Front and Backs
Count 41 (46, 51, 56, 61) (66, 71) sts for left Back, pm, 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) (130, 140) sts for Front, pm, and 41 (46, 51, 56, 61) (66, 71) sts for right Back. (162 (182, 202, 222, 242) (262, 282) sts)
Left Back
Next Row (RS): P1, k1, p1, work in Main patt to end. (41 (46, 51, 56, 61) (66, 71) sts)
Cont. working in est pattern until piece meas approx. 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8) (8.5, 9)” from dividing, ending with Row 12 (6, 6, 12, 12) (6, 6).
Shape Neck
Next Row (RS): Work 10 (10, 12, 12, 14) (14, 14) sts and place on holder, BO next 3 st and work to end of row. 28 (33, 36, 41, 44) (49, 54) sts
Work 5 rows even in patt, BO 2 st at beg of next RS row, then BO 1 st at foll RS row. (25 (30, 33, 38, 41) (46, 51) sts)
BO all sts kwise.
Front
With RS facing, join yarn at left Back edge.
Work even in pattern until piece meas approx. 5 (5.5, 5, 5.5, 6) (5.5, 6)” from dividing, ending with Row 6 (12, 6, 12, 12) (12, 12). (80 (90, 100, 110, 120) (130, 140) sts)
Shape Front Neck and Shoulders
Mark center 18 (18, 22, 22, 26) (26, 26) sts.
Next Row (RS): Work to first m, rm and place rem sts on holder. (31 (36, 39, 44, 47) (52, 57) sts)
Left Shoulder
Next Row (WS): BO 3 st, purl to end. (28 (33, 36, 41, 44) (49, 54) sts)
Work 4 rows even in patt, BO 2 st at beg of next WS row, then BO 1 st at foll WS row. (25 (30, 33, 38, 41) (46, 51) sts)
Work even in pattern until armhole meas approx. 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) (9.5, 10)”, ending with Row 6 (12, 12, 6, 6) (12, 12).
BO all sts kwise.
Right Shoulder
With RS facing, join yarn and work to m, rm and place these sts on holder, BO next 3 st and work to end of row. (28 (33, 36, 41, 44) (49, 54) sts)
Work 5 rows even in patt, BO 2 st at beg of next RS row, then BO 1 st at foll RS row. (25 (30, 33, 38, 41) (46, 51) sts)
Work even in pattern until armhole meas same as at Left Shoulder.
BO all sts kwise.
Right Back
With RS facing, join new yarn and work in est pattern until piece meas approx. 6 (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8) (8.5, 9)” from dividing, ending with Row 11 (5, 5, 11, 11) (5, 5). (41 (46, 51, 56, 61) (66, 71) sts)
Next Row (WS): Work 10 (10, 12, 12, 14) (14, 14) sts, place these sts on holder, BO next 3 st and work to end of row. (28 (33, 36, 41, 44) (49, 54) sts)
Work 6 rows even in patt, BO 2 st at beg of next WS row, then BO 1 st at foll WS row. (25 (30, 33, 38, 41) (46, 51) sts)
BO all sts kwise.
Sleeves
With smaller needles and 2 strands yarn, CO 51 (55, 61, 65, 65) (71, 71) sts.
Work 10 rows in K1, P1 rib.
Change to larger needles.
Next Row (RS): Knit.
Next Row (WS): Purl, dec evenly 5 (5, 5, 5, 5) (7, 7) sts. (46 (50, 56, 60, 60) (64, 64 sts)
Change to Main pattern.
Set-up Row (RS): K0 (2, 5, 3, 3) (5, 5), (1/1 LC, 1/1 RC) 0 (0, 0, 1, 1) (1, 1) time, work in Main patt 4 (4, 4, 5, 5) (5, 5) times, k to end.
Cont. working in est patt, inc 1 st each end every 10 (10, 12, 10, 8) (8, 6) rows 9 (9, 8, 8, 11) (11, 13) times. (64 (68, 72, 76, 82) (86, 90) sts)
Work even in patt until piece meas approx. 17.5 (17.5, 17.5, 16.5, 16.5) (16.5, 15.5)” from CO edge, ending with Row 12 (12, 12, 6, 6) (6, 12).
BO all sts kwise.
Bows (make 6)
With larger needles and 2 strands yarn, CO 15 sts.
Beginning with a WS row, work 9 rows in St st.
BO all sts kwise.
Using 2 strands yarn and a tapestry needle, secure the center of the bow and wrap tight around the center about 15 times. Tie a knot in the back and cut the yarn, leaving a tail to sew it in place.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block.
Seam shoulders.
Neck edging
Using 24” needle and 2 strands yarn, with RS facing, beg at Left Back neck edge, work sts from holder, pick up and knit 1 st in every BO st and 2 sts for every 3 rows along Left Back and Front Neck edge, knit sts from holder at Front inc 1 st, pick up and knit 1 st in every BO st and 2 sts for every 3 rows along Right Front and Back Neck edge, work sts from holder at Right Back, making sure to have an odd number of sts.
Work 6 rows in K1, p1 rib.
BO in rib.
Sewing bows
Mark placement of bows on both back sides, one 2.5″ from CO, one 2.5″ from neck edge, and the others evenly spaced in between. Connect Left and Right Back sides by sewing bows at both sides.