Patriotic Cables

Time: 40-45 hrs

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 39 (41, 44, 46) (48, 51, 53)” finished chest circumference, intended to be worn with 2-4” of positive ease.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” in Stockinette Stitch, in the round, blocked.

24 sts and 30 rows = 4” in Cable Pattern, in the round, blocked, on larger needles.

Materials:

Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, (worsted weight, 80% Pima Cotton, 20% Wool); 215 yds / 100 g): MC CW560 My Blue Haven, 6 (6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9) skeins; CC1 CW201 Barn Red, CC2 CW100 Cotton Ball, CC3 CW585 Wolverine Blue, 1 skein each.

Needles: US 4 (3.50 mm) and US 6 (4.00 mm) circular needles (24″ or longer), or size to obtain gauge

Notions: Yarn Needle, stitch markers, 2 cable needles.

Pattern Notes

Worked bottom-up, in the round to the underarms, this pullover features all-over cables and textured pattern. Sleeves are worked top-down from armholes, seamlessly. After completion of the sweater, the flag is knit separately and appliquéd to the front of the sweater.

Pattern:

Body

With MC and smaller size needles, using Long Tail Cast On method loosely CO 234 (248, 262, 276) (290, 304, 318) sts. Join to work in the Rnd, being careful not to twist sts; PM for BOR.

Rolled Hem

Knit 5 rnds

Purl 1 Rnd.

Change to large size needles.

Begin working the body in Cable and Textured Pattern, following the Chart, as follows:

Rnd 1: *k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart A, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart B, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart C, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart D, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart E, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart B, k 0 (1, 2, 3) (4, 5, 6) sts, work across Chart A; Rep from * once more.

Work as established, Rep Rnds 1-40 until piece measures 15.5 (16, 16.5, 17) (17.5, 18, 18.5)” from CO edge, ending with odd number Rnd.

Divide For Front & Back

Next Rnd: work in Patt across first 117 (124, 131, 138) (145, 152, 159) sts, turn.

Place remaining 117 (124, 131, 138) (145, 152, 159) sts on hold.

Back

Work even in Patt flat, starting with WS row, working until Armhole measures 7 (7.5, 8.5, 9) (9.5, 10, 10.5)” from the split.

Place sts on hold.

Front

With RS facing join yarn after left armhole separation. Work flat, in Patt as established, until piece measures 5.5 (6, 7, 7.5) (8, 8.5, 9)” from separation, ending with WS row.

Left Neck Shaping

Begin working Left Neck Shaping as follows:

Row 1 (RS): work in Patt across first 44 (47, 51, 54) (58, 61, 65) sts, k2tog, turn. 1 st Dec’d.

Row 2 (WS): P2tog, work in Patt across. 1 st Dec’d.

Row 3 (RS): work in Patt to last 2 sts, k2tog, turn. 1 st Dec’d.

Rep Rows 2 & 3 another 3 times. 37 (40, 44, 47) (51, 54, 58) sts on the needles.

Work even until Left Front measures same as the Back.

Place sts on hold.

Transfer Front center 25 (26, 25, 26) (25, 26, 25) sts on holder.

Right Neck Shaping

With RS facing, join yarn after 25 (26, 25, 26) (25, 26, 25) center sts.

Begin working Left Neck Shaping as follows:

Row 1 (RS): ssk, work in Patt across, turn. 1 st Dec’d.

Row 2 (WS): work in Patt across to last 2 sts, p2tog. 1 st Dec’d.

Row 3 (RS): ssk, work in Patt across, turn. 1 st Dec’d.

Rep Rows 2 & 3 another 3 times. 37 (40, 44, 47) (51, 54, 58) sts on the needles.

Work even until Right Front measures same as the Back.

Assembly

With RS facing, join Right Front shoulder sts with 37 (40, 44, 47) (51, 54, 58) Back sts using 3 Needle Bind Off. Rep for Left Front shoulder sts.

Neck

With RS facing, starting at Left Shoulder seam and using smaller size needles, PU and K 10 (12, 14, 16) (18, 20, 22) sts along Left Front neck edge; K 25 (26, 25, 26) (25, 26, 25) center Front sts; PU and K 10 (12, 14, 16) (18, 20, 22) sts along Right Front neck edge; K 43 (44, 43, 44) (43, 44, 43) Back neck sts. Place BOM and join to work in the Rnd. 88 (94, 96, 102) (104, 110, 112) sts.

Collar

Purl 1 Rnd.

Knit 5 Rnds.

BO all sts.

Sleeves (make two the same)

With RS facing, staring in the middle of underarm, PU 61 (65, 69, 73) (77, 81, 85) sts around the armhole; place BOR marker.

Setup Row: p first 4 (6, 8, 10) (12, 14, 16) sts, pm, *work across Chart B, pm, work across Chart A, pm, work across Chart B, pm, p last 4 (6, 8, 10) (12, 14, 16) sts.

Work in the round as established following Charts A & B for 2”.

Begin working decs every 2 (2, 1.75, 1.75) (1.5, 1.5, 1.25)” as follows:

Dec Rnd: p2tog, work in patt to last 2 sts, p2tog. 2 sts dec.

Rep Dec Rnd another 5 (5, 6, 6) (7, 7, 8) times. After completion of sleeve shaping 49 (53, 55, 59) (61, 65, 67) sts on the needle.

Work even until Sleeve measures 17” from underarm, or desired length.

Cuffs

With smaller size needles, work as for the neck collar.

Flag

With smaller size needles and CC1, CO 30 sts.

Rows 1-2: knit.

Join CC2.

Rows 3-6: with CC2, knit.

Rows 7-10: with CC1, knit.

Rows 11-18: rep Rows 3-10.

Rows 19-22: with CC2, knit.

Row 23: with CC1, knit 17; join CC3, with CC3, knit 13.

Row 24: with CC3, knit 13, with CC1, knit 17.

Rows 25-26: rep Rows 23-24.

Row 27: with CC2, knit 17, with CC3, knit 13.

Row 28: with CC3, knit 13, with CC2, knit 17.

Rows 29-30: rep Rows 27-28.

Rows 31-46: rep Rows 23-30.

Rows 47-50: rep Rows 23-26.

BO all sts in corresponding colors, leaving a long tail for sewing up.

With CC2 and tapestry needle, embroider 50 cross stitch “stars” on the blue section of the flag in an alternating pattern of 6 and 5 stars in a row.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Steam block the pullover with hot iron over a wet towel. Applique the flag onto the upper front of the pullover, using a tapestry needle, whip stitch around the edges. Add a couple of rows of whip stitches in the middle of the flag to secure it to the pullover.