By Mariah Giles

This sweater is designed to be a close fit and fall at about the hips, with an empire waist detail at the front. I designed this pattern to be very feminine and show off or enhance our figures.
SKILL LEVEL- Advanced- but don’t let that put you off, think of all you can learn!

SIZE
Designed to fit- 30”, (34”, 38”, 42”) bust measurements

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
knitted measurements- 32”, (36”, 40“, 44”) bust; in pattern, sizes relate to
XS, (S, M, L)

MATERIALS
100% Organic Superfine Merino Sport (100% organic superfine merino wool; 200 yds/2.35 oz) by Blarney Yarn.
Requires 4, (5, 5, 6) skeins- (Main Color) “Pink Clouds“, and 2 skeins for all sizes in (Color B) “Geode”
sport weight, requested gauge 22 sts x 30 rows = 4” on 3.5-4mm needles

NEEDLES
Requires needle sizes 3.75 mm, 4.0 mm, and 5.0 mm circular needles

GAUGE
22 sts x 28 rows= 4” (10cm) stockinette stitch on 3.75mm needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES

k- knit p- purl

bo- bind off St st- stockinette stitch

yo2- yarn over twice kfb- knit in front and back of stitch

m1- make one stitch- lift horizontal bar between current stitch and next stitch and work it as a k st unless otherwise noted.

PATTERN BACK-

CO 88, (99, 110, 121) sts using size US size 6 (4.0mm) needles and main color
K 4 rows, working garter st, then beg dec to gradual taper to waist, working
St st,- dec rows are to be worked on the RS as follows
Dec row- k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1
Work dec row every 5th,( 4th, 4th, 4th) row 8,(11,11,11) times. {72, 77, 88, 99 sts }

As you are working dec’s, once you have worked 2” from cast on edge, switch to US size 5 (3.75 mm) needles and continue with dec rows until finished. The back should measure about 6 ½ “ from cast on edge.
Work even for1” from last dec row.
Now you will reverse dec’s to inc back up to bust size, again as follows-
Inc row- k1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1.
Work inc row every 5th,( 4th, 4th, 4th) row 8,(11,11,11) times. {88, 99, 110, 121 sts }

Once all inc’s are finished, continue working even in St st until back measures 14” from cast on edge (all sizes).

Armhole Shaping-
BO 3,(3,3,4) sts at the beginning of each of the first two rows, then BO 2, (2, 3, 4) sts at the beginning of each of the next two rows then;
for sizes XS & S dec 1 st each side 3 times .
For sizes M & L, BO 2 sts at the beginning of each side next two row and then dec 1 st 2,(3) times at each end of the row. {72, 83, 90, 95 sts}
Once dec’s are finished, continue working even until armhole measures 7 ½, (8, 8 ½, 9)” long from first bind off row of armhole shaping.

On next row, work 16, (21, 23, 25) sts for shoulder, then bind off 40, (41, 44, 45) sts for neck, then work to end. Place shoulder sts on holders and cut yarn and set aside.

FRONT
Work as for back until piece measures 10 ½” from cast on edge, ending with a ws row. While adding decorative element, continue shaping.
Add empire waist decorative element as follows--
Beg with RS, and with color B, k 4 rows
Next row- *k2tog, yo; rep from * to end of row
Next row- *k1, k in yo loop; rep from * to end of row
K 4 rows

Switch back to main color and continue as for back including armhole shaping until front measures 20 ½”, (21“, 21 ½”, 22”) from co edge.

Front neck shaping-
Work 29, (34, 38, 40) sts, BO 14, (15, 14, 15) sts, attach 2nd ball of yarn and work to end.
Shape each neck edge as follows.
BO 3, (3, 3, 3) sts at the beg of next two neck edge rows. {23, (28, 32, 34) sts}
BO 2, (2, 2, 2) sts at the beg of next two neck edge rows. {19, (24, 28, 30) sts}
Dec 1 st at the beginning of next 3, (3, 5, 5) rows. {16, (21, 23, 25) sts}
Work 4, (4, 2, 2) rows even.

Place shoulder sts on holders and cut yarn and set aside. The front and back shoulder sts will be joined by working 3 needle bind off.
Once the front and back are both finished, work three needle bindoff for a clean finish on the shoulder sts. Then continue working the sleeves as the sleeves are worked in a straight fashion from the shoulder down to the cuff.

SLEEVES-
Using US size 6 (4.0 mm), pick up sleeve sts beg at underarm with right side facing you.

Pick up 5, (7, 8, 10) sts bound off sts
[pick up 2 sts, skip 1 row] 6x, ( 14x, 12x) àfor last size, [pick up 1 st, skip 1 row] 2x {17, 35, 34, 12 sts}
[pick up 3 sts, skip 1 row] 9x, (4x, 6x) àfor last size, [pick up 2 sts, skip 1 row] 20x up to shoulder. {44, 47, 52, 52 sts}
From shoulder down,
[pick up 3 sts, skip 1 row] 9x, (4x, 6x) àfor last size, [pick up 2 sts, skip 1 row] 20x {71, 59, 70, 92 sts}
[pick up 2 sts, skip 1 row] 6x, (14x, 12x) àfor last size, [pick up 1 st, skip 1 row] 2x {83, 87, 94, 94 sts}
Pick up 5, (7, 8, 10 sts) bound off sts. {88, 94, 102, 104 sts} Turn

To shape sleeve cap…
1. Work 59, (63, 67, 70 sts); wrap & turn
2. Work 30, (32, 34, 36 sts); wrap & turn
3. Work next row to marker, remove marker, wrap & turn.
Repeat step 3 until all sts are worked except 5, (7, 8, 10) bound off sts at underarm.
Work final row across all sts, picking up any wraps that you come to and work them together with the sts they are wrapping.
Now you will work even in St st until sleeve measures 8”, (8”, 9”, 10”) or until sleeve is 4” shorter than finished desired length. It is designed to be worked down to elbow crease then work the ruffle.
To work the “puff”-
R1-3- dec 1 st each row, working St st

R4- *k2tog, yo2- rep from * to end

R5- *k1, k1 loop (drop 2nd loop with out working )- rep from * to end

R6 & 7- k both rows

R8- switch to US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles and kfb in each st to end

R9-21- work in St st, beg with a purl row

R22- switch to US size 6 (4.0 mm) needles and k2tog in each st to end

R23- *k2tog, yo2- rep from * to end

R24- *k1, k1 loop (drop 2nd loop without working)- rep from * to last st, k1 R25- 27- k R28- switch to US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles and kfb in each st to end

R29-41- work in St st, beg with purl row

R42- switch to US size 6 (4.0 mm) needles and k2tog in each st to end
Switch to Main Color, “Pink Clouds”, and begin Pleated Hem as follows-

k 2 rows

R1-(ws)- k4, *p1, k4

R2-(rs)- p4, *m1, k1, m1, p4

R3, 5, 7- k4, *p3, k4

R4, 6- p4, *k3, p4

R8- p4, *[k1, m1] twice, k1, p4

R9- k4, *p5, k4

R10- p4, *k5, p4

R11-14- rep R9 & 10 twice

R15- rep R9

R16- p4, *k1, m1, k3, m1, k1, p4

R17- k4, *p7, k4

R18- p4, *k7, p4

R19-24- rep R17 & 18 4 times

R25- rep R17
Picot Bind off-

BO 4 sts, * sl st on R ndl back onto L ndl, k twice into this st, BO 4 sts-- rep from * to end. When you come to last st, finish st and cut yarn.

Finishing and working collar-

Collar- Using US size 5 (3.75mm) circular needles and color b with rs facing, pick up 13 sts for all sizes from R neck, 23, (24, 29, 30)sts from F neck, 13 sts for all sizes from L neck, and 33, (36, 39, 42) sts from back neck. Total of 82, (86, 94, 98) sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts.
Work k1p1 rib even for 2”
Next row- Switch to US size 8 (5mm) needles and kfb in each st around.
Now, as you wil be working with the WS facing you, you will be working on the back side of the pattern, so...
P 12 rnds
Rnd 1- k2tog around
Rnd 2- p1rnd
Rnd 3- k1rnd
Rnd 4- *k2tog, yo2- rep from * around to last st, k1
Rnd 5-*k1, k1loop; dropping 2nd loop off needle without working it- rep from * to end
Rnd 6-p1rnd
Rnd 7-k1rnd
You will continue, following pattern as follows…
Rnd 1- kfb each st
Rnd 2-13- p
Rnd 14- *k1, k2tog- rep from * to end
Rnd 15-p
Rnd 16- k
Rnd 17-*k2tog, yo2; rep from * to end
Rnd 18-*k1, k1loop, drop 2nd loop with out working it.; rep from * to end.
Rnd 19-p
Rnd 20- k
Repeat rnds 1-20 once more, with the exception of rnd 14- here you will just k all sts. After rnd 20, you will repeat rnds 19 & 20 once more.
Bind off loosely.
Sew sleeve seam, matching decorative elements along sleeve. Weave in ends on all parts of the sweater.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER
I have been knitting for 10 years and designing for about 5 years. I aim for my patterns to be enjoyable to knit from start to finish, feed your passion for knitting, and have elements to keep your interest. At times, there may be challenges, at times the pattern may be soothing. But the designs are always aiming to be elegant , beautiful and interesting.

Mariah Giles of Dragonfly’s Designs and Fibers
Email- dragonfly.mg@gmail.com
Shop-www.dragonflysdesigns.etsy.com
Ravelry- dragonflyknit
Blog- www.paperdragonfly.wordpress.com- you can subscribed to my blog to get updates firsthand!

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