Calla sweater
If you dare, come a little closer *
The lovely cable and lace Calla pattern I designed for one of my shawls really deserved to shine once more in my opinion, so the Calla sweater was born.
The sweater has an effortless and comfortable fit, that will complement most body types. And yes, the Calla pattern is elegant and feminine, but being off-set by a sturdy broken rib background it does not loose its cool factor.
a 90 [100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150] cm / 36 [40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60]”
b 86.5 [96, 105.5, 115, 125, 134, 144] cm / 34 [37.75, 41.5, 45.25, 49.25, 53, 56.75]”
c 32 [36.5, 40, 43.5, 45.5, 50, 54.5] cm / 13 [14.75, 16, 17.25, 18.25, 20, 21.75]”
d 21 [23.5, 24.5, 25.5, 25.5, 25.5, 28] cm / 8.5 [9.25, 9.75, 10.25, 10.25, 10.25, 11]”
e 53 [53, 55, 57, 59, 62, 64] cm / 21.25 [21.25, 22, 22.75, 23.5, 24.75, 25.5]”
f 35 cm / 13.75”
g 50 cm / 19.75”
h 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25.5] cm / 6.75 [7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.25, 10]”
CONSTRUCTION
The Calla sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down. You will start by casting on stitches for the back of the neck. The upper part of the yoke is worked flat while increasing to shape the neckline. Once the stitches for the front of the neck are cast on, you will join to work in the round. The contiguous set-in sleeve method is used to further shape the yoke and the sleeve caps.
Once the yoke is finished, you will turn your work inside out, so the major part of the body can be worked in stockinette stitch, instead of reverse stockinette stitch. When you reach the beginning of the Calla pattern, the body is turned to the right side again.
Although a larger needle is used to work the Calla pattern and there are increases within the pattern, the cable shapes will pull in the waist, resulting in a slightly shaped waist. Once the body is finished you will work the sleeves which are bound off using a picot bind off. For the finishing of the neckline stitches are picked up and bound off using the same technique as for the sleeves.
The pattern includes instructions for horizontal bust darts. The darts are optional; instructions for a sweater with and without darts are given.
SIZES
Women XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]
Finished bust circumference: 90 [100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150] cm / 35.5 [39.5, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55, 59]”.
Sample is shown in size S with horizontal bust darts and has approx 10 cm / 4“ of positive ease around the bust.
YARN
Approx 925 [1000, 1100, 1175, 1275, 1375, 1500] m / 1000 [1100, 1200, 1275, 1400, 1500, 1650] yds of light DK / sport weight yarn.
Sample is knitted in BC garn Semilla Melange; 100% wool, 175 m / 191 yds per 50 gr, colorway 12 Sm.
NEEDLES
Needle A (for the body and the sleeves)
One 80 cm / 32” circular needle and a set of needles for working a small circumference in the round (DPN’s, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars) in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
Suggested needle size: 3.75 mm / US 5.
Needle B (for the main portion of the Calla pattern)
One 80 cm / 32” circular needle in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
Suggested needle size: 4 mm / US 6.
Needle C (for the neckline finishing and the lower body Broken rib pattern)
One 80 cm / 32” circular needle.
Suggested needle size: 3.5 mm / US 4.
GAUGE
Measured after blocking.
Broken rib pattern on Needle A: 18 sts and 38 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 “.
Reverse stockinette stitch on Needle A: 20 sts and 31 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 “.
Calla pattern on Needle B: 25 sts and and 34 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 “.
NOTIONS
Cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle.
TUTORIAL
Here you can find a tutorial for the Picot Bind Off.
* Rihanna