Novita Merino 4 PLY: Aarni textured knit sweater

This high-collared zipper sweater is the trendiest garment of the autumn. Knitted from Novita Merino 4PLY, the Aarni sweater is knitted in the round from the hem up, with no need for sewing except for the short underarm seams and the zipper.

Designer

Ronja Hakalehto

Stitch patterns Ribbing in the round: *k1, p1*, repeat *–*. Cable pattern: follow the chart and instructions. Double seed stitch: Row 1: *k1, p1*, repeat *–* to end of row. Rows 2 and 4: knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts. Row 3: *p1, k1*, repeat *–*.

Gauge 25 sts and 42 rows in double seed st = 10 cm / 4 in

Note The sweater is knitted in the round, and there are short underarm seams.

Body

The body is knitted in one piece up to the armholes. Using the smaller circular needle (80 cm), cast on 282(302)318(338)358(378) sts, place marker for beginning of round and work ribbing in the round for 6 cm.

Switch to the larger circular needle. Work double seed st and begin the cable pattern in the front and back on row 1 of the chart: *work 33(38)42(47)52(57) sts in double seed st, repeat 25 st cable pattern 3 times (= 75 sts), work 33(38)42(47)52(57) sts in double seed st*, place side marker, repeat *–*. In the cable, work rows 2–32, then keep repeating rows 1–32.

When the piece measures approx. 42(43)44(45)47(48) cm and you have last worked an odd-numbered row of the chart, *work next round to last 4(5)6(7)8(9) sts before marker, bind off next 8(10)12(14)16(18) sts for armhole*, repeat *–*. 133(141)147(155)163(171) sts in the front and back. Leave the sts on hold.

Sleeves

Use either the double-pointed needles or the Magic Loop technique.

Using the smaller needles, cast on 66(68)70(72)74(76) sts and place marker for beginning of round. Work ribbing in the round for 6 cm. Knit 1 round, evenly increasing 6(8)8(10)10(10) sts = 72(76)78(82)84(86) sts.

Switch to the larger needles. Work double seed st and begin the cable pattern in the middle on row 1 of the chart: work 23(25)26(28)29(30) sts in double seed st, work 25 st cable pattern, work 24(26)27(29)30(31) sts in double seed st. In the cable, work rows 2–32, then keep repeating rows 1–32.

When the piece measures 7(8)11(12)9(9) cm, increase 1 (knit the strand of yarn between the sts through the back loop) on both sides of the beginning of round, 1 st from the marker. Repeat the increases every 2.5(2.5)2(2)2(2) cm 16(16)18(18)20(21) more times = 106(110)116(120)126(130) sts. Work the increased sts in double seed st.

When the piece measures approx. 49(50)51(52)52(53) cm and you have last worked an odd-numbered row of the chart, bind off the last 4(5)6(7)8(9) sts of the next round and the first 4(5)6(7)8(9) sts of the round after that. Leave the remaining 98(100)104(106)110(112) sts on hold.

Knit the other sleeve in the same manner.

Yoke

Place the sts on the larger circular needle: 133(141)147(155)163(171) back sts, 98(100)104(106)110(112) sleeve sts, 133(141)147(155)163(171) front sts, 98(100)104(106)110(112) sleeve sts = 462(482)502(522)546(566) sts. Place markers at the edges of the pieces.

Work double seed st and cable pattern in the round and begin the raglan decreases: k1, skp (slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass the slipped st over), work to last 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker. Sleeve: k1, skp, work to last 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker. Front: k1, skp, work to last 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker. Sleeve: k1, skp, work to last 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1. 8 sts decreased, 454(474)494(514)538(558) sts on the needles.

Repeat the decreases in the back and front 5(4)4(3)1(0) more times on every 4th round and then 35(38)40(44)48(53) times on every other round; at the same time, decrease in the sleeves 5(4)4(5)1(3) more times on every 4th round and then 35(38)40(40)48(47) times on every other round.

Note: When the armhole measures 11(12)13(14)14(15) cm, work the middle 35 front sts in ribbing, with p1 at the midpoint; with the other sts, work as established. Work for 1 cm. On the next even-numbered row, bind off the middle 3 rib sts for the slit. Now work back and forth. At both ends, work 1 st in garter st. Make the raglan decreases on RS rows.

Note: On the next row, start widening the ribbed section by decreasing in the cable section and increasing in the ribbed section:

1st decrease and increase row: (RS) k1 (left edge of the slit), work 15 sts in ribbing, increase 1 purl st (purl the strand of yarn between the sts through the back loop), k1, skp, work to last 19 sts, k2tog, k1, increase 1 purl st, work ribbing, k1.

Work 4(3)3(3)2(2) rows even.

2nd decrease and increase row: (RS) k1 (left edge of the slit), work 16 sts in ribbing, increase 1 knit st (knit the strand of yarn between the sts through the back loop), k1, skp, work to last 20 sts, k2tog, k1, increase 1 knit st, work ribbing, k1.

Work 4(3)3(3)2(2) rows even.

Repeat the decreases and increases as established 6(8)9(10)12(13) more times. Work the increased sts in ribbing.

After you have finished the raglan decreases, there are 131(135)139(143)143(143) sts on the needles: 16(14)14(14)10(10) sts in the sleeves, 51(55)57(59)63(63) sts in the back and 48(52)54(56)60(60) sts in the front.

At both ends keep working 1 st in garter st; with the other sts, work ribbing for 18 cm.

Next row: work 24(26)27(28)30(31) sts in ribbing, loosely bind off the next 83(83)85(87)83(81) sts, work 24(26)27(28)30(31) sts in ribbing. Leave the sts on the other side on hold. With the other sts, work ribbing and decrease 1 st at the shoulder end. Repeat the decreases on every 5th(4th)4th(4th)3rd(3rd) row 6(8)9(10)12(13) more times. Work ribbing with the collar folded to the inside until you reach the bottom edge of the front ribbing. Bind off. On the other side of the collar, mirror the first side.

Finishing

Pin to measurements wrong side up, mist and allow to dry.

Sew the underarm seams. Fold the collar and sew the edges to the edge of the ribbing. Leave the zipper edge unsewn.

Sew on the zipper.