Women's colourwork sweater Novita Wool Cotton

The yoke

Using the smaller circular needles (60 cm) and the off-white yarn, cast on 98(104)104(110) sts and work 2(2)2,5(2,5) cm of ribbing in the round.

Change to the larger circular needles and work 1(2)2(3) rounds of stockinette st in the round and at the same time increase 19(22)22(25) sts evenly on the 1st round = 117(126)126(135) sts.

Begin the colourwork in the round from row 1 of chart I and work the pattern repeat (= 9 sts + 1 st + 1 st) for a total of 13(14)14(15) times. Each pattern repeat now has 10 sts + 1 st on the back of the work binding the contrasting yarn.

Work rows 2-25 of chart I. On row 24 each pattern repeat has 16 sts + 1 st on the back of the work binding the contrasting yarn + 1 st on the back of the work binding the main colour. On row 25 the sts on the back of the work will be decreased, 208(224)224(240) sts on the needles, 16 sts for each pattern repeat. Change to the longer circular needles when necessary.

Knit 0(0)1(1) row with the off-white yarn. Work rows 26-30 of chart I. Break the yarns.

Now move 14(8)10(12) sts from the beginning of the round from your left-hand needle onto the right hand needle. From now on the beginning of the round will be here, between the back and the sleeve.

Mark the places where each section ends e.g. with a different yarn: the 44(48)44(48) sleeve sts from the beginning of the round, 60(64)68(72) sts for the front, 44(48)44(48) sts for the other sleeve and finally the 60(64)68(72) sts for the back.

Continue the colourwork from row 31 of the chart and increase 1 off-white stitch in between the sections: work the 44(48)44(48) sleeve sts, make 1 (m1) (=pick up the strand of yarn between the sts and knit it through the back loop with the off-white yarn), work the 60(64)68(72) front sts, m1, work the 44(48)44(48) sleeve sts, m1, work the 60(64)68(72) back sts and m1. 44(48)44(48) sts for each sleeve and 62(66)70(74) sts for the front and the back.

Work row 32 of chart I and keep knitting the increased sts with the off-white yarn. On the next round, row 33 of the chart, increase 1 st (make a yarn over using the yarn in use in the colourwork and on the next round knit the yarn over through the back loop) on either side of the sts you added on row 31. Continue the colourwork from row 34 of the chart and repeat the increases on the bodice on every 2nd row for 8(9)9(11) more times and on the sleeves on every 4th row 4(4)4(5) more times.

Note: when you have worked row 42 of chart I, knit 0(0)2(2) rows with the off-white yarn and then work rows 43-71.

Note: when you have completed the increases, cast on 8(10)18(18) sts for the underarm, put the 54(58)54(60) sleeve sts on hold e.g. on a piece of scrap yarn, knit through the 80(86)90(98) sts on the front, cast on 8(10)18(18) sts for the underarm, put the 54(58)54(60) sleeve sts on hold e.g. on a piece of scrap yarn and knit through the 80(86)90(98) sts on the back.

The lower part of the front and the back

Continue working the colourwork in the round with the front and the back sts = 176(192)216(232) sts (for sizes L and XL the pattern repeat on the sides is not a full one). Mark the 2 middle sts on the armhole cast-on with e.g. a different yarn (side markers).

When you have worked row 71 of the chart, work rows 72-130 of chart II and knit the rest of the garment using the putty-coloured yarn.

Note: When the piece measures 15(16)16(17) cm after the armholes, increase 1 st on either side of the marked sts (=make a yarn over using the yarn in use in the colourwork and and on the next round knit it through the back loop). Repeat the increases every 2 cm for 3(3)4(4) more times = 192(208)236(252) sts.

When the piece measures 32(33)35(36) cm from the armhole, work 3 cm of ribbing in the round and then bind off in pattern (making sure the bind off edge is stretchy).

The sleeves

Move the 54(58)54(60) sts on hold for the other sleeve onto the larger double-pointed needles and continue knitting in the round. Following the colourwork, pick up 5(5)9(9) sts to the beginning of the round, work the 54(58)54(60) sleeve sts and then pick up another 5(5)9(9) sts from the armhole cast-on = 64(68)72(78) sts. Continue the colourwork with these sts (for sizes M and XL the last pattern repeat will not be a full one).

When you've worked row 71 of the chart, work rows 72-130 of chart II and knit the rest with the putty-coloured yarn.

Note: When the sleeve measures 30(31)32(33) cm, decrease 1 st before and after the beginning of round by knitting 2 sts together. Repeat the decrease every 2 cm for 5 more times. 52(56)60(66) sts on the needles.

When the sleeve measures 42(43)44(45) cm, knit 1 round and on the next round evenly decrease 12(16)16(20) sts = 40(40)44(46) sts. Work ribbing in the round for 3 cm and bind off in pattern.

Knit the other sleeve to match.

Finishing

Lay the garment to measurements, and mist with a spray bottle or steam through a wet cloth.