Bluebird Sweater is a top-down, girl’s pullover sweater with an A-line and split collar detail. The bee stitch collar creates a wide, stretchy neckline. Bluebird was inspired by the oversized sweaters worn by stylish mid-century girls, especially when paired with narrow, cropped pants and ballet flats. This sweater can easily be modified with three-quarter sleeves or to dress length.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 2 (4, 6/8, 10/12)
Finished chest measurement 24 (27½, 30, 33)”
3” positive ease
Shown in size 2
Gauge: 12 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st using US size 10½ needles, after blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Fibra Natura Inca (100% Superwash Wool; 106 yards [97meters]/100 grams): 43013 Aqua, 3 (4, 6, 8) balls
Needles: US size 11 (8.0 mm): circular; US size 10½ (6.5 mm): circular and DPNs
Notions: Markers; stitch holders or scrap yarn; tapestry needle
Special Abbreviations
CO cast on
Dec decrease
Inc increase
K knit
K1b knit one stitch below
K2tog knit two stitches together
Kfb knit front and back of same stitch
Ktbl knit through the back loop
L left
M1L make one left leaning stitch
M1R make one right leaning stitch
P purl
P2tog purl two stitches together
Pm place marker
Pw purl wise
R right
RS right side
Rep repeat
Rnd(s) round(s)
Sl slip
Sm slip marker
Ssk slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together through the back loop
St stitch
WS wrong side
Wyif with yarn in front
Special Stitches
Bee Stitch (worked flat)
Row 1 (WS): Knit.
Row 2 (RS): *K1, k1b; rep from * to end.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: K2, *k1b, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 1-4 for pattern.
Bee Stitch (worked in the round)
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: *K1, k1b; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: Purl
Rnd 4: K2, *k1b, k1; rep from * around.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for pattern.
Pattern Notes
When working the collar, with yarn in front (wyif), slip the first stitch purlwise and knit the last stitch through the back loop (ktbl). This will create a neat edge.
The collar is worked flat to its specified length, then the ends are overlapped to create the split collar. The sweater body begins with the wrong side (WS) of the collar facing so it can be folded down with the right side (RS) of the collar visible when completed.
Pattern
Collar
With larger needles and using a long tail cast on, CO 44 (46, 50, 52) sts.
Begin Bee Stitch pattern worked flat (see Special Stitches).
Work in pattern until collar meas 3½ (3½, 4, 4)” from CO edge.
Begin Body
With smaller needles and beg with WS facing, join by overlapping the first 6 sts over the last 6 sts. Treat these pairs as 1 st by knitting the front and back stitches together. Place a stitch marker after completing these 6 overlapped sts to indicate beg of rnd.
K6 (6, 8, 8) for Left Sleeve, pm, k12 (14, 14, 14) for Back, pm, k6 (6, 8, 8) for Right Sleeve, pm, k14 (14, 14, 16) for Front – 38 (40, 44, 46) sts.
Next Rnd (Inc): *Kfb, k to 1 st before next marker, kfb, sm; rep from * around – 8 st inc’d; 46 (48, 52, 54) sts.
Next Rnd: Knit.
Rep last 2 rnds until there are 40 (46, 50, 56) sts at Back, 34 (38, 44, 50) sts at each Sleeve, and 42 (46, 50, 56) sts at Front.
Divide for Body and Sleeves
Place 34 (38, 44, 50) sts for Left Sleeve on holder or scrap yarn, CO 1 st, pm to indicate beg of rnd, CO 1 st, join, knit across Back sts to next marker, place 34 (38, 44, 50) sts for Right Sleeve on holder or scrap yarn, CO 1 st, pm, CO 1 st, join, work across front sts – 86 (96, 108, 116) sts.
Body
Knit 7 rnds.
Next Rnd (Inc): K1, m1L, k to 1 st before marker, m1R, k1, sm, k1, m1L, k to 1 st before end of rnd, m1R, k1 – 4 sts inc’d; 90 (100, 112, 120) sts.
Size 2 only
Knit 11 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Inc Rnd – 94 sts.
Size 4 only
Knit 16 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Inc Rnd – 104 sts.
Size 6/8 only
Knit 11 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Inc Rnd – 116 sts.
Knit 11 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Inc Rnd – 120 sts.
Size 10/12 only
Knit 11 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Inc Rnd – 124 sts.
Rep last 12 rnds twice more – 132 sts.
All Sizes
Work even in pattern until Body meas 7 (8, 10, 12)” from underarm or desired length.
Hem
With larger needles, begin Bee Stitch (worked in the rnd).
Continue until Hem meas approximately 2” (2 Bee Stitch repeats), a total of 9 (10, 12, 14)” from underarm.
Bind-off
BO in purl stitch as follows: *P1, place it back onto left needle and p2tog with the next st; rep from * until all sts have been bound off.
Note: Use larger needles for the bind-off if tension is a concern.
Sleeves
Move 34 (38, 44, 50) Sleeve sts to DPNs, pick up 2 sts from underarm, placing a marker between them – 36 (40, 46, 52) sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd (Dec): K1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1 – 2 sts dec’d.
Knit 4 rnds.
Next Rnd: Rep Dec Rnd.
Rep last 5 rnds until 22 (24, 26, 28) sts rem or until desired length.
Begin Bee Stitch (worked in the round).
Work until Cuff meas 1½”.
BO as for Hem.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block measurements according to yarn label instructions.
Looking at the bluebird sweater pattern by Lori Kaakr it shows tension being 12 sts 20 rows on larger needles which are only used when using bee pattern. What is tension on the body of sweater using smaller needles.
Hello! I’ve reached out to the designer for advice and she or I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks! – Nicola, Editor