This sweater is a lot of fun to knit! It begins by knitting the cable panel sideways, then joining the two ends together to make a ring. The lower and upper bodies are picked up and knit from either side of the cable panel. There’s a little waist shaping for a flattering fit, and once the cable band is joined, it’s completely seamless.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Bust Size 30.5 (34.75, 39, 43.25, 47.25, 51.5, 55.75)” [77.5 (88.5, 99, 110, 120, 131, 141.5) cm] to fit bust 29.5 (33.75, 38, 42.25, 46.25, 50.5, 54.75)” [75 (85.5, 96.5, 107.5, 117.5, 128.5, 139) cm] 1” [2.5 cm] positive ease recommended.
Shown in size 34.75″ [88.5 cm]
Gauge: 23 sts and 32 rnds = 4” [10 cm] in St st; 12 sts = 11/4″ [3.2 cm] in Cable Panel after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton (100% organic cotton; 150 yards [137 meters]/65 grams): #309 Cherry, 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) skeins
Needles: US size 4 [3.5 mm]: 32” circular, set 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpns)
Notions: Waste yarn and US size E/4 [3.5 mm] crochet hook for provisional cast-on; cable needle; markers; stitch holders or waste yarn; tapestry needle; seven 5/8″ [1.5 cm] buttons
Abbreviations
4/4LC: Sl 4 sts to cn and hold in front, k4, k4 from cn.
Special Stitches
Provisional Cast-on Method: With waste yarn, beg with slipknot on crochet hook. *Wrap yarn around knitting needle counter-clockwise, then use crochet hook to draw yarn through loop on hook; rep from * for desired number of sts. Fasten off.
Cable Panel: (panel of 12 sts)
(also, see chart)
Rows 1, 3 and 7 (RS): P2, k8, p2.
Row 2 and all wrong sides: K2, p8, k2.
Row 5: P2, 4/4LC, p2.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Rep Rows 1–8 for pattern.
Kitchener Stitch:
Step 1: Bring threaded tapestry needle through first st on front needle as if to purl and leave st on needle.
Step 2: Bring threaded tapestry needle through first st on back needle as if to knit and leave st on needle.
Step 3: Bring threaded tapestry needle through first st on front needle as if to knit and slip this st off needle, then bring tapestry needle through next st on front needle as if to purl and leave st on needle.
Step 4: Bring threaded tapestry needle through first st on back needle as if to purl and slip this st off needle, then bring tapestry needle through next st on back needle as if to knit and leave st on needle.
Rep Steps 3 and 4 until no sts rem on needles.
Pattern Notes
This sweater begins by knitting the body cable panel sideways. Then the upper and lower body stitches are picked up from either side of the cable panel and knit in their respective directions. For the upper body, the body is knit in the round to the underarms where the back and front are divided and knit separately to the shoulders. The shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off, then the sleeve stitches are picked up around the armholes and knit down. Some short-rows are worked to shape the sleeve cap. The neckband is picked up and knit around the neckline.
Keeping in Pattern While Increasing in Ribbing: On the first 2 inc rows, work m1, and work that stitch as a knit stitch on the following rows. On the 3rd and 4th inc rows, work m1p, and work that stitch as a purl stitch on the following rows.
Pattern
Body Cable Band
With dpn, use a provisional method to CO 12 sts. Do not join; work back and forth in rows.
Work Rows 1–8 of Cable Panel 29 (33, 38, 42, 47, 51, 56) times, then work Rows 1–7 once more.
Break yarn leaving an 8″ [20.5 cm] tail.
Carefully remove waste yarn from provisional cast-on sts and place 12 sts onto larger dpn. Being careful not to twist cable band, thread tail onto tapestry needle and join the sts on both needles using the Kitchener St.
Lower Body
With circular needle, beg at seam of body cable band, pick up and knit 160 (184, 208, 232, 256, 280, 304) sts evenly around (about 2 sts are picked up for every 3 rows of cable band). Pm for beginning of rnd and join to work in the rnd.
Establish Pattern: [K1, p2, k1] 20 (23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38) times, pm for side, [k1, p2, k1] 20 (23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38) times to end.
Shape Hips
Work 19 rnds even in ribbing as established.
Inc Rnd: *K1, m1 or m1p keeping in patt (see notes), work as established to 1 st before m, m1 or m1p keeping in patt, k1, sl m; rep from * once more—4 sts inc’d.
Rep the last 20 rows 3 more times—176 (200, 224, 248, 272, 296, 320) sts.
Work in ribbing as est until piece meas 10½” [26.5 cm] from pick-up rnd.
BO all sts loosely in patt.
Upper Body
With circular needle, beg at seam of body cable band, pick up and knit 160 (184, 208, 232, 256, 280, 304) sts evenly around (about 2 sts are picked up for every 3 rows of cable band). Pm for beginning of rnd and join to work in the rnd.
Place Side Marker: K80 (92, 104, 116, 128, 140, 152), pm, k80 (92, 104, 116, 128, 140, 152) to end.
Shape waist
Knit 9 rnds.
Inc Rnd: *K1, m1R, knit to 1 st before next m, m1L, k1, sm; rep from * once more—4 sts inc’d.
Rep the last 10 rnds 3 more times—176 (200, 224, 248, 272, 296, 320) sts.
Cont working even in St st until piece meas 5¼” (5¼, 5½, 5½, 5¾, 5¾, 6)” [13.5 (13.5, 14, 14, 14.5, 14.5, 15) cm] from pick-up rnd, ending the last rnd 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts before end of rnd.
(Note: The total body length should be about 17 (17, 17¼, 17¼, 17½, 17½, 17¾)” [43 (43, 44, 44, 44.5, 44.5, 45) cm] from the BO edge of the lower body.)
Divide Back and Front (RS): BO 8 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, knit to 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts before next m, place the 80 (90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140) sts just worked onto a st holder or waste yarn for front, BO next 8 (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) sts, knit to end—80 (90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140) sts rem for back.
Back
Shape Armholes
Next row (WS): Purl.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—2 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 2 rows 3 (5, 8, 11, 13, 16, 19) more times—72 (78, 82, 86, 92, 96, 100) sts rem.
Cont working even in St st until armhole meas 7 (7¼, 7¾, 8, 8½, 8¾, 9¼)” [18 (18.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23.5) cm] from divide, ending after a RS row.
Shape Neck (WS): P17 (19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25), BO next 38 (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50) sts, p17 (19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) to end—17 (19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) sts rem each side.
Cont working each side at the same time with separate balls of yarn as follows:
Shape Shoulders
Short-Row 1 (RS): Knit to 3 sts before neck edge, ssk, k1; on other side, k1, k2tog, knit to last 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) sts, wrap next st and turn so wrong side is facing; (WS): Purl to neck edge; on other side, purl to last 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing—16 (18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24) sts rem on each side.
Short-Row 2 (RS): Knit to 3 sts before neck edge, ssk, k1; on other side, k1, k2tog, knit to last 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12) sts, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to neck edge; on other side, purl to last 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing—15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) sts rem on each side.
Short-Row 3 (RS): Knit to neck edge; on other side, knit to last 12 (12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 18) sts, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to last 12 (12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 18) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Next Row (RS): Knit right shoulder sts to neck edge; on other side, knit left shoulder sts to end working wraps together with their sts. Break yarn for left shoulder and place 15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) left shoulder sts onto a st holder or waste yarn.
Next Row (WS): Purl right shoulder sts to end working wraps together with their sts. Break yarn and place 15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) right shoulder sts onto a st holder or waste yarn.
Front
Return 80 (90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140) held front sts to circular needle and join yarn preparing to work a WS row.
Cont working back and forth in rows as follows:
Shape Armholes
Next row (WS): Purl.
Dec Row (RS): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1—2 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 2 rows 3 (5, 8, 11, 13, 16, 19) more times—72 (78, 82, 86, 92, 96, 100) sts rem.
Cont working even in St st until armhole meas 4¼ (4½, 4¾, 5, 5¼, 5½, 5¾)” [11 (11.5, 12, 12.5, 13.5, 14, 14.5) cm] from divide, ending after a RS row.
Shape Neck (WS): P23 (25, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34), BO next 26 (28, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32) sts, p23 (25, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34) to end—23 (25, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34) sts rem each side.
Cont working each side at the same time with separate balls as follows:
Dec Row (RS): Knit to 3 sts before neck edge, ssk, k1; on other side, k1, k2tog, knit to end—1 st dec’d on each side.
Work 1 WS row even.
Rep the last 2 rows 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10) more times—15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) sts rem on each side.
Cont working even in St st until armholes meas 7 (7¼, 7¾, 8, 8½, 8¾, 9¼)” [18 (18.5, 19.5, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23.5) cm] from divide, ending after a WS row.
Shape Shoulders
Short-Row 1 (RS): Knit to neck edge; on other side, knit to last 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) sts, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to neck edge; on other side, purl to last 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short-Row 2 (RS): Knit to neck edge; on other side, knit to last 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12) sts, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to neck edge; on other side, purl to last 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 10, 12) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Short-Row 3 (RS): Knit to neck edge; on other side, knit to last 12 (12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 18) sts, wrap next st and turn so wrong side is facing; (WS): Purl to last 12 (12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 18) sts, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Next Row (RS): Knit left shoulder sts to neck edge; on other side, knit right shoulder sts to end working wraps together with their sts.
Join Right Shoulder: Return 15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) held right back shoulder sts to empty needle and join to right front shoulder sts using the Three-Needle BO.
Left Shoulder:
Next Row (WS): Purl left shoulder sts to end working wraps together with their sts. Return 15 (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) left shoulder sts to empty needle and join to left shoulder sts using the Three-Needle BO.
Sleeves
With dpns and RS facing, beg at center of underarm, pick up and k4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts along half of the underarm BO sts, then k34 (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) sts evenly along selvedge edge of armhole to shoulder “seam”, pm for shoulder, then pick up and k34 (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) sts evenly along the other armhole edge to the BO sts, then pick up and k4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts along the rem underarm BO sts—76 (80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100) sts.
Shape Cap with Short-Rows as follows:
Short-Row 1 (RS): Knit to marker at top of shoulder, remove marker, k5, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): P10, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing—32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) sts rem outside wraps on each side.
Short-Row 2 (RS): Knit to wrapped st from previous row, knit the wrap together with the st it wraps, k1, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to wrapped st from previous row, purl the wrap together with the st it wraps, p1, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Rep the last short-row 7 more times—16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) sts rem outside wraps on each side.
Short-Row 3 (RS): Knit to wrapped st from previous row, knit the wrap together with the st it wraps, wrap next st and turn so WS is facing; (WS): Purl to wrapped st from previous row, purl the wrap together with the st it wraps, wrap next st and turn so RS is facing.
Rep the last short-row 11 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) more times—4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) sts rem outside wraps on each side
Next Row (RS): Knit to wrapped st from previous row, knit the wrap together with the st it wraps, knit to end of rnd.
Next Rnd: Knit to wrapped st from previous row, knit the wrap together with the st it wraps, knit to end of rnd.
Shape Sleeve
Knit 3 rnds.
Dec Rnd: K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2—2 sts dec’d.
Rep the last 4 rnds 3 more times—68 (72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92) sts rem.
Knit 3 rnds.
Work in K2, P2 Ribbing for 1″ [2.5 cm].
BO all sts loosely in ribbing.
Make second sleeve the same as the first.
Finishing
Block piece to measurements.
Neckband
With circular needle and RS facing, beg at right shoulder edge, pick up and k44 (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) sts evenly along back neck to left shoulder, k19 (21, 22, 22, 23, 23, 24) sts along side of front neck to BO sts, k26 (28, 28, 30, 30, 32, 32) sts along front neck BO sts, then k19 (21, 22, 22, 23, 23, 24) sts along side of front neck—108 (116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136) sts. Pm for beg of rnd and join to work in the rnd.
Work in K2, P2 Ribbing until piece meas 1″ [2.5 cm] from pick-up rnd.
BO all sts loosely in ribbing.
Weave in ends. Block again if desired.