The perfect sweaters to knit for the Mr. Right and Mrs. Always Right couple! This sweater pattern is one you’ll want to keep on hand every year since it’s so versatile.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Chest Size 28¾ (33½, 38½, 43¼, 48, 52¾)”
Recommend 2-3” positive ease
Shown in size 42” men and 36” women, each with 2” ease (at least that’s what I recall sending – you might double-check the measurements.
Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in St st using larger needles after blocking
Materials
Yarn:
The Plucky Knitter Trusty Worsted (100% Merino Wool; 250 yards [229 meters]/ 115 grams): Wintry Mix (worn by female model) and Lonesome Highway (worn by male model), 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8) skeins
Needles: US size 5 (3.75 mm): straight and 24” circular; US size 6 (4 mm): straight
Notions: Markers (2); waste yarn; tapestry needle
Abbreviations
K – Knit
P – Purl
K2Tog – Knit two stitches together at the same time.
M1R – Make one knit-wise right. Pick up the strand running between the stitches, from back to front, and knit into the front.
M1L – Make one knit-wise left. Pick up the strand running between the stitches, from front to back, and knit into the back.
P2Tog – Purl two stitches together at the same time.
PM – Place marker.
RS – Right side of the work.
SM – Slip marker.
SSK – Slip next two knit stitches, then knit them together.
WS – Wrong side of the work.
Special Stitches
Highway Pattern
Row 1 (RS): K across row.
Row 2 (WS): P across row.
Row 3: K across row.
Row 4: *P5, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 5: *K1, p1, k3, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 6: *P1, k1, p1, k1, p2; rep from* to end.
Row 7: K3, *p1, k5; rep from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2.
Row 8: P across row.
Row 9: K across row.
Row 10: P across row.
Row 11: *P1, k5; rep from * to end.
Row 12: *K1, p3, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 13: *K2, p1, k1, p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 14: P3, *k1, p5; rep from * to last 4 sts, k1, p3.
Rep Rows 1-14 for pattern.
Pattern Notes
Highway is worked flat in pieces and seamed together. Shoulders feature a saddle shoulder construction for a fun yet functional look and feel.
Pattern
Back
With smaller straight needles, CO 72 (84, 96, 108, 120, 132) sts.
Next Row: *K2, p2; rep from * across row.
Rep last row until piece measures 1½”.
Switch to larger needles.
Begin working Highway Pattern until piece measures desired length to Armhole, ending after Row 7 or Row 14.
Shape Armhole
Working in St st (knit RS rows and purl WS rows), BO 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts at the beg of next 2 rows, then BO 3 sts at the beg of next 2 rows – 58 (70, 80, 92, 102, 114) sts.
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 56 (68, 78, 90, 100, 112) sts.
Rep Dec Row every RS row 0 (1, 4, 4, 5, 9) more times – 56 (66, 70, 82, 90, 94) sts.
Work even in St st until Armhole measures 6¼ (7¼, 8, 8¾, 9¼, 9¾)”.
Shape Shoulders
BO 7 (9, 7, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 42 (48, 56, 66, 72, 76) sts.
BO 7 (9, 6, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 28 (30, 44, 50, 56, 58) sts.
BO 0 (0, 6, 7, 8, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 28 (30, 32, 36, 30, 42) sts.
BO all rem sts.
Front
Work as for Back until Armhole measures 1¾ (2½, 3½, 4, 4½, 4½)”, ending after a WS row – 58 (68, 70, 82, 90, 94) sts.
Next Row (RS): K29 (34, 35, 41, 45, 47) sts, placing next 29 (34, 35, 41, 45, 47) sts on waste yarn to be worked later.
Cont to work Armhole decreases as established same as for Back at the same time as working neck decreases for Front
Left Front
Row 1 (WS): P across row.
Row 2 (RS): K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 1 st dec’d.
Work last 2 rows 12 (15, 14, 16, 19, 20) more times – 16 (18, 20, 24, 25, 26) sts.
Cont to work until Armhole measures 6¼ (7¼, 8, 8¾, 9¼, 9¾)”, the same as for Back, ending after a WS row.
Shape Shoulder
BO 7 (9, 7, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of this RS row.
BO 7 (9, 6, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of following RS row – 2 (0, 7, 8, 8, 8) sts.
BO rem sts (if any for your size).
Right Front
Replace unworked sts back onto straight needle with RS facing. K across row.
Row 1 (WS): P across row.
Row 2 (RS): K1, ssk, k to end – 1 st dec’d.
Work last 2 rows 12 (15, 14, 16, 19, 20) more times – 16 (18, 20, 24, 25, 26) sts.
Cont to work until Armhole measures 6¼ (7¼, 8, 8¾, 9¼, 9¾)”, the same as for Back, ending after a RS row.
Shape Shoulder
BO 7 (9, 7, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of this WS row.
BO 7 (9, 6, 8, 8, 9) sts at beg of following WS row – 2 (0, 7, 8, 8, 8) sts.
BO rem sts (if any for your size).
Sleeve (make 2)
Using smaller straight needles, CO 32 (36, 40, 48, 52, 56) sts.
Next Row: *K2, p2; rep from * across row.
Rep last row until piece measures 1½”.
Switch to larger needles, k1 (3, 2, 3, 2, 1) st(s), PM, work Highway Pattern to last 1 (3, 2, 3, 2, 1) st(s), PM, k1 (3, 2, 3, 2, 1) sts.
Cont as established (knit sts outside markers, work Highway Pattern inside markers) until piece measures 1½ (2, 2, 2 ½, 2 ½, 2 ½)”, ending after a WS row.
Inc Row: K1, M1R, k to marker, SM, work Highway Pattern to M, SM, k to last st, M1L, K1 – 2 sts inc’d; 34 (38, 42, 50, 54, 58) sts.
Note: After completing 3 total repeats of the Highway Pattern (working Rows 1-14 a total of 3 times, switch to St st.
Rep Inc Row every 4th row 0 (3, 7, 11, 16, 18) more times – 34 (44, 56, 72, 86, 94) sts.
Work Inc Row every 6th row 8 (9, 8, 5, 3, 2) more times – 50 62, 72, 82, 92, 98) sts.
Work even until Sleeve measures 13 (15, 16½, 17, 18¼, 18¾) or desired length to armhole, ending after a WS row.
Shape Sleeve Cap
BO 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) sts at the beg of next 2 rows – 42 (54, 64, 74, 84, 90) sts.
BO 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows –36 (48, 58, 66, 76, 80) sts.
Dec Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 – 2 sts dec’d.
Work Dec Row on RS row 1 (1, 2, 5, 5, 6) time(s) total –34 (46, 54, 56, 66, 68) sts
Work Dec Row on RS every 4 rows 1 (0, 0, 0, 0, 4) time(s), then on RS every 2 rows 5 (10, 9, 8, 10, 3) more times – 22 (26, 36, 40, 46, 54) sts.
BO 2 sts at beg of next 0 (0, 4, 5, 6, 6) rows, then BO 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then BO 3 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7) sts at beg of next 2 rows – 10 (10, 10, 12, 12, 14) sts.
Saddle Tab
Work even in St st until Saddle Tab measures 2¾ (3½, 3¾, 4½, 5, 5)”, ending with a WS row.
BO loosely in knit.
Collar
Note: Before working collar, block individual pieces and sew together so all that remains is the collar.
Using small circular needles and beg at Front seam of right shoulder, pick up and knit into 3 out of every 4 sts until reaching the bottom of the V, PM, continue picking up and knitting sts to end, PM and join to work in the round, ending with a multiple of 4 sts, and AT THE SAME TIME, make sure the V marker comes between 2 knit sts.
Rnd 1: *K2, p2; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: *K2, p2; rep from * to 2 sts before V marker, ssk, SM, k2tog, work to end in established pattern.
Rep Rnds 1-2 until Collar measures 1½”.
BO loosely in pattern.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Block to measurements.