Floral Fantasy is a Fair Isle inspired short-sleeved sweater that’s perfect for transitioning into fall. Worked from the bottom up, this sweater features an easy-to-knit flowery stripe that gives this darker grey top a nice burst of color.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 36.7 (38.5, 40.5, 44, 47.6)” around
Gauge: 22 sts & 32 rows = 4” on U.S. 5 needles in stockinette stitch
Materials
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish DK (100% superwash merino; 123 yards [meters]/50 grams): Cobblestone Heater (MC, 8 (8, 9, 10, 11) skeins), Forest Heather (C1, 1 skein), Amethyst Heather (C2, 1 skein)
Needles: US size 4 (3.5 mm) circular needles (16” and 24”), US size 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles (16” and 24”)
Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle
Special Stitches
Slip Stitch – Flower Pattern
The pattern is worked in the round and is worked in a multiple of 10 stitches, with a 2 stitch gap in the back (beginning and end of round).
Rnd 1: With C1 K all sts.
Rnd 2: With C1 P4, *[wrap the working yarn 3 times around the right needle, P1] – rep 3 times, P7*, rep to 5 sts remaining, P5. Break yarn.
Rnd 3: With MC, *slip1 st (with yarn in back), K3, sl 3 (dropping extra wraps), K3* – rep to 5 sts remaining, K5.
Rnd 4: With MC *slip1 st (with yarn in back), K3, sl 3 sts, K3* – rep to 5 sts remaining, K5.
Rnd 5: With MC k4, *slip3 (with yarn in back), K7* – rep to end of round.
Rnd 6: With MC repeat Rnd 5.
Rnd 7: With MC, *K to 2sts before the green sts, sl2 sts to right needle, release first green st from left needle, slide the 2 sts back to the left needle. K the green st, K the 2 gray sts, and the next green sts, release the last green st. K2 gray sts and 1 green st. * – repeat to end of round.
Rnd 8: With C2, slip all sts with yarn in back, except *P1, K1, P1* into each of the green stem sts.
Rnd 9: With C2 slip all sts with yarn in back, except at each set of the 3 purple sts worked in the previous round, work a bobbles: *P3, turn & K the 3 sts, turn & slip1-p2tog-psso* – repeat to end of round. Break yarn.
Rnd 10: With MC k one round. K the purple sts through the back loop (to tighten the bobbles).
Pattern Notes
This pullover is worked in the round from the bottom up. Sleeves stitches are joined at the yoke and are worked in the round in raglan sleeve style in one piece to the top. The flower pattern is a quite simple to knit slip-stitch pattern where only one working yarn is used at a time.
Pattern
With smaller sized circular needles, with MC, CO 202 (212, 222, 242, 262) sts, PM, join in round.
Work in K1, P1 rib pattern for 10 rounds.
Change to larger 24” circular needle. With C2, K one round. P one round.
With MC, K 4 rounds.
Work next 10 rounds in Flower Slip-Stitch pattern.
With MC, K 4 rounds.
With C2, K one round. P one round.
With MC, continue working in stockinette stitch until piece measure 15 (15, 16, 16, 16)” from CO.
Divide for Front and Back
SM, K46 (48, 50, 55, 59), BO 9 (10, 11, 11, 13) sts, K 92 (96, 100, 110, 118) sts, BO BO 9 (10, 11, 11, 13) sts, K46 (48, 50, 55, 59) to end of round, SM, K46 (48, 50, 55, 59) sts to end of back sts, do not break yarn. Place 92 (96, 100, 110, 118) front sts on holder.
Sleeve (Work 2)
With smaller sized circular needles or DPN, with MC, CO 66 (72, 72, 76, 84) sts, PM, join in round.
Work in K1, P1 rib pattern for 10 rounds.
Change to larger circular needle or DPN, working in stockinette stitch, increase 1 (0, 1, 0, 1) st in first round. (67 (72, 73, 76, 85) sts on needles)
Continue working in stockinette stitch until sleeve measures 7 (7.25, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5)” from CO.
Underarm BO: Next Round, SM, K58 (62, 62, 65, 72) sts, BO 9 (10, 11, 11, 13) sts, removing beg/end of round marker. Place sts onto holder.
Yoke
Take back piece sts, PM, with working yarn, K next 58 (62, 62, 65, 72) sleeve sts, PM, K next 92 (96, 100, 110, 118) front sts, PM, K next 58 (62, 62, 65, 72) sleeve sts, PM, K to end of round marker (in center of back).
Work one more round, slipping markers.
Round 1: Raglan Decrease Round (reduce 8 sts)
SM (center back – beg/end of round marker), *K to 3 sts before next marker, SSK, K1, SM, K1, K2tog* – rep 3 more times, K to end of round marker.
Round 2: Non-Decrease Round
Work one round, slipping all markers.
Repeat last two rounds – 2 (4, 5, 7, 7) more times. Do not break MC working yarn, carry it up over the next 2 rounds.
Next round work in C2, K all sts, working a Round 1: Raglan Decrease Round (8 sts dec’d)
Next round work in C2, K all sts, working a Round 2: Non-Decrease Round. Break yarn.
Next round change to MC, rep Round 1: Raglan Decrease Round and Round 2: Non-Decrease Round – 2 more times.
252 (252, 252, 262, 292) sts on needles
Back/Front: 80 (80, 82, 88, 96) sts.
Each Sleeve: 46 (46, 44, 43, 50) sts.
Work next 10 rounds in Flower Slip-Stitch pattern, removing Raglan Stitch Markers in first round.
Next Round: Replace Raglan Stitch Markers. With MC, SM (beginning/end of round marker), K40 (40, 41, 44, 48) sts, PM, K46 (46, 44, 43, 50) sts, PM, K80 (80, 82, 88, 96) sts, PM, 46 (46, 44, 43, 50) sts, PM, K40 (40, 41, 44, 48) sts to end of round.
Work Round 1:Raglan Decrease Round and Round 2: Non-Decrease Round one time.
Work Round 1: Raglan Decrease Round one time. Do not break MC working yarn, carry it up over the next 2 rounds.
With C2, work Round 2: Non-Decrease Round.
Next Round: With C2, *P to 3 sts before Raglan Sleeve Marker, P2tog, P1, SM, P1, P2tog* – rep 3 more times, P to end of round. Break yarn.
Continue working in MC, work one Round 2: Non-Decrease Round.
228 (228, 228, 238, 268) sts on needles.
Repeat Round 1: Raglan Decrease Round and Round 2: Non-Decrease Round 14 (14, 14, 15, 18) more times. Remove Raglan Stitch Markers.
116 (116, 116, 118, 124) sts on needle.
With smaller sized circular needles, work in K1, P1 rib pattern for 9 rounds.
BO all sts in pattern.
Finishing
Block sweater. Sew underarm CO seam. Weave in ends.