The Flower Market Sweater is a charming creation inspired by the vibrant hues of spring flowers arranged in a basket. This slightly cropped sweater, featuring set-in sleeves, captures the essence of blooming beauty. Designed with a tailored silhouette in mind, the sweater offers a fitted yet easy-to-wear style, with intended ease of one-to-three inches at the waist and five-to-seven inches at the bust. Worked in separate pieces and then seamlessly seamed, this pattern provides both a comfortable fit and a sophisticated look. For a personalized touch, incorporate odd balls of yarn to create unique and whimsical flower buds unique to your stash!
Time: 6-12 weeks.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes written as XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X): Finished Bust Size 35.5 (38, 43.5, 46, 51.5) (54, 59.5, 62, 67.5)”. 1-3” of positive ease at the waist and 5-7” of positive ease at the bust recommended.
Shown in size 38”
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Basketweave st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (50% Merino, 25% Alpaca, 25% Rayon; 190 yards / 50 grams): 152 Watery (MC 6 (7, 7, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8, 9) balls), 181 Mineral (CC1 1 ball), 185 Frozen (CC2 1 ball), 199 Pink Bliss (CC3 1 ball), 204 Vaseline Green (CC4 1 ball), 220 Sulphur (CC5 1 ball), 221 Candy Floss (CC6 1 ball).
Needles: US size 2 2.75 mm, and 4 3.5mm needles.
Hook: US Size D 3.25mm
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, markers, waste yarn, tapestry needle.
Material Notes
Pattern is worked flat and seamed. Knitter may choose between straight or circular needles. I prefer circular as the weight on my wrists is decreased.
The crochet hook is used for drawing loops through the fabric and does not affect gauge so knitter may choose a larger or smaller hook. No need to purchase this exact size.
Knitter may substitute suitable (sport or DK weight) oddballs for flower buds instead of the contrast colors specified.
Abbreviations
K1-b: Knit into the back loop.
P1-b: Purl into the back loop.
Special Stitches
Basketweave Stitch (Multiple of 8 plus 3)
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): P3, *K5, P3, rep from *.
Row 2 (RS): K3, *P5, K3, rep from *.
Row 4: K.
Rows 5 and 7: K3, *K1, P3, K4, rep from *.
Row 6: P3, *P1 K3, P4, rep from *.
Row 8: K.
Flower Garden (multiple of 12 stitches plus 13)
CCs 1-6 create the flower buds. Work in order, changing the CC every time. To work as for sample, use CC1, then CC2 for the first set of buds. For the second set of buds use CC3, CC4, CC5. Continue in this way. It will take six full pattern repeats to complete the sequence.
Cut 20-24” lengths of contrast colors before working rows.
Rows 1, 3, and 5 (RS): With MC, K3, P9, K1-b, P11, K1-b, P9, K3
Rows 2 and 4 (WS): P3, K9, P1-b, K11, P1-b, K9, P3.
Row 6: K12 *P1-b, K11, rep from *, end K1.
Row 7: P8, *insert a crochet hook from the front through the fabric at the right of the twisted knit st in row 1 and draw through a long loose loop; sl this loop onto the right-hand needle, k next st and pass the loop over the st; P3, K1-b, P3, draw through another loop from the left of the same st in the first row, sl the loop onto the right-hand needle, k the next st and pass the loop over it; P3, rep from *, to last 5 sts, P5.
Row 8: Rep row 6.
Row 9: With MC, K3, P9, with CC, K1, (yo, K1) 3 times into the same st, with MC, P11, With color CC, K1, (yo, K1) 3 times into the same st, with color MC, P9, K3.
Row 10: With MC, P3, K9, with CC P7, with color MC, k11, with CC, P7, with MC, K9, p3.
Row 11: With MC, K3, p9, with CC k2tog-b, k3tog-b, K2tog, with MC, P11, with CC, K2tog-b, K3 tog-b, K2tog, with MC, P9, K3.
Row 12: With MC, P3, K9, with CC, *P3 tog, with MC, K11, with CC P3tog, with MC K9, p3.
Rows 13, 15, and 17: P6, *k1-b, P11, rep from *, to last 6 sts, P6.
Rows 14, 16, 18, and 20: *K6, *P1-b, K11, rep from * to last 6 sts, K6
Row 19: P2, * insert a crochet hook from the front through the fabric at the right of the twisted knit st in row 13 and draw through a long loose loop; sl this loop onto the right-hand needle, k next st and pass the loop over the st; P3, K1-b, P3, draw through another loop from the left of the same st in row 13, sl the loop onto the right-hand needle, K the next st and pass the loop over it; P3, rep from * to last 3 sts, P3.
Row 21: With MC, P6, *K1 with CC (yo, K1) 3 times into the same st, with MC, P11, rep from *, to last 6 sts, P6
Row 22: With MC, K6, * with CC, P7, with MC, K11, rep from * to last 6 sts, K6.
Row 23: With MC, P6, *with CC, K2tog-b, K3tog-b, K2tog, with MC, P11, rep from * to last 6 sts, P6.
Row 24: With MC, K6, *with CC, P3tog, with MC, K11, rep from * to last 6 sts, K6.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked side to side in pieces, then seamed.
Stitch counts include a selvedge stitch on each edge. Knitter may work this stitch in stockinette or garter.
Note that the basketweave pattern begins on row 1 for the back and row 5 for the front.
Knitter may find it helpful to place markers on either side of the Flower Garden stitch panel when working the sleeves.
Pattern
Back
With smaller needle and MC, CO 84 (92, 100, 114, 126) (140, 152, 160, 170) sts. Work in K1, P1 rib for 2.24”.
Change to larger needle.
Increase row: K7 (4, 1, 6, 2) (2, 6, 8, 8), inc 1, K3 (4, 3, 4, 4) (6, 5, 5, 4), * inc 1, K3 (4, 3, 4, 4) (6, 5, 5, 4), inc 1, K3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5) rep from * 11 (11, 15, 12, 14) (11, 13, 13, 16) more times, k to end of row. 25 (25, 33, 27, 31) (25, 29, 29, 35) sts increased, 109 (117, 133, 141, 157) (165, 181, 189, 205) sts.
Begin Basketweave stitch and work even until piece measures 11.5 (11.5, 11.25, 11, 10.75) (10.5, 10, 10, 9.5) inches. End with a WS row.
Armhole decrease
Maintain the selvedge stitch and at the beginning of the next 2 rows, BO 5 (4, 5, 6, 7) (9, 11, 12, 14) sts.
BO 4 sts each side 0 (1, 1, 2, 2) (2, 3, 4, 4) times.
BO 3 sts each side 1 (1, 2, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 3) times.
BO 2 sts each side 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (2, 2, 1, 3) times.
Dec 1 st each side every RS row 1 (1, 2, 1, 2) (0, 2, 2, 1) times.
87 (89, 95, 101, 107) (111, 111, 113, 113) sts remain.
Work as set until armhole measures 8 (8.5, 9, 9.5, 10) (10.5, 11, 11.5, 12) inches. End with a WS Row.
Back Neck
Work 21 (21, 23, 24, 26) (27, 27, 28, 27) sts, attach a new ball of yarn and BO 45 (47, 49, 53, 55) (57, 57, 57, 59) sts, then work as set to end of row.
Back Left Shoulder
WS: Work as set to end of row.
Next row and remaining RS rows: K1, K2tog, work as set to end of row.
Next row (WS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 9, 8) sts, work as set to end of row.
Next WS row: BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts, work as set to end of row.
Next WS row: BO remaining 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts.
Back Right Shoulder
WS and remaining WS rows: P1, P2tog, work as set to end of row.
Next row (RS): BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 9, 9) sts, work as set to end of row.
Next RS row: BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts, work as set to end of row.
Next RS row: BO remaining 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts.
Front
Work as for back through armhole decreases EXCEPT begin basketweave stitch on row 5. Work as set until armhole measures 5 (5.5, 6, 6.5, 7) (7.5, 8, 8.5, 9) inches.
Shape neck
Work 35 (36, 38, 41, 43) (45, 45, 46, 46) sts in pattern, add a new ball of yarn and BO 17 (17, 19, 19, 21) (21, 21, 21, 21) sts, then work remaining sts. Continue to work pattern as set and BO 5 sts at the neck edge 1 (1, 1, 1, 0) (1, 1, 1, 1) time.
BO 4 sts at the neck edge 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (1, 1, 1, 1) time.
BO 3 sts at the neck edge 1 (1, 2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) times.
BO 2 sts at the neck edge 2 (2, 1, 2, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2) times.
Dec 1 sts at the neck edge every RS row 1 (2, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 3) times.
18 (18, 20, 21, 23) (24, 24, 25, 24) sts remain on each side.
Work as set until neck edge matches shoulder. On shoulder edge of each side BO 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 9, 8) sts, then 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts, then remaining 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 8, 8) sts.
Sleeves (make two)
With smaller needle and MC, CO 42 (42, 42, 44, 44) (44, 48, 48, 48) sts. Work in k1p1 rib for 2.25 inches. End with a RS row. Change to larger needle.
WS: K and Increase 5 (5, 5, 7, 7) (7, 11, 13, 13) sts evenly across row. 47 (47, 47, 51, 51) (51, 51, 59, 61, 61) sts.
The sleeves are worked with the Flower Basket pattern centered between basketweave pattern. Begin basketweave stitch with row 8 and refer to chart to locate beginning stitch of basketweave, remember the selvedge stitch is not indicated on the chart.
Begin basketweave with row 8, work selvedge stitch, K3 (3, 3, 5, 5) (5, 9, 10, 10), work row 1 of Flower Basket pattern, K3, (3, 3, 5, 5) (5, 9, 10, 10), work selvedge stitch.
Continue in the two patterns as set, and AT THE SAME TIME
Increase one stitch each side every RS row 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) (0, 0, 4, 10) times.
Increase one stitch each side every fourth row 0 (0, 0, 0, 7) (25, 31, 30, 24) times.
Increase one stitch each side every sixth row 0 (0, 0, 0, 16) (4, 0, 0, 0) times.
Increase one stitch each side every eighth row 12 (14, 16, 18, 0) (0, 0, 0, 0) times.
71 (75, 79, 87, 97) (109, 121, 129, 129) sts.
Work as set until sleeve measures 17.5 (17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 16.5) (16.5, 16, 16, 15) inches. End on WS row.
Maintain the selvedge stitch and at the beginning of the next 2 rows, BO 5 (5, 5, 6, 7) (9, 11, 12, 14) sts.
BO 4 sts each side 0 (1, 1, 2, 2) (2, 3, 4, 4) times.
BO 3 sts each side 1 (1, 2, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 3) times.
BO 2 sts each side 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (2, 2, 1, 3) times.
Dec 1 st each side every RS row 1 (1, 2, 1, 2) (0, 2, 2, 1) times.
Decrease 1 st each side every 8th row 0 (0, 0, 0, 0) (0, 0, 0, 5) times.
Decrease 1 st each side every sixth row 0 (0, 5, 3, 7) (4, 9, 8, 0) times.
Decrease 1 st each side every fourth row 11 (10, 6, 10, 5) (11, 2, 4, 0) times.
Decrease 1 st each side every RS row 5 (5, 0, 0, 0) (0, 0, 0, 0) times.
End with a WS row
On the next two rows BO 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 5) sts
On the next two rows BO 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) (5, 6, 6, 5) sts.
BO remaining 5 (3, 5, 5, 5) (5, 7, 7, 7) sts.
Finishing
Block pieces to shape as indicated in schematic. Sew shoulder seams. With smaller needle pick up an even number of sts around the neck and work K1P1 rib in the round for 1” then BO. Sew sleeve caps to body. Sew side and sleeve seams. Work in ends and block.