The Southwest Dreamer Sweater features striking colorwork in geometric shapes and bright hues, evoking the vibrant spirit of the Southwest. This stylish sweater is designed with full-length modified drop shoulder sleeves and a classic crew neck. The hems, cuffs and neck border are finished with double ribbing, adding a refined touch to the overall look. Crafted in a bottom-up construction, the garment is knitted in separate pieces and then sewn together, ensuring a perfect fit and seamless finish. This eye-catching sweater is both a fashion statement and a cozy wardrobe essential.
Time: 73 Hours pattern
Skill level: Intermediate
Size: Finished bust size 40.50 (44.75, 48.75, 52.50, 56.75)”, to fit bust 32 (36, 40, 44, 48)” with 8.75″ ease.
Shown in size 32″
Gauge: 23.5 sts and 29.5 rows with needles US size 4 (3.5mm) = 4″ [10 cm] in color-work pattern, after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Scheepjes Catona (100% Mercerised Cotton, 136 yards [125 meters] /50 grams): #255 Shell (MC – 5 (6, 6, 6, 7) balls), #383 Ginger Gold (CC1 – 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) balls), #251 Garden Rose (CC2 – 3 (3, 3, 3, 4) balls), #394 Shadow Purple (CC3 – 2 balls), #391 Deep Ocean (CC4 – 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) balls).
Needles: US size 4 (3.5mm) straight or circular needles. US size 3 (3mm) straight or circular needles.
Notions: tapestry needle
Abbreviations
M1R: With the left needle, pick up the horizontal strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from back to front, then knit through front loop of the strand. -1 stitch increased
M1L: With the left needle, pick up the horizontal strand between the last stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, bringing the needle from front to back, then knit through back loop of the strand. -1 stitch increased
Special Stitches
Stranded color-work pattern
Work according to chart. Work as many repeats as possible across the stitches in the chosen size, and when repeating charts, always repeat rows 1-70. The chart is worked using the stranded method. Always pick up the background color over the pattern color and pick up the pattern color from under the background color. Keep floats loose. For floats longer than four – five stitches, tack stranded yarn on wrong side of work.
Sloped BO
To prevent “stair steps” from forming between subsequent BO rows, use the sloped BO method as following: On the first BO row, bind off as usual to define the initial part of the slope. Work the next row to the last st, but do not work the last st. Turn work so that the unworked st becomes the first st on the RH needle. Sl the first st on the LH needle pwise, then BO the unworked st by lifting it over the sl st and off the needle.
Pattern notes
The back, fronts, and sleeves are worked flat from the bottom up and sewn together.
Pattern
Back
With smaller needles and MC, CO 122 (136, 148, 160, 172) sts and work in 2×2 rib for 20 rows, or until piece measures 2.25″.
Change to larger needles and cont in color-work patt from Chart.
Shape armholes
When Back measures 14.75 (14.25, 13.75, 13, 12.25)”, BO 2 sts at the beginning of next 8 rows, then BO 1 st at the beginning of next 2 (4, 4, 6, 8) rows. 104 (116, 128, 138, 148) sts
Cont straight until armhole measures 8 (8.50, 9, 9.75, 10.75)” finishing with a WS Row.
Shape shoulders
BO 5 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts at the beginning of next 10 (6, 2, 6, 12) rows, then BO 4 (5, 6, 6, 0) sts at the beginning of next 2 (6, 10, 6, 0) rows.
BO remaining 46 (50, 54, 60, 64) sts for neck.
Front
Work as for Back, until piece measures 20.75″ finishing with a WS Row.
Divide for front neck
Next Row (RS): Work 45 (49, 54, 56, 59) sts in patt, BO central 14 (18, 20, 26, 30) sts, work in patt to end. 45 (49, 54, 56, 59) sts for each side of front neck.
Next Row: Work 45 (49, 54, 56, 59) sts in patt, turn and place unworked sts on hold for Left front neck.
Shape Right Front neck
** Next Row: BO 4 sts at neck edge, work in patt to end. (41 (45, 50, 52, 55) sts)
Work 1 row in patt.
Next Row: BO 3 sts at neck edge, work in patt to end. (38 (42, 47, 49, 52) sts)
Work 1 row in patt.
Next Row: BO 2 sts, work in patt to end. (36 (40, 45, 47, 50) sts)
Work 1 row in patt.
Rep last 2 rows once more. (34 (38, 43, 45, 48) sts)
Next Row: BO 1 st, work in patt to end. (1 st dec’d 33 (37, 42, 44, 47) sts)
Work 1 row in patt.
Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (30 (34, 39, 41, 44) sts)
Shape shoulder
Row 1: BO 5 (6, 7, 7, 7) sts at shoulder edge, work in patt to end. (25 (28, 32, 34, 37) sts)
Row 2: BO 1 st, work in patt to end. (1 st dec’d 24 (27, 31, 33, 36) sts)
Row 3: BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) sts, work in patt to end. (19 (21, 25, 26, 29) sts)
Row 4: BO 0 (0, 1, 1, 1) st, work in patt to end. (1 st dec’d 19 (21, 24, 25, 28) sts)
Row 5: BO 5 (6, 6, 7, 7) sts, work in patt to end. (14 (15, 18, 18, 21) sts)
Row 6: Work in patt to end.
Row 7: BO 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) sts, work in patt to end. (9 (10, 12, 12, 14) sts)
Row 8: Work in patt to end.
Row 9: BO 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) sts, work in patt to end. (4 (5, 6, 6, 7) sts)
Row 10: Work in patt to end.
BO.
Shape Left front neck & shoulder
With WS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts. (45 (49, 54, 56, 59) sts)
Work as for Right front neck from ** to end.
Sleeves
Work both the same.
With smaller needles and MC, CO 58 (60, 62, 66, 68) sts and work in 2×2 rib for 18 rows, or until piece measures 2″.
Change to larger needles and cont in color-work patt from Chart, starting with Row 39 (37, 49, 43, 31) of Chart.
At the same time, shape sleeve as following:
Work 6 (6, 6, 6, 4) rows even.
Inc row (RS): K1, M1R, work in patt to last st, M1L, k1. 2 sts inc’d.
Rep inc row every 6th (6th, 6th, 6th, 4th) row 15 (13, 12, 6, 28) more times, then every 4th (4th, 4th, 4th, 2nd) Row 4 (7, 10, 19, 2) times, working new sts into patt. (98 (102, 108, 118, 130) sts)
Work straight until sleeve measures 18.50 (18.50, 19, 19, 19.50)”.
Shape armholes:
BO 2 sts at the beginning of next 8 rows, then BO 1 st at the beginning of next 2 (4, 4, 6, 8) rows. (80 (82, 88, 96, 104) sts)
BO all sts.
Finishing
Block all pieces to finished measurements.
With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, sew right shoulder.
Neckband:
With RS facing, smaller needles and MC, pick up and knit 118 (126, 130, 142, 150) sts along neck edge and work 9 rows in 2×2 rib, starting and finishing with k2. BO all sts in rib.
Sew left shoulder and neckband seam.
Sew sleeves into armholes. Sew underarm and side seams.
Weave in ends.