Pattern of the Month

Instructions.

Instructions for 2 sizes, larger size in brackets. If there is only one set of figures, it applies to both sizes.

Three separate panel pattern stitches are described below, and the overall instructions tell you about the shape and construction, and how you combine the panels together to make up the back, front, and sleeves.

Pattern 1: basic half fisherman's rib

[Editor's note: Whether or not you are familiar with fisherman's rib or brioche, it should be quite easy to pick up this half fisherman's rib from the instructions below.
However, you always have to be careful when increasing and decreasing, in that the stitch and the yarn-over that you purl together on the right side rows, always count as only one stitch.]

Worked over an odd number of stitches, using No 7 (4½mm) needles.

1st Row (right side): k1, * p1, k1; repeat from * to end.
2nd Row (wrong side): * slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn over needle, k1; repeat from * to last stitch; slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn over
needle.
3rd Row (right side): knit the first stitch together with the yarn over needle; * p1, knit next stitch together with yarn over needle, repeat from * to end.

Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows to form the pattern.

Patter 2: basic cable pattern

Worked over 9 stitches, using No 7 (4½mm) needles.

1st Row (right side): p2, k5, p2,
2nd Row: k2, p5, k2.
3rd Row: p2; cross 5 stitches to the right by slipping 3 stitches on to the cable needle and leaving at the back of the work, k2, then k3 stitches from cable needle - or alternatively cross 5 stitches to the
left by slipping 2 stitches on to the cable needle and leaving at the front of the work, k3, then k2 stitches from cable needle; p2.
[Editor's Note: The cables cross the the right on one side of the sweater and to the left on the other.]
4th Row: as 2nd row.
5th Row: as 1st row.
6th Row: as 2nd row.
These 6 rows form the pattern.

Pattern 3: cables with half fisherman's rib pattern

Worked over 27 stitches, using No 7 (4½mm) needles.
Stagger the pattern at the right side to the right, and at left side to the
left, (mirror images).

Rows 1-12: 9 stitches as per the cable pattern , 9 stitches in half fisherman's rib, 9 stitches as per the the cable.
Rows 13-16 (right half): 18 stitches in half fisherman's rib, then 9 stitches for the cable - or -
Rows 13-16 (left half): 9 stitches for the cable, then and 18 stitches in half fisherman's rib.
Rows 17-51: stagger the cable pattern on every alternate row by 1 stitch to the right or to the left as follows:

To the right: Purl the first purl stitch of the cable together with preceding stitch of the half fisherman's rib, and after the 5 knit stitches of the cable, increase 1 stitch purlwise, inserting the right-hand needle into the loop at the front of next stitch, p1, then work the last purl stitch of the cable in half fisherman's rib (starting with 1 purl stitch of the half fisherman's rib).
To the left: work the first purl stitch of the cable as a half fisherman's rib stitch, (starting with 1 purl stitch of the half fisherman's rib), p1, increase 1 stitch purlwise, by inserting right-hand needle into the loop at the front of the next stitch. Purl the last stitch of the cable together with next stitch of the half fisherman's rib.

Rows 53 and 54 (right half): work 9 stitches for the cable, then 18 stitches in half fisherman's rib - or -
Rows 53 and 54 (left half): work 18 stitches in half fisherman's rib, then 9 stitches for the cable.

These 54 rows form pattern.

Back

Using No 11 (3mm) needles, cast on 100 (108) stitches and work 3¼ inches in k1/p1 rib, increasing 21 stitches evenly across the last row. [121 (129) sts]

Change to No 7 (4½ mm) needles and continue as follows for the foundation row:
Foundation row: K1 edge stitch, work 7 (11) stitches in half fisherman's rib (pattern 1); work 9 stitches for the cable (pattern 2), work 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; work 27 stitches in pattern 3; then 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; work 9 stitches for the cable, then 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib (these 3 are the centre stitches) -
[Editor's Note: Now work the other half as a mirror image as below:]
- work 9 stitches for the cable; 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; 27 stitches in pattern 3; 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; 9 stitches for the cable, and finally 7 (11) stitches in half fisherman's rib (pattern 1); k1 edge stitch.

Cross straight cables and diagonal cables (pattern 3) on the right side to the right and on the left side to the left.
When work measures 15 inches, shape armholes: cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 4 rows, then 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
[109 (117) sts]

Keeping in line with the patterns, continue straight until work measures 26 inches, ending with right side facing for next row.

Shape neck:
Next row: work 40 (44) stitches in pattern.
Turn, and leaving the remaining stitches on a holder.
Complete this side first.

At the neck edge cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 alternate rows.
At the same time, shape shoulder: by casting off 12 (13) stitches at the armhole edge on every alternate row twice, then 12 (14) stitches once.

With right side of work facing, slip first 29 stitches on to holder for centre back neck, rejoin yarn to remaining stitches and work pattern to end.
Complete to match the first side, reversing shaping.

Front:

Proceed as for back until work measures 24 inches ending with the right side facing for the next row.

Shape neck:
Next row: work 45 (49) stitches in pattern.
Turn, and leaving the remaining stitches on a holder.
Complete this side first.

At the neck edge on every alternate row, cast off 3 stitches once, 2 stitches once, and 1 stitch 4 times.

When work measures 26 inches, shape shoulder, by casting off 12 (13) stitches at the armhole edge on every alternate row twice, then 12 (14) stitches once.

With right side of work facing, slip first 19 stitches on to a holder for the centre front neck.
Rejoin yarn to the remaining stitches and work in pattern to end.

Complete to match first side, reversing shaping.

Sleeves (both alike):

Cast on 45 stitches.
Work work 3¼ inches in k1/p1 rib, increasing 20 stitches evenly across the last row. [65 sts]

Continue in basic patterns as follows:

Foundation row: K1 edge stitch, work 9 stitches in half fisherman's rib (pattern 1); work 9 stitches for the cable (pattern 3 - stagger this cable to the right), work 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; work 9 stitches for the cable (pattern 2), then 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib (these 3 are the centre stitches) -
[Editor's Note: Now work the other half as a mirror image as below:]
- work 9 stitches for the cable; 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib; 9 stitches (pattern 3 - stagger this cable to the left); 9 stitches in half fisherman's rib (pattern 1); k1 edge stitch.

Stagger cables at right side to the right, at left side to the left.

At the same time, increase 1 stitch at each of every 5th row 18 times, then 1 stitch on every 4th row 6 times [113 sts]

At first, increase the pattern 3 section to the sides, then work 3 stitches in half fisherman's rib, 9 stitches for the cable, then remaining stitches in half fisherman's rib.
[Editor's Note: This is to give you sufficient stitches to continue to stagger the cables.]
When work measures 21 inches shape top, by casting off 4 stitches at each end of every alternate row 4 times.
Cast off remaining stitches

To make up:

Join all seams and sew sleeves in position.
Using the circular needle, pick up and knit about 100 stitches around the neck, and work 5 inches in rib pattern.
Fold band in half to the wrong side and sew in position.

Materials

Aran or worsted weight yarn:

8 (9) x 50g balls at 100m per ball
[Editor's Note: This is a fairly long yardage for this yarn weight.]

One pair each of Nos 11 (3mm) and 7 (4½mm) needles.
One 3mm x 40cm circular needle.

Tension

19sts x 24 rows to 4 inches in stocking stitch using No 7 (4½mm) needles.

20sts x 26 rows worked over pattern stitches on No 7 (4½mm) needles.

Size matters

40-42 / 44-46 inches
[Actual size about
47 / 50 inches]

Abbreviations:

k2tog: decrease by knitting 2 stitches together
p2tog: decrease by purling 2 stitches together

A Word on the Wool.

Original yarn was a thickish but lofty tweed Aran weight yarn: 50% wool mix with acrylic and 15% flax. Approximately 100m to 50g.

Disclaimer
(well...almost)

In transposing any pattern it is always a risk that errors will be introduced, in spite of dedicated proof reading.
If you have any problems with this pattern, please and I will try and assist.