this pattern comes with a full knit along video tutorial on YouTube
must have in the it-girl wardrobe!
This simple, yet elegant design is knitted in top-down raglan technique. It makes it easy to try it on along the way, so you can customize it to fit your body and end up with the perfect sleeve and body length for you. Slightly oversized with feminine silhouette, is knitted with premium mix yarn of mohair and silk that you can wear on your nude body.
The Airy Essential Sweater is designed to have approx. 14 cm [5.5 inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be 14 cm [5.5 inches] larger in circumference than your bust measurement.
Available sizes: S ( M ) L
The sizes S ( M ) L are designed to fit approx. bust circumference of 80-88 (88-96) 96-104 cm [ 31-35 (35-38) 38-41 in ]
Before beginning your project, measure yourself to determine which size will fit you the best. For example, if you measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust (or around the widest part on your upper body) you should knit a size M. A size M sweater has a bust circumference of 108 cm [42.5 inches] which in the given example would give you 18 cm [7 inches] of positive ease.
Bust circumference: 100 ( 108 ) 116 cm [ 39.5 ( 42.5 ) 45.75 in ]
Length: measured mid back excluding folded neckband 52 ( 54 ) 56 cm [ 20.5 ( 21.25 ) 22 in ]
gauge 10 cm (4 in) x 10(4 in) cm, 20 s x 15 r in stockinette stitch on 5mm (US8) needles with 2 strands held together
The biggest advantage of this design is that it doesn’t require you to count stitches but rather it guides you how to make a perfect fit while trying it on along the way.
Airy Essential Sweater is constructed in the top-down technique, knitted with two strands of Silk Mohair. You will knit it on circular needles, possibly changing to the double-pointed needles for cuffs. Entire sweater is knitted on 5mm (US8) needles
You start knitting a sweater from a neckband. Once completed, you proceed to shape the neckline using German Short Rows while at the same time creating a raglan increase. You continue with the raglan increase until the length of the sweater is sufficient to split stitches between body and sleeves. While sleeves stitches rest on the holder you continue knitting the body to the desired length. Body is finished off with a 5cm (2in) of ribbing and tubular cast off for elastic effect. After this step, you proceed with knitting sleeves, one at a time. Sleeves are also finished off with a ribbing and tubular cast off.
TIPS
Check knit along video tutorial on YouTube
Here is the list of all the stitches and abbreviations used in the pattern. Whenever mentioned in the pattern they will also be linked to dedicated video tutorial.
Here is the list of all techniques used in the pattern. Whenever mentioned in the pattern they will also be linked to a dedicated video tutorial.
Let’s start knitting!
You start knitting a sweater from a neckband.
Neckband is knitted on the 5mm (US8) circular knitting needles with 40cm cable in the round using Magic Loop Technique. You start by casting the required number of stitches and follow the pattern to knit a ribbing.
Cast on S (M) L 64 (70) 78 stitches.
Row 1: p across the round
Join together using a magic loop technique and mark the beginning of the round with a marker. Marker indicates mid back of your sweater and beginning of the round.
Round 1: *k1, p1 ; repeat *across the round
Round 2: *k1b, p1; repeat * across the round
Repeat round 1 and 2 three more times each.
Congrats! Knitting neckband is now completed. You can now start shaping your neckline!
proceed if you completed the neckband.
In this section you will shape neckline while at the same time working raglan increase. Neckline is knitted on the 5mm (US8) circular needles using German Short Rows technique, therefore despite the fact you work on circular needles you will be knitting flat and alternating between the right and wrong side of the project.
Before you start knitting you will divide stitches to indicate a front and a back of the project and a left and a right sleeve. Those markers will also indicate where raglan increases need to be made. Raglan increase is made before and after every raglan stitch while adding extra stitches.
Divide stitches in the following way:
S (M) L
Place 8 extra markers to mark raglan increase as follows: 11 (12) 13 stitches (right side of the back), marker 1, 1 raglan stitch, marker 2, 8 (10) 12 stitches (right sleeve), marker 3, 1 raglan stitch, marker 4, 22 (23) 25 stitches (front), marker 5, 1 raglan stitch, marker 6, 8 (10) 12 stitches ( left sleeve), marker 7, 1 raglan stitch, marker 8, 11 (11) 12 stitches ( left side of the back).
And now knit as follows:
Step 1: knit to marker 1, YO, slip marker 1, k1, slip marker2 , YO, knit to marker 3, YO, slip marker 3, k1, slip marker 4, YO, k2, turn
Step 2: purl to the main marker
Step 3: purl to marker 8, YO, slip marker 8, p1, slip marler 7, YO, purl to marker 6, YO, slip marler 6, p1, slip marker 5, YO, p2, turn
Step 4: knit to the main marker
Repeat steps 1-4 2 more times making turns 2 stitches after the previous turn.
Neckline shaping is now completed and you can now continue with raglan increase.
proceed if you completed neckline
Now you will continue raglan increase while working in the round until your project is long enough to be divided between the body and the sleeves. You keep on knitting in the round on needles size 5mm (US8)
Round 1: *knit to the marker, YO, slip marker, k1, slip marker YO, repeat * across the round. There should be extra 8 stitches on the needles after each raglan increase round
Round 2: knit across the round
Repeat Round 1 & 2 until your raglan is about S (M) L 25 (27) 29 cm [10 (10.75) 11.50 in] long.
proceed if you completed raglan increase
In this section you will divide your work between body and sleeves. That is achieved by placing sleeves stitches on two holders while the body stitches are joined together and then knitted until desired sweater length. The body is finished off with a ribbing and tubular cast off for elastic effect. You knit in the round on knitting needles 5mm (US8).
Knit until marker 1, knit raglan stitch. Now place all the stitches between marker 2 & 3 on the holder. Those will be the stitches used to knit the right sleeve in the later stage. Keep on knitting the body by adding 6 stitches under the right underarm by using the through the back loop technique.
Join the back and the front of your work and knit until marker 5, knit raglan stitch. Now place all the stitches between marker 6 & 7 on the holder. Those will be the stitches used to knit the left sleeve in the later stage. Keep on knitting the body by adding 6 stitches under the left underarm by using the through the back loop technique.
Join your work and continue knitting until the main marker.
Division of stitches between sleeves and body is now completed.
Make sure you have an even number of stitches for the back and front of your sweater. The same applies for right and left stitch.
Keep on knitting in the round until your sweater is around S (M) L 47 (49) 51 cmm [18.5 (19.25) 20 in] long measuring in the middle of the back without the neckband ( or other desirable length).
Now knit ribbing following the pattern:
Round 1: * k1, p1, repeat * across the round
Round 2: * k1b, p1, repeat * across the rounds
Repeat Round 1 & 2 total of 5 times each.
And bind off with a classic bind off.
Congratulations! Body of your sweater is now completed!
It is a good practice to start knitting sleeves only after the body is completed, but you can also start knitting sleeves while being halfway there with a body. However it is compulsory to knit at least a few rounds of a body as some of its stitches shape sleeves.
In this section you will continue knitting the sleeves by picking up the stitches on the holder and the stitches added under the underarms. The sleeves’ stitches are evenly decreased along their length . You continue knitting in the round on 5mm (US8) knitting needles. You may decide to knit the ribbing on the double-pointed needles. The cuffs are finished off with a tubular bind off for an elastic effect.
If you used a piece of yarn to put your stitches on hold, it is the time to place them again on your needles and continue as per pattern below.
Check technique here or follow steps below
Step 1: Start by picking up 6 stitches that were added under the underarm. Place a marker in the middle of those 6 stitches to mark the beginning of the round. This is your main marker now.
Step 2: Keep on knitting until the last 4 stitches before the marker.
Step 3: K2tog, k2, slip marker, k2, k2tog.
All sleeve stitches are picked-up now and you can continue knitting your sleeve.
Keep on knitting your sleeve in rounds until it is 40cm (15,75in) long (measuring from underarm) for all sizes.
When you reach the desired length of the sleeve, knit the ribbing as below:
Round 1: *k2tog * across the round
Round 2: *k1, p1, repeat * across the round
Round 3: * k1b, p1, repeat * across the round
Repeat Round 2 & 3 total of 5 times each.
And bind off using a classic bind off technique.
Repeat the same for the second sleeve.
There are last three things you need to do to before enjoying your sweater:
if you want to make sure that the rib neck edge keeps it shape over time, you can sew a thin elastic thread along the edge.