Zip zip hooray

Knit up this perfect raglan sweater for springtime

MEASUREMENTS

To fit bust 81-86(92-97:102-107)cm; Finished measurements Bust 93(105: 117)cm; Length to back neck 53(55:57) cm; Sleeve length 45(46:47)cm.

MATERIALS

6(6:7) 100g balls of King Cole Supersoft Cotton DK in Light Grey 3032. Pair each of 3.25mm and 3.75mm knitting needles.

One or two 20cm zips (see notes).

TENSION

22.5 sts and 29 rows to 10cm square over st-st using 3.75mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following;

inc increase; k knit; m1 make one st by picking up and working into back of loop lying between st just worked and next st; p purl; patt pattern; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side;

ssk [slip 1] twice, insert tip of left hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped sts and work 2 tog; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tog together; WS wrong side.

NOTES

● Join in new balls of yarn between garter st edges and st-st section.

● Don’t buy the zips until you have made up the garment as you may need zips of a different length.

● When measuring the double garter st section, lay the piece down, allowing it to relax – do not stretch it.

BACK

** With 3.75mm needles, cast on 106(120:134) sts. 1st and 2nd rows

K to end. 3rd and 4th rows K3, p to last 3 sts, k3. These 4 rows form the double garter st patt with single garter st edges and are repeated until back measures 20cm from cast on edge, ending with a 1st patt row.

Place a marker at each end of last row.

Next row (RS) K to end. Next row K3, p to last 3 sts, k3. Rep these 2 rows until back measures 35(36:37)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row.

Shape armholes

Cast off 7(8:9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 92(104:116) sts. Next row (RS) K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2.

Next row P to end. Rep the last 2 rows 4 times more. 82(94:106) sts **. Beg with a k row, work in st-st until back measures 53(55:57)cm, ending with a p row.

Shape shoulders

Cast off 11(13:15) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then 10(12:14) sts at beg of foll 2 rows. Leave rem 40(44:48) sts on a holder.

FRONT

Work exactly as given for Back from ** to **. Beg with a k row, work in st-st until 16 rows fewer have been worked than on Back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a p row.

Shape front neck Next row

(RS) K33(38:43) sts, turn and cont on these sts only, leave rem sts on a spare needle. Cast off 3(4:4) sts at beg (neck edge) of next row, 3 sts at beg of foll 1(1:2) WS rows, 2 sts at beg of next 2(2:1) WS rows, then 1 st at beg of next 2 WS rows. 21(25:29) sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows in st-st.

Shape shoulder

Next row Cast off 11(13:15) sts, k to end. P 1 row. Cast off rem 10(12:14) sts. With RS facing, slip 16(18:20) sts at centre front on to a holder, rejoin yarn to rem 33(38:43) sts, cast off 3(4:4) sts, k to end. Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 1(1:2) RS rows, 2 sts at beg of foll 2(2:1) RS rows, then 1 st at beg of next 2 RS rows. 21(25:29) sts. Beg with a p row, work 6 rows in st-st.

Shape shoulder

Next row Cast off 11(13:15) sts, p to end. K 1 row. Cast off rem 10(12:14) sts.

SLEEVES

With 3.75mm needles, cast on 43(46:49) sts. 1st and 2nd rows K to end. 3rd and 4th rows P to end. Rep these 4 rows 3 times more, then the

1st row again, so ending with a WS row. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows in st-st. Inc row K3, m1, k to last 3 sts, m1, k3. Work 3 rows. Rep the last 4 rows 5(6:7) times more, then work the inc row and 5 rows in st-st. Rep the last 6 rows 11 times more then the inc row again. 81(86:91) sts. Work straight until sleeve measures 45(46:47)cm from cast on edge, ending with a p row. Place a marker at each end of last row, then work a further 9(10:11) rows.

Shape sleeve top

Next row (RS) K2, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. Next row P to end. Rep the last 2 rows 4 times more. 71(76:81) sts. Cast off.

NECKBAND

Join right shoulder seam. With RS facing and 3.25mm needles, pick up and k18 sts down left front neck edge, k across 16(18:20) sts at centre front, pick up and k18 sts up right front neck edge, then k across 40(44:48) sts at centre back. 92(98:104) sts. K 1 row, p 2 rows, k2 rows. Change to 3.75mm needles, beg wth a k row, work 6 rows in st-st. Cast off loosely but evenly.

TO MAKE UP

Join left shoulder and neckband seam, reversing seam on st-st section to allow for rolling on to right side. Sew sleeve edges above markers to sts cast off at front and back underarms, matching sleeve top shaping to armhole shaping and with centre of cast off edge of sleeve to shoulder, sew sleeves into armholes, easing to fit. Join side seams from underarm to markers. If you are using both zips, hand sew in place behind garter st edges of side seam below markers, so that zip will open from the cast on edges upwards, if not, join full seam.