FIND YOUR SIZE
If you’re going to spend time knitting something for a loved one to wear, you need to make sure that it’s a knit they’re going to wear over and over. Designer, Pat Menchini’s basketweave knit ticks all the boxes – stylish, easy to knit and made with luxurious 100% Merino wool.
BACK
Cast on 105 (117: 119: 129: 141: 153) sts using 3 mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) K2, *P1, K1; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2 K1, *P1, K1; rep to end.
Rep these 2 rows until rib measures 7cm, ending after a Row 2.
Next row Knit. **
Next row P3 (9: 7: 7: 2: 8), *M1, P9 (9: 5: 5: 6: 6); rep from * to last 3 (9: 7: 7: 1: 7) sts, M1, P to end.
[117 (129: 141: 153: 165: 177) sts]
Change to 4mm needles and Basketweave Pattern as folls:
Row 1 (RS) K7, *P7, K5; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 2 P7, *K7, P5; rep from * to last 2 sts, P2.
Rows 3-8 As Rows 1-2.
Row 9 Knit.
Row 10 Purl.
Row 11 P9, *K3, P9; rep from * to end. Row 12 K9, *P3, K9; rep from * to end. Rows 13-16 As Rows 9-12.
Rows 17-18 As Rows 9-10.
These 18 rows set Basketweave Pattern. Cont in patt until work measures 44 (45: 45: 44: 45: 46.5)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
Cast off 6 (8: 9: 11: 12: 14) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows.
[105 (113: 123: 131: 141: 149) sts]
Dec 1 st at each end of next 5 (5: 7: 9: 9: 11) rows, then on every foll alt row until 87 (93: 99: 105: 111: 117) sts rem. Cont straight until front measures 22 (22: 23: 25: 25: 25)cm from start of armhole shaping, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Cast off 7 (7: 8: 8: 8: 9) sts loosely at beg of next 6 rows, then 5 (7: 6: 7: 9: 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Slip rem 35 (37: 39: 43: 45: 47) sts on a stitch holder and leave.
FRONT
Work as for Back until Front measures 28 (32: 32: 36: 36: 40) rows fewer than Back to beg of shoulder shaping, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE LEFT NECK
Next row Patt 34 (36: 38: 39: 41: 43) sts, turn and cont on these sts for left side of neck, leaving rem 53 (57: 61: 66: 70: 74) sts on a holder to work later.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 5 rows, then on 3 foll alt rows.
[26 (28: 30: 31: 33: 35) sts]
Work 16 (20: 20: 24: 24: 28) rows straight, thus ending at armhole edge.
SHAPE LEFT SHOULDER
Cast off 7 (7: 8: 8: 8: 9) sts loosely at beg of next row and the 2 foll alt rows. Work 1 row.
Cast off rem 5 (7: 6: 7: 9: 8) sts.
SHAPE RIGHT NECK AND SHOULDER
With RS facing, slip next 19 (21: 23: 27: 29: 31) sts for neck) on a stitch holder and
leave to work later.
Rejoin yarn to rem 34 (36: 38: 39: 41: 43) sts and patt to end of row. Complete as left side, reversing all shaping and working 1 row more than left half before shaping shoulder.
SLEEVES
Cast on 47 (49: 51: 51: 53: 55) sts using
3 mm needles.
Work as for Back to **.
Next row Purl, inc 1 st at each end of row. [49 (51: 53: 53: 55: 57) sts]
Change to 4mm needles and st st with centre ribs as folls:
Row 1 (RS) K9 (10: 11: 11: 12: 13), P7, (K5,
P7) twice, K9 (10: 11: 11: 12: 13).
Row 2 P9 (10: 11: 11: 12: 13), K7, (P5, K7) twice, P9 (10: 11: 11: 12: 13).
These 2 rows set the patt.
Cont in patt, inc 1 st at each end of next row, 10 (13: 11: 9: 12: 12) foll 6th (6th: 6th: 4th: 4th: 4th) rows and 5 (3: 6: 11: 9: 10) foll 8th (8th: 6th: 6th: 6th: 6th) rows, taking extra sts into st st.
[81 (85: 89: 95: 99: 103) sts]
Cont straight until sleeve measures 6 (47: 48: 48: 48: 49)cm, ending after a WS row.
SHAPE TOP
Cast off 6 (8: 9: 11: 12: 14) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows.
[69 (69: 71: 73: 75: 75) sts]
Dec 1 st at each end of next row, 3 (3: 1: 1: 1: 1) foll alt rows, 8 (8: 11: 12: 12: 12) foll 4th rows, 3 (3: 1: 1: 1: 1) foll alt rows and 5 (5: 5: 3: 3: 3) foll rows.
[29 (29: 33: 37: 39: 39) sts]
Cast off rem sts loosely.
NECKBAND
Join left shoulder.
With RS facing and using 3 mm needles, K across 35 (37: 39: 43: 45: 47) sts from st holder at back neck, dec 2 (3: 4: 5: 6: 7) sts evenly across back neck as you do, pick up and K26 (29: 29: 32: 32: 35) sts evenly down left side of front neck, K across 19 (21: 23: 27: 29: 31) sts from st holder at front neck, dec 2 (3: 4: 5: 6: 7) sts evenly across front neck as you do, finally pick up and K27 (30: 30: 33: 33: 36) sts evenly up right side of front neck. [103 (111: 113: 125: 127: 135) sts]
Beg with a Row 2, work 8 rows in rib as on Back.
Cast off evenly in rib, working firmly around shaped corners of front neck.
TO MAKE UP
Press stocking stitch sections only, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band. Join right shoulder and neckband. Set in Sleeves. Join side and Sleeve seams. Block gently to measurements, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band.