CHRISTMAS JUMPER

Notes This sweater has a close-fitting neck, so be careful not to cast off too tightly. I highly recommend using Elizabeth Zimmermann’s sewn cast off (see instructions above or video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM40GtSq6aU). The snowballs are worked in Swiss darning (see Duplicate Stitch on p94) from Chart B at the end of the project. If you would like to work these in intarsia, you can do so, but you will need to decide their placement before you start work.

If you would like to reduce the number of colours in use for Chart A, when working the candy cane, use Yarn A throughout and Swiss darn the red stripes with Yarn E at the end.

STITCH PATTERNS 2X2 RIB PATTERN

Row 1 (RS) *K2, P2; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. Row 2 (WS) *P2, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, P2. Rep these 2 rows for 2x2 rib pattern.

BACK

Cast on 106 (118: 126: 138: 150: 162: 174: 186) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.

Work in 2x2 rib patt until work meas 7cm from cast-on edge, ending after a RS row.

Next row (WS) Purl, inc 0 (0: 2: 2: 2: 0: 2: 0) sts evenly across. [106 (118: 128: 140: 152: 162: 176: 186) sts]**

Change to 4mm needles and Yarn B.

Beg with a knit row, work in st st until Back meas 40cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Cast off 5 (6: 6: 7: 7: 8: 9: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [96 (106: 116: 126: 138: 146: 158: 168) sts]

Next row (RS) K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [94 (104: 114: 124: 136: 144: 156: 166) sts]

Next row (WS) P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1. [92 (102: 122: 134: 142: 154: 164) sts]

Cont as set dec 1 st at each end as before on next 4 (7: 10: 13: 16: 18: 22: 25) rows. [84 (88: 92: 96: 102: 106: 110: 114) sts]

Cont in st st without shaping until Back meas 59 (61: 63: 64: 65: 66: 67: 68)cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

SHAPE SHOULDERS

Cast off 11 (12: 13: 13: 14: 15: 15: 16) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [62 (64: 66: 70: 74: 76: 80: 82) sts]

Cast off 12 (12: 13: 14: 14: 15: 16: 17) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [38 (40: 40: 42: 42: 46: 48: 48) sts]

Leave rem 38 (40: 40: 42: 42: 46: 48: 48) sts on a stitch holder.

FRONT

Work as Back to **. [106 (118: 128: 140: 152: 162: 176: 186) sts]

Change to 4mm needles and Yarn B. Beg with a knit row, work 16 rows in st st.

SET CHART A

Note Join in yarns as needed and make sure to work the boxed rep in Chart A the instructed number of times for your size.

Row 1 (RS) Repeating boxed rep as instructed for your size (see Chart A key), work Row 1 of Chart A, PM, knit with Yarn B to end. Row 2 (WS) Purl with Yarn B to mrk, slm, work Row 2 from Chart A. Rows 3 to 64 Work in patt as set.

Break all yarns except Yarn B.

Beg with a knit row, work in st st until Front meas 40cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

SHAPE ARMHOLES

Cast off 5 (6: 6: 7: 7: 8: 9: 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.

[96 (106: 116: 126: 138: 146: 158: 168) sts]

Next row (RS) K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1.

[94 (104: 114: 124: 136: 144: 156: 166) sts]

Next row (WS) P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1.

[92 (102: 122: 134: 142: 154: 164) sts]

Cont as set dec 1 st at each end as before on next 4 (7: 10: 13: 16: 18: