Un-DeuxTrois
“THIS DESIGN is a combination of geometry and playful maths, allowing an endless array of yarn pairings,” says designer Faïza Mebazaa. “The fit is very oversized with unusual proportions, but can be easily customized lengthwise.” Faïza has used a 4ply yarn from hand-dyer The Plucky Knitter, which has limited availability in the UK, so we have suggested two good alternatives with a wide choice of colours.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES SLOPED CAST OFF
Note: Cast off knitwise on RS rows, and purlwise on WS rows.
Work the first cast-off row as usual. On the row before the next cast-off, work to the last stitch and slip it purlwise.
Next cast-off: Slip 2 sts (kwise, one at a time, if working on a RS row / pwise if working on a WS row); pass first slipped st over second slipped st [1 st cast off]. Cast off subsequent sts normally.
PATTERN NOTES CONSTRUCTION
The garment is worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up, and the shoulders are seamed. Stitches are picked up around the square neck opening and along the sides to add a neckband and sleeve bands in a contrasting colour. The sides are seamed up to the sleeve bands.
The first two lines of blocks are worked in intarsia, the rest in stranded knitting.
NOTES ON INTARSIA
Yarns A and B must be divided into 4 balls each.
Yarns C and D must be divided into 8 balls each.
At each colour change, cross working yarn over next thread on WS of fabric to ensure a clean transition line.
You will be instructed to work a column of twisted stitches at the left edge of each colour block: this will produce a neat line and avoid wonky stitches. Having to deal with many balls of yarn on the same row, you may find it more convenient to use two circular needles, switching from one to the other as you would with two straight needles.
CUSTOMIZING LENGTH
If this design is too cropped for your taste, simply lengthen each of the four sections by an equal number of rows.
BACK HEM
Using 3mm circular needles, yarn E and the long-tail method, cast on
194 (218:242:266:290) sts. Do not join.
Change to 2.75mm circular needles, 80cm long.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): P1, K to last st, P1.
Row 3: K1, P to last st, K1.
Row 4: P to end. Break yarn.
SECTION 1
Please refer to Notes on Intarsia before working Sections 1 and 2.
This section is worked in intarsia using 4 balls of yarn A and 4 balls of yarn B.
Change to 3mm circular needles and yarn A.
Sizes 1, 3 and 5 only
Set-up row 1 (RS): K24, K1tbl with yarn A, *join yarn B, K23, K1tbl, join yarn A, K23, K1tbl; rep from * another 2 (-:3:-:4) times, join yarn B, K25.
Set-up row 2 (WS): P25 with yarn B, *P1tbl, P23 with yarn A, P1tbl, P23 with yarn B; rep from * another 2 (-:3:-:4) times, P1tbl, P24 with yarn A.
Sizes 2 and 4 only
Set-up row 1 (RS): K25, K1tbl with yarn A, *join yarn B, K23, K1tbl, join yarn A, K23, K1tbl; rep from * another - (3:-:4:-) times.
Set-up row 2 (WS): *P1tbl, P23 with yarn A, P1tbl, P23 with yarn B; rep from * another - (3:-:4:-) times, P1tbl, P25 with yarn A.
All sizes
Continue working in st st as set, twisting yarn at each colour change, until 44 (46:46:48:50) intarsia rows have been worked.