This Crete sweater with an oversized silhouette is a simple pattern. The body is worked in lace, and the sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch. Before beginning this project, make sure you’re familiar with the three-needle bind-off technique. Also, when measuring the lace while knitting, stretch the piece to simulate blocking.
In the instructions that follow, the “Chart” referred to can be found below.
Step 1: Back
CO 88 (98, 108, 118, 128) stitches.
Row 1 (RS): K to end.
Row 2 (WS): K to end.
Repeat last 2 rows three more times (for a total of 8 rows worked).
Work Lace Pattern
Row 1 (RS): Work Row 1 of the Chart, working the 10-stitch repeat 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times.
Row 2 (WS): Work Row 2 of the Chart, working the 10-stitch repeat 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times.
Continue working through all rows of the Chart until the back measures 20 1⁄2 (21 1⁄2, 22 1⁄2, 23 1⁄2,
24) inches.
Shape Right Neck
Row 1 (RS): Work 30 (35, 39, 44, 48) stitches in pattern, turn.
Row 2 (WS): P1, p2tog, work in pattern to end. 1 st dec.
Work in pattern to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. 1 st dec. 28 (33, 37, 42, 46) stitches.
Leave stitches on hold.
Shape Left Neck
Leave 28 (28, 30, 30, 32) stitches on hold for back neck. Reattach yarn at neck edge.
Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern to end. 30 (35, 39, 44, 48) stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Work in pattern to last 3 stitches, p2tog tbl, p1. 1 st dec.
Row 3: K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. 1 st dec. 28 (33, 37, 42, 46) stitches.
Leave stitches on hold.
Step 2: Front
CO 88 (98, 108, 118, 128) stitches.
Row 1 (RS): K to end.
Row 2 (WS): K to end.
Repeat last 2 rows three more times (for a total of 8 rows worked).
Work Lace Pattern
Row 1 (RS): Work Row 1 of the Chart, working the 10-stitch repeat 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times.
Row 2 (WS): Work Row 2 of the Chart, working the 10-stitch repeat 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) times.
Continue working through all rows of the Chart until the front measures 18 (18 1⁄2, 19,
19 1⁄2, 19 1⁄2) inches.
Shape Left Neck
Row 1 (RS): Work 32 (37, 41, 46, 50) stitches in pattern, turn. Leave remaining stitches on hold.
Row 2 (WS): P1, p2tog, work in pattern to end. 1 st dec.
Row 3: Work in pattern to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. 1 st dec.
Repeat last 2 rows once. 28 (33, 37, 42, 46) stitches.
Work until left front matches back to shoulder.
Leave stitches on hold.
Shape Right Neck
Leave 24 (24, 26, 26, 28) stitches on hold for front neck. Reattach yarn at neck edge.
Row 1 (RS): Work in pattern to end. 32 (37, 41, 46, 50) stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Work in pattern to last 3 stitches, p2tog tbl, p1. 1 st dec.
Row 3: K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. 1 st dec.
Repeat last 2 rows once more. 28 (33, 37, 42, 46) stitches.
Continue working until right front matches back to shoulder.
Leave stitches on hold.
Step 3: Sleeve (make 2)
CO 68 (70, 74, 78, 80) stitches.
Row 1 (RS): K to end.
Row 2 (WS): K to end.
Repeat last 2 rows five times (12 rows worked).
Next row (RS): K2, m1, k to last 2 stitches, m1, k2. 2 stitches inc.
Work 3 (3, 3, 3, 3) rows in stockinette stitch.
Next row (RS): K2, m1, k to last 2 stitches, m1, k2. 2 stitches inc.
Repeat the last 4 rows 9 (9, 9, 9, 11) more times. 90 (92, 96, 100, 106) stitches.
Continue in stockinette stitch until sleeve measures 10 (10 1⁄2, 10 3⁄4, 11, 11 3⁄4) inches.
Place a locking stitch marker in the center of the row. Bind off all stitches.
Step 4: Finishing
Block pieces to measurements.
Join the shoulders by working a three-needle bind-off on the WS.
Line up the marker on the center top sleeve with the shoulder seam and seam the sleeves to the shoulders. Seam side seams and sleeve seams.
Step 5: Neck
Using the short circular needle and starting at the left shoulder with the RS facing, pick up and k14
(16, 18, 20, 22) to front neck, k24 (24, 26, 26, 28) from front neck, pick up and k14 (16, 18, 20, 22)
to right shoulder, pick up and k3 to back neck, k28 (28, 30, 30, 32) from back neck, pick up and k3 to
left shoulder.
Join to work in the round. Place a marker to mark beginning of round. 86 (90, 98, 102, 110) stitches.
Rnd 1: P to end.
Rnd 2: K to end.
Rnd 3: P to end.
Rnd 4: K to end.
Bind off purlwise.
Weave in all loose ends.
Tips & Information
Finished Measurements
• Sizes: Small (Medium, Large, 1X, 2X)
• To Fit Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50) inches
• Actual Bust: 46 (52, 57, 63, 68) inches
• Length: 21 (22, 23, 24, 241⁄2) inches
• Sleeve Length: 10 (10 1⁄2, 10 3⁄4, 11, 11 3⁄4) inches
Yarn
Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 215 yards/3.5 ounces, or similar worsted-weight yarn
• 5 (5, 6, 7, 8) skeins No. 62112 Concord Grape
Needles & Other Materials
• US size 7 needles
• US size 7 circular needle, 16 inches long
• Tapestry needle
• Locking stitch markers (2)
Gauge
• 15 stitches x 24 rows in Chart pattern after blocking = 4 inches square
• 18 stitches x 26 rows in stockinette stitch after blocking = 4 inches square
• Be sure to check your gauge!
Abbreviations
• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
• M1: Make 1 increase
• P: Purl
• P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
• SSK: Slip 2 stitches knitwise, insert left needle into the fronts of both stitches, and knit together.
• Tbl: Through the back loop
Special Stitches
• Sk2po: Slip 1 stitch knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over the k2tog stitch.
• Three-needle bind-off: Hold the two pieces to be joined, each on a separate needle, in your left hand, with right sides together. Insert the third needle into the first stitch on the back needle and the first stitch on the front needle purlwise, and purl these 2 stitches together. Repeat on the next stitches, so you now have 2 stitches on the right needle. Lift the first stitch over the second stitch as in a regular bind-off. Repeat until all stitches have been bound off.
Chart
Row 1 (RS): K4, [k1 tbl, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1 tbl, k1] to last 4 stitches, k4.
Row 2 (WS): Purl to end.
Row 3: K4, [k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, k1] to last 4 stitches, k4.
Row 4: Purl to end.
Row 5: K2, yo, sk2po, [yo, k1, sk2po, (yo) three times, k2tog, k1, yo, sk2po] to last 3 stitches, yo, k3.
Row 6: P4, [p5, p1 tbl, p4] to last 4 stitches, p4.
Row 7: K4, [k1, yo, ssk, k1 tbl, k1, k1 tbl, k2tog, yo, k2] to last 4 stitches, k4.
Row 8: Purl to end.
Row 9: K4, [k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3] to last 4 stitches, k4.
Row 10: Purl to end.
Row 11: K2, k2tog, yo, [yo, k2tog, k1 tbl, yo, sk2po, yo, k1, sk2po, (yo) twice] to last 4 stitches, yo, k2tog, k2.
Row 12: P4, [p1 tbl, p9] to last 4 stitches, p1 tbl, p3.
NOTE: Pattern repeat is in [ ].
Anniken Allis is an expert on lace knitting. Her patterns are regularly published in Debbie Bliss, Knitscene, and Interweave Knits, and one of her beaded shawls recently graced the cover of Vogue Knitting. This article is excerpted with permission from her book Easy Lace Knits (Stackpole Books).
