Knitted striped sweater: Your cozy, relaxed favorite all year round
A striped sweater is a timeless classic that won’t sit idle in your closet. Designed by Anna Tanskanen, this pullover is knitted seamlessly from the top down and works up quickly on large needles!
Size: 1 (2) 3 (4) 5 (6) 7. The finished sweater’s bust circumference before blocking is 94 (99) 106 (116) 121 (131) 139 cm. Sleeve circumference: 41 (41) 41 (51) 51 (51) 61 cm.
Ocean Wind striped sweater: supplies
Main color: 300 (300) 350 (400) 400 (500) 500 g of Säie merino DK in shade Heart of the night (100 g: 225–250 m) & 100 (100) (125) 150 (150) 150 (150) g of Säie silk-mohair in shade Heart of the night (50 g: 420 m)
100 (100) 100 (200) 200 (200) 200 g of Säie merino DK in shade Honeysuckle white (100 g: 225–250 m) & 50 (50) 50 (100) 100 (100) 100 g of Säie silk-mohair in shade Honeysuckle white (50 g: 420 m)
circular needles 6 mm (US 10) (40 cm and 80 cm) and 4.5 mm (US 7) (40 cm and 80 cm)
Gauge: 16 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm of stockinette stitch on 6 mm (US 10) needles before blocking.
Abbreviations:
- k: knit
- k tbl: knit through the back loop
- M1, M2…: marker 1, 2, etc.
- M1L: make one left-leaning knit stitch: lift the bar between two stitches from the front onto the left needle, knit it through the back loop
- M1Lp: make one left-leaning purl stitch: lift the bar between two stitches from the front onto the left needle, purl it through the back loop
- M1R: make one right-leaning knit stitch: lift the bar between two stitches from the back onto the left needle, knit it through the front loop
- M1Rp: make one right-leaning purl stitch: lift the bar between two stitches from the back onto the left needle, purl it through the front loop
- p: purl
- PM: place marker
- R: round
- RS: right side of work
- sl M: slip marker
- st, sts: stitch, stitches
- TS: turning stitch
- WS: wrong side of work
- yo: yarn over
Striped sweater: instructions
Construction of the sweater
This striped sweater is worked with the yarn held double, knitted seamlessly from top to bottom. First, knit a folded neckband. Then begin the shoulder line increases, and after that, shape the back with short rows. Once the increases are done, divide the piece into front and back pieces. Work each piece flat until the underarm. After that, join the pieces in the round, and work the sweater seamlessly in the round down to the hem.
Keep in mind that the garment will stretch a few centimeters in both width and length after blocking, so choose the size that’s closest to your bust measurement. The recommended ease is 0–10 cm.
Neckline
Using 4.5 mm (US 7) 40 cm circular needles, cast on 86 (94) 98 (110) 110 (110) 114 sts. Join to work in the round and PM1 to mark the beginning of the round. Work [k1 tbl, p1] rib until the piece measures 10 cm. Fold the work in half and align the first cast-on st with the first st of the round, then knit them together. Continue like this to the end of the R. The folded neckline rib is now complete.
Switch to 6 mm (US 10) 40 cm needles, knit the next R and place 3 more markers to mark the shoulder lines as follows: sl M1, k1, PM2, k42 (46) 48 (54) 54 (54) 56, PM3, k1, PM4, k42 (46) 48 (54) 54 (54) 56.
Shoulder increases
1st R: M1R, sl M1, k1, sl M2, M1L, k to M3, M1R, sl M3, k1, sl M4, M1L, k to end of R (4 sts increased).
Repeat the 1st R another 8 times. You’ve increased a total of 36 sts. You now have 122 (130) 134 (146) 146 (146) 150 sts on the needle. Next, begin shaping the back with short rows.
Back shaping
- 1st R (RS): M1R, sl M1, k1, sl M2, M1L, k to M3, M1R, sl M3, k1, sl M4, M1L, k5, turn. (4 sts increased)
- 2nd R (WS): Make TS, p to M4, M1Lp, sl M4, p1, sl M3, M1Rp, p to M2, M1Lp, sl M2, p1, sl M1, M1Rp, p5, turn. (4 sts increased)
- 3rd R (RS): Make TS, k to M1, M1R, sl M1, k1, sl M2, M1L, k to M3, M1R, sl M3, k1, sl M4, M1L, k to TS and work it as 1 st, k2, turn. (4 sts increased)
- 4th R (WS): Make TS, p to M4, M1Lp, sl M4, p1, sl M3, M1Rp, p to M2, M1Lp, sl M2, p1, sl M1, M1Rp, p to TS and work it as 1 st, p2, turn. (4 sts increased)
- 5th R (RS): As 3rd R. (4 sts increased)
- 6th R (WS): As 4th R. (4 sts increased)
- 7th R (RS): Make TS, k to M1.
Short rows are now complete. You now have 146 (154) 158 (170) 170 (170) 174 sts on the needle. Next, continue the upper body in the round on the RS, increasing on every R as follows:
Increase R: *M1R, k1, sl M, M1L, k to M, M1R, sl M, k1, sl M, M1L, k to M, M1R. (4 sts increased).
Repeat from * to * a total of 1 (1) 3 (4) 6 (10) 12 times. Increases are now done. You now have a total of 150 (158) 170 (184) 194 (210) 222 sts on the needle.
Front and back pieces
Now separate the front and back pieces and work each piece flat.
Back
1st R (RS): k1 (shoulder st), k73 (77) 83 (91) 95 (103) 109, k1 (shoulder st). You have 75 (79) 85 (93) 97 (105) 111 sts on the needle. Place the front sts on a holder.
2nd R (WS): Purl.
3rd R (RS): Knit.
Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows 20 (20) 20 (28) 28 (28) 36 times. You’ve now worked a total of 40 (40) 40 (56) 56 (36) 72 rows.
Note! At this point, start striping by knitting 12 rows with the main color, then 8 rows with the contrast color. Keep alternating stripes throughout the work.
Work one more WS row. Break the yarn and place the sts on a holder.
Front
Place the front sts on 6 mm (US 10) 80 cm needles and work flat in stockinette stitch until the underarm.
1st R (RS): Knit.
2nd R (WS): Purl.
3rd R (RS): Knit.
Repeat the 2nd and 3rd rows a total of 20 (20) 20 (28) 28 (28) 36 times. In total, 40 (40) 40 (56) 56 (36) 72 rows are now done.
Note! At this point, begin striping by working 12 rows in the main color, then 8 rows in the contrast color. Keep alternating stripes throughout the work.
Work one more WS row. Don’t break the yarn, as you will continue from here.
Body
Join the front and back pieces on the same needle and continue the body in the round. Knit the front sts, knit the back sts. PM under the right underarm as the start of the round.
Continue in stockinette until the body measures 26 (26) 27 (27) 27 (28) 29 cm from the underarm. Remember to keep striping by alternating 12 rows of the main color and 8 rows of the contrast color. Switch to 4.5 mm (US 7) 80 cm circular needles and work [k1 tbl, p1] rib for 9 rounds. Bind off using the Italian bind-off method.
Sleeves
Using 6 mm (US 10) 40 cm circular needles, pick up and knit 66 (66) 66 (82) 82 (82) 98 sleeve sts starting at the underarm. Pick up about four sts out of every five. PM under the arm to mark the start of the round.
Knit in stockinette stitch in the round until the sleeve measures 47 (47) 45 (45) 42 (42) 40 cm or the desired length. Switch to 4.5 mm (US 7) 40 cm circular needles and work [k1 tbl, p1] rib for 9 rounds. Bind off using the Italian bind-off method.
Knit the second sleeve in the same way.
Tip!
You can thread a thin elastic band into the neckline and sleeves if you want them to fit more snugly.
Finishing
Soak the knit in lukewarm water with a small amount of gentle, liquid detergent suitable for wool. Rinse carefully. Roll the knit in a dry towel to absorb excess water. Lay flat to dry. You can thread a thin elastic band into the neckline ribbing to help it keep its shape better when worn.
