Day Dreams

Stacy Collingham

A pullover that is knit from cuff to cuff with horizontal slits and a square neckline which is then picked up below bust and knit down. Size: 34 at bust, 39 at hip, 18.5 from underarm to hip. Right now I am offering this free in one size. I hope to add more sizes when time allows. Materials: Worsted or Heavy Worsted weight yarn that will give a gauge of 16 sts x 25 rows in stockinette st on US sz 8 needles. I used 5 skeins of Malabrigo Merino Worsted and I am a fairly loose knitter so adjust your needles and yarn accordingly to suit your gauge. Needles: US sz 8 straights and 24 in circulars.

Cast on for cuff: Sleeves are knit flat to ease the passing of the skein during the cast off and on stages. Could easily be converted to knitting in the round by taking off the two seam stitches. Cast on 38 sts with straight needles using the long tail cast on. Starting with a purl row, work 6 rows in reverse stockinette. (purl one row, knit the next, repeat). On next row RS with purl bumps facing k8 sts, p4, cast off 14 sts, p4, k8. On WS row p8, k4, cast on 14 sts using backward loop, k4 and p8. Work 2 rows straight as follows: RS: K8, p22, K8. WS: P8, k22, P8. On next RS row increase 1 st on each end by K2, M1below, work in pattern until last 2 sts, M1below on the last knit stitch on right hand needle, K2. Work 1 more straight WS row. Repeat Cast Off (RS) and Cast On (WS) rows. Work 4 Straight rows. This sets the sleeve pattern. Repeat increase row every 10th row 9 times, 56 sts. Work straight until sleeve measures 20 in or until desired length. Add body stitches by casting on 11 stitches at each end of the needle 2X. This leaves a 5 in measurement to under the bust. Depending on your cup size you may need to adjust your cast on amount. I strongly recommend measuring your armpit to under bust length to check this.

Continue working in sleeve pattern for 6 repeats or the beginning of desired neck opening is reached. Stop with WS facing ready to Cast ON stitches to close slit. With the Malabrigo it is very soft and this may not be enough structure for some tastes. If you dont want an off the shoulder look as the day goes on you may want to work 7 or 8 slit repeats after the body cast on and have a narrower neck opening. WS: P 33sts, K10, Cast on 14, K 14, p29 sts. RS: K 29, p38, K33 Work in pattern for 5 more rows. RS: K29, p4, Cast off 30 for neck opening, p4, k 33. At this point the neck edges could be worked simultaneously with two balls of yarn or worked separately and rejoined. Work each neck opening side for 35 rows keeping neck edge with p4 on RS. Neck width should measure 8in. WS: P33, K4, Cast on 30, K4, P 29. RS: K29, p38, K33. Work in pattern for 5 more rows. RS: K39, p4, Cast off 14, p4, K39 WS: P39, k4, Cast on 14, k4, P39 *Work in pattern 4 more rows. Repeat Cast on and cast off rows.* Repeat from * to* until almost 6 purl bars have been created and 30 rows have been worked since neck join. RS FACING: Cast off 11 sts at the beginning of the next 4 rows keeping the slit and purl bar pattern consistent. Work 12 rows in sleeve pattern and then start sleeve decreases. K2, K2tog, work in pattern until last 4 sts, ssk, k2. Repeat decrease row every 10th row 9 more times, 38 sts. End on WS ready to work the last purl bar, you have just cast off on last RS row. Switch to reverse stockinette, K on WS, P on RS, casting back on the 14sts for the last purl bar. Work 5 rows, cast off all stitches. There should be 24 purl bars on each sleeve. Join sleeve seams and bodice seams. Using circular needle pick up 138sts around under bust. Mark for beginning of round. P4, k2, repeat around bodice. Work for 6 rounds in ribbing pattern. At this point I began alternating skeins every 2 rows because my yarn varied heavily in dyes. Work in the round for 8 rounds, mark the other side seam 69 sts from first seam. Decrease round, K2, K2tog, work until 4 sts from other side marker, ssk, k2, slip m, k2, k2tog work until 4 sts from marker, ssk, k2.

Repeat decrease round once more after 6 rows. Work straight for 10 rows. Begin increases, *K2, M1below, work until 2 sts before marker, M1below on the last knit stitch on right hand needle, K2* Repeat once more, end of round. Continue repeating increase round every 4th round, 7 times. 162 sts total. Work until 9in from ribbing end. Begin working in Purl 4, Knit 2 ribbing. Work 12 rounds and cast off in pattern. Weave in ends!

Direct any email questions to: baconandeggsnj@yahoo.com Stacy Collingham 2011

This pattern should not be sold or republished without written permission from the author.