Periwinkle by DROPS Design

INFORMATION FOR PATTERN:

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 and A.2. Choose diagram for your size.

DECREASE TIP-1 (evenly):
To calculate how to decrease evenly, use the total number of stitches on round (e.g. 200 stitches) and divide stitches by number of decreases to be done (e.g. 10) = 20.
In this example decrease by knitting approx. every 19th and 20th stitch together.

DECREASE TIP-2 (applies to sides of body):
Begin 5 stitches before marker thread in the side, knit 2 together, knit 6 (marker thread is in the middle of these 6 stitches), slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over stitch worked (= 2 stitches decreased).

INCREASE TIP (applies to mid under sleeve):
Begin 2 stitches before marker thread, make 1 yarn over, knit 2 (marker thread is in the middle of these 2 stitches), make 1 yarn over (= 2 stitches increased). On next round knit yarn overs twisted to avoid holes.

KNITTING TIP:
To avoid the knitting gauge to tighten when working pattern, it is important not to tighten the strands on back side of piece. Use a larger needle size when working pattern if needed.
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SWEATER:
Body is worked in the round on circular needle, bottom up. Sleeves are worked in the round on double pointed needles/a short circular needle, bottom up. Then slip body and sleeves together and finish yoke in the round on circular needle.
An elevation in the back of neck can be worked to get a better fit so that yoke is somewhat higher in the neck. This elevation can be skipped, to make the neck the same at the front and back - see explanation on elevation in pattern.

BODY:
Cast on 200-220-238-258-284-312 stitches on circular needle size 3 mm / US 2.5 with light gray blue. Work rib as follows:
ROUND 1: Knit all stitches.
ROUND 2: * Knit 1, purl 1 *, repeat from *-* the entire round. Repeat 1st and 2nd round until rib measures 3 cm / 1''. Switch to circular needle size 4 mm / US 6. Knit 1 round while decreasing 10-10-12-12-14-14 stitches evenly - read DECREASE TIP-1 = 190-210-226-246-270-298 stitches. Insert 1 marker thread at beginning of round and 1 marker thread after 95-105-113-123-135-149 stitches (= in the sides), move the marker thread when working.
Work in stockinette stitch in the round. REMEMBER THE GAUGE!
When piece measures 8 cm / 3 1/8'', decrease 1 stitch on each side of both marker threads - read DECREASE TIP-2 (= 4 stitches decreased). Decrease like this every 8 cm / 3 1/8'' 4 times in total in each side = 174-194-210-230-254-282 stitches.
Work until piece measures approx. 36 cm / 14 1/4'' in all sizes. Work next round as follows: Bind off 4-4- 5-5- 6-7 stitches for armhole, knit 79-89-95-105-115-127
stitches (back piece), bind off 8-8-10-10-12-14 stitches for armhole, knit 79-89-95-105- 115-127stitches (front side), and bind off the remaining 4-4-5-5-6-7
stitches for armhole. Put piece aside and work the sleeves.

SLEEVE:
Cast on 44-46-48-52-52-54 stitches on double pointed needles size 3 mm / US 2.5 with light gray blue. Work rib as follows:
ROUND 1: Knit all stitches.
ROUND 2: * Knit 1, purl 1 *, repeat from *-* the entire round.
Repeat 1st and 2nd round until rib measures 3 cm / 1''. Switch to double pointed needles size 4 mm / US 6. Insert 1 marker thread at beginning of round (= mid under sleeve) and move the marker thread upwards. Work in stockinette stitch in the round. When piece measures 9-7-9-7-9-7 cm / 3½"-2 3/4"-3½"-2 3/4"-3½"-2 3/4'', increase 2 stitches mid under sleeve - read INCREASE TIP. Increase like this every 3½-3-2-2-1½-1½ cm / 1 1/4"-1 1/8"-3/4"-3/4"-½"-½'' 11-13-16-17-19-20 times in total = 66-72-80-86-90-94 stitches (switch to a short circular needle when there are enough stitches). Continue until sleeve measures 46-45-43-41-40-38 cm / 18"-17 3/4"-17"-16"-15 3/4"-15'' (shorter measurements in the larger sizes because of wider neck and longer yoke).
Work next round as follows: bind off 4-4-5-5-6-7 stitches, knit 58-64-70-76-78-80 stitches and bind off the remaining 4-4-5-5-6-7 stitches. Put piece aside and make another sleeve the same way.

YOKE:
Slip sleeves on to same circular needle as body where armholes were bound off = 274-306-330-362-386-414 stitches. NOW MEASURE THE PIECE FROM HERE!
Read KNITTING TIP! Begin round mid back where body is finished. Continue with light gray blue. Knit 1 round while decreasing 4-6-0-2-6-4 stitches evenly = 270-300-330-360-380-410 stitches - remember DECREASE TIP-1. Work stockinette stitch in the round. When piece measures 1-2-3-3-4-6 cm / 3/8"-3/4"-1"-1"-1½"-2 ½'' from where body and sleeves were put together, work A.1 in the round (= 27-30-33-36-38-41 repetitions of 10 stitches). Continue pattern like this. AT THE SAME TIME on row marked with arrow in A.1 decrease 10-0-10-20-20-30 stitches evenly = 260-300-320-340-360-380 stitches. NOTE! In size S and L decrease in the off white sections.
Now work A.2 in the round (= 13-15-16-17-18-19 repetitions of 20 stitches). Continue pattern like this and decrease as shown in A.2. When A.2 has been worked, there are 130-150-160-170-180-190 stitches on needle.
Now work elevation in the back of neck or start to work the neck edge if you do not want an elevation.

ELEVATION IN BACK OF NECK:
Skip this paragraph if you do not want an elevation.
Insert 1 marker at beginning of round = mid back. Begin from right side with off white and knit 15-16-17-18-19-20 stitches past stitch with marker, turn, tighten yarn and purl 30-32-34-36-38-40. Turn, tighten yarn and knit 45-48-51-54-57-60, turn, tighten yarn and purl 60-64-68-72-76-80. Turn, tighten yarn and knit 75-80-85-90-95-100, turn, tighten yarn and purl 90-96-102-108-114-120, turn, tighten yarn and knit until mid back.

NECK EDGE:
Knit 1 round with off white while decreasing 24-40-44-48-54-58 stitches evenly = 106-110-116-122-126-132 stitches. Switch to a short circular needle size 3 mm / US 2.5. Work rib as follows: * Knit 1, purl 1 *, repeat from *-* the entire round. Continue rib like this for 3 cm / 1''. Bind off stitches with knit over knit and purl over purl. Sweater measures approx. 58-60-62-64-66-68 cm / 22¾''-23 5/8''-24 3/8''-25¼''-26''-26¾'' from shoulder and down.

ASSEMBLY:
Sew the openings under the sleeves.