Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook (52 page)

the Manly Sweater
(left)
&
Skully
(right)

ABOUT KATE

I began knitting in 2000 when, on a whim, I purchased a Susan Bates learn-to-knit book on eBay. While I waited for it to arrive, I purchased a few skeins of cheapo acrylic yarn and some needles. Rather than knit a swatch as most beginners do, I followed a pattern for a ribbed hat and taught myself each technique required as I went along. Following my “if it feels right and looks right, it is right” knitting philosophy, I’ve gone from absolute beginner to professional knitter and freelance designer—a true testament to finding one’s passion and letting it blossom. I live in Toronto, Ontario, where I work from home and take care of my children.

DIANA RUPP

I designed this fitted cowl-neck sweater about five years ago, because I wanted to get away from those big, boxy styles that weren’t doing anybody any favors (if you know what I mean). A cowl neck was a must (I grew up in the ’70s and find myself happily stuck in that decade). I was also determined to make the pattern easy enough so that even a beginner could knit it without having a nervous breakdown. The matching dog sweater, “Howl,” came later, but it makes sense: A girl’s best friend deserves to be fashionable too.

S
IZES

Small (Medium, Large, Extra-Large)

Finished bust: 30½ (32½, 34½, 37½)" Finished length: 23½ (24, 24½, 25)"

M
ATERIALS

Brown Sheep Company
Lamb’s Pride Worsted
(85% wool/15% mohair; 4 oz/190 yds), 5 (6, 6, 7) skeins #M180 Ruby Red

US 11 (8mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 11 (8mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5)

US 15 (10mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5)

G
AUGE

12 sts and 20 rows = 4" in garter st on smaller needles. (Sweater is worked in a loose gauge, so it is very stretchy.)

Note:
Even though you’re working in garter st, you’ll want to choose a right side/wrong side so all your increases and decreases are worked on the same side.

D
IRECTIONS

BACK

CO 46 (49, 52, 57) sts. Work 5" in garter st.

Dec row (RS): K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2; rep dec row every 6th row twice more—40 (43, 46, 51) sts. Work even until piece meas 11½" from beg.

Inc row (RS): K2, inc1 in next st, k to last 3 sts, inc1 in next st, k2; rep inc row every 6th row twice more—46 (49, 52, 57) sts. Work even until piece meas 15" from beg.

ARMHOLE SHAPING

Dec row (RS): K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2; rep dec row every other row 3 (4, 5, 6) times more—38 (39, 40, 43) sts. Work even until armhole meas 7½ (8, 8½, 9)".

NECK AND SHOULDER SHAPING

BO 3 sts at beg of next 4 rows, then 5 (5, 5, 6) sts at beg of next 2 rows. BO rem 16 (17, 18, 19) sts loosely.

FRONT

Work as for back until armhole meas 6 (6½, 7, 7½)", end with a WS row.

NECK SHAPING

Next row (RS): Work 14 (14, 14, 15) sts, join another skein of yarn and BO center 10 (11, 12, 13) sts loosely, work to end. Working both sides at once, k one row.

Dec row (RS): K to last 4 sts of first side, ssk, k2; on other side, k2, k2tog, k to end; rep dec row every other row twice more.
At the same time,
when front meas same as back, shape shoulders by BO 3 sts from each shoulder edge twice; then 4 (5, 5, 5) sts once.

BELL-SHAPED SLEEVES

CO 43 (45, 47, 49) sts. Work 2" in garter st.

Dec row (RS): K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2; rep dec row every 8th row 3 times more—35 (37, 39, 41) sts. Work even until sleeve meas 18 (18
¹
/
₄
, 18
¹
/
₂
, 18
³
/
₄
)" from beg.

CAP SHAPING

BO 2 sts at beg of next 4 rows. Dec row (RS): K2, k2 tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2; rep dec every other row 4 (5, 6, 7) times more. K 1 row. BO off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows, BO rem 11 sts.

FINISHING

Sew shoulder seams. Set sleeves into armholes. Sew side and sleeve seams.

COWL

With smaller dpns, pu 52 (54, 56, 58) sts evenly around neck edge. Join and pm indicating beg of rnd. Work St st in the rnd (k all rnds) for 5½". Change to larger dpns and cont until cowl meas 10½" or desired length. BO loosely.

DIANA RUPP

Designing your own dog sweater is much easier than following a printed pattern that doesn’t take Fido’s love handles into consideration. All you have to do is take a few measurements, knit up a couple of rectangles, slap on a turtleneck and cuffs, and voilà!

M
ATERIALS

Brown Sheep Company
Lamb’s Pride Worsted
(85% wool/15% mohair; 4 oz/190 yds #M180 Ruby Red). One skein was plenty for a chubby Chihuahua; you’ll need to guesstimate the yardage needed for a larger dog.

US 11 (8mm) knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 11 (8mm) double-pointed needles (set of 4/5)

G
AUGE