CRYSTAL
Designed by Wannietta Prescod of Knit Your Way
Photo courtesy of Royal Photography

This pattern is very close-fitted. While the finished measurements seem small, they fit S(M,L) sizes. The Berrocco Furz creates a lovely fabric with a lot of stretch without looking stretched out. Enjoy!

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Instructions are written for size Small. Any changes for Medium and Large are written in brackets. Where there is only one figure, it applies to all sizes.

Chest: 61 (71, 81.5)cm/ 24 (28, 32)ins
Length: 44 (45.5, 48)cm/ 17 1/4 (18, 19)ins
Armhole depth: 18 (19, 20.5)cm/ 7 (7 1/2 8)ins
Front neck depth: 6.5 (6.5, 7.5)cm/ 21/2 (2 1/2, 3)ins

MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
* 4 (5, 5) 50g balls 90yds/83m of Berroco Furz (50%Nylon, 25%Wool, 25%Acrylic),
* One pair 5.00mm needles
* One pair 6.00mm needles or needles required to obtain gauge given below
* 5.00mm circular needle, 40cm /16ins long
* 5.00mm crochet hook

GAUGE: 16 sts and 22 rows = 10cm/4ins over St st using larger needles.

NOTE: Side and armhole shapings are fully fashioned, 2 sts in from the edge. To decrease, k2, ssk at the beginning of a row and k2tog, k2 at the end of a row. To increase, k2, M1 at the beginning of a row and M1, k2 at the end of a row. Where shaping occurs on a purl row, purl the sts instead of knitting them.

BACK

With smaller needles, cast on 50, (58, 66)sts. Work in 2x2 rib for 5cm/ 2ins.

Change to larger needles. Working in St st, dec 1 st at each end of 3rd row, and every following 8th, (10th, 10th) row 2 times. 44 (52, 60)sts rem.

Work even until piece from beg measures 19.5 (20, 21.5)cm/ 7 3/4 (8, 8 1/2 )ins. Inc 1 st at each end of next and following 8th row. Work even on 48 (56, 64)sts until piece from beg measures 26 (27, 28)cm/ 10 1/4 (10 1/2, 11)ins.

Raglan shaping:

Bind off 4 (5, 5)sts at beg of next 2 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of every 4th row 8 (2, 0)times, then every following 3rd row 0 (9, 12)times. 24 (24, 30)sts now on needle.

Work 2 (1, 2) rows even.

Sizes S and M: Next row (RS): K2, bind off centre 20 (20)sts, k1, turn.

Size L: Next row (RS): K1, k2tog, bind off centre 24 sts, k2tog, turn.

All sizes:

Next row: P2, turn, leaving 2 sts of right shoulder on needle.

Next row: K2tog, cut yarn & pull through last st.

With WS of work facing, join new length of yarn and p2 sts on needle, turn.

Next row: K2tog, cut yarn & pull through last st.

FRONT

Work as for Back, including all shaping until there are 30 (32, 38)sts on needle. Keeping continuity of raglan shaping, begin neck shaping on a RS row as follows:

Knit 9 (10, 13) sts, join in a new ball of yarn, bind off centre 12 sts, knit to the end of the row. Leave left shoulder sts on needle and continue working right shoulder only.

Next row: Purl.

Bind off 2 sts at neck edge on next row (next row, next and following alternate row), then 1 st at neck edge on following 2 alternate rows. Keeping neck edge even, complete raglan shaping as for Back.

Return to left shoulder sts and work to correspond to right front.

FINISHING

Sew Front and Back together at shoulder points and at side seams. With circular needle, pick up and knit 62 (62, 64)sts around neck and work in 2x2 rib for 7.5cm/ 3ins. Bind off.

With crochet hook, work crab stitch (reverse single crochet) around armhole edges as follows: insert hook through edge st of armhole, pass yarn over hook and draw up a loop (2 loops now on hook), pass yarn over hook and draw through both loops on hook (single crochet made). Continue in this manner working from the left to the right around the armhole.

Copyright © 2001 Wannietta Prescod, Knit Your Way
This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission. You may print a copy for yourself, distribute amongst your friends as long as you keep this copyright info included with the pattern. Do not post this pattern to other internet websites.

First published in KnitNet Feb/01