David’s Favourite Fair Isle V-Neck
Tricot / Knitting
Knit this warm sweater for a special guy in your life. Since it’s made of worsted-weight yarn, it won’t take you eons to complete. But you might as well choose colors you like, because chances are you’ll be borrowing this sweater often!
NOTES
• This sweater is worked entirely in the round from the bottom up, using steeks for the armholes and neck openings, the Sleeves are worked in the round separately from the Body, using steeks to shape the upper portion.
• The 9-stitch steeks are worked in a vertical stripe pattern as follows:
*k1 background color, k1 pattern color, repeat from * 3 times more, k1 background color.
The steek stitches are not included in the stitch counts, the number of steek stitches used is knitter’s choice.
SIZES
Man’s XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X).
Instructions are for the smallest size, with changes for the other sizes noted in parentheses as necessary.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 39¼ (43¼, 48, 53, 57½, 62½)/ [99.5 (110, 122, 134.5, 146, 159)cm]
Length: 26 (26½, 26½, 27, 27, 27)"/ [66 (67, 67, 68.5, 68.5, 68.5)cm]
MATERIALS
Classic Elite’s Renaissance: 4-medium/worsted weight, 100% wool, each
approximately 1¾ oz/[50g] and 110 yds/[100.5m].
4 (4, 5, 6, 6, 7) hanks of Giotto Grape #7124 (A),
8 (8, 9, 10, 10, 11) hanks of Marine #7110 (B),
2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) hanks of Green Grape #7181 (C),
1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) hank(s) each of African Violet #7105 (D),
Celery #7135 (E),
Pesto #7160 (F),
and Mountain Forest #7115 (G)
Size 6 (4mm) 16"/[40.5cm] circular needle
Size 6 (4mm) 32"/[80cm] circular needle
Size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles (set of 4)
Size 8 (5mm) 16"/[40.5cm] circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5mm) 24"/[60cm] circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5mm) 32"/[80cm] circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (set of 4)
Stitch markers (1 in patterning color for beginning of round)
One safety pin
Blunt-end yarn needle
Size H/8 (5mm) crochet hook for crocheted steek (optional)
GAUGE
20 stitches and 20 rounds = 4"/[10cm] in Fair Isle Pattern with the larger needle.
To save time, take time to check gauge.
STITCH PATTERNS
Rib Pattern (multiple of 4 stitches) Pattern Round (RS):
*K2, p2, repeat from * around.
Fair Isle Pattern
Body
With the smaller circular needle and A, cast on 196 (216, 240, 264, 288, 312) stitches,
place a marker for the beginning of the round and join, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Change to B, work the Rib Pattern until the piece measures approximately 2½"/[6.5cm].
Pattern Set-Up Round:
Change to the larger circular needle, work Round 1 of the Fair Isle Pattern, beginning and ending as indicated for your desired size on the front and back as follows: *work 0 (5, 11, 5, 11, 5) stitches before the marked pattern repeat,
work the 24-stitch repeat 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6) times, work 1 (6, 12, 6, 12, 6) stitch(es) after the marked pattern repeat, place a marker, p1 in the background color for a “side seam” stitch, place a marker, repeat from * once more.
Work even in the established pattern until the piece measures approximately 16½"/[42cm], ending 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) stitches before the beginning-of-the-round marker.
ESTABLISH ARMHOLE STEEKS
Next Round:
Break the pattern-color yarn, remove the markers as you come to them, and with the background color, bind off the next 11 (13, 15, 17, 19, 21) stitches.
Rejoin the pattern color and work to 5 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) stitches before the seam stitch, break the pattern color.
With the background color, bind off the next 11 (13, 15, 17, 19, 21) stitches, rejoin the pattern color, work to the end of the round—87 (95, 105, 115, 125, 135) stitches each on front and back.
Next Round:
Cast on 9 armhole-steek stitches (Notes), place a marker, work to the next set of bound-off stitches, place a marker, cast on 9 armhole-steek stitches, place a marker, work to the end of the round.
Place a marker for the new beginning of the round.
Work even until the armhole measures approximately 1½ (2, 2, 2½, 2½, 2½)"/[3.8 (5, 5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5)cm].
ESTABLISH FRONT NECK STEEK AND SHAPE FRONT NECK
Next Round:
Slipping the markers as you come to them, work the steek, work 43 (47, 52, 57, 62, 67) left front stitches,
slip the next stitch onto a safety pin for the front of the neck,
place a marker,
cast on 9 front-neck-steek stitches,
place a marker,
work 43 (47, 52, 57, 62, 67) right front stitches,
work the steek,
work to the end of the round.
Decrease Round:
Slipping the markers as you come to them,
work the steek,
work to 2 stitches before the front neck marker,
ssk,
work the steek,
k2tog,
work to the end of the round—42 (46, 51, 56, 61, 66) stitches remain for each front, 87 (95, 105, 115, 125, 135) back stitches.
Repeat the Decrease Round every round 5 more times,
then every other round 14 times —23 (27, 32, 37, 42, 47) stitches remain for each front.
Work even until the armhole measures approximately 8½ (9, 9, 9½, 9½, 9½)"/[21.5 (23, 23, 24, 24, 24)cm].
ESTABLISH BACK NECK STEEKS AND SHAPE BACK NECK
Next Round:
Slipping the markers as you come to them,
work the steek,
work the left front stitches,
work the steek,
work the right front stitches,
work the steek,
work 25 (29, 34, 39, 44, 49) back stitches,
break the pattern color.
With the background color,
bind off the next 37 stitches,
rejoin the pattern color,
work to the end of the round.
Next Round:
Slipping the markers as you come to them,
work around to the bound-off stitches,
place a marker,
cast on 9 back-neck-steek stitches,
place a marker,
work to the end of the round.
Decrease Round:
Slipping markers as you come to them,
work around to 2 stitches before back-neck-steek marker,
ssk,
work the steek,
k2tog,
work to end of round—24 (28, 33, 38, 43, 48) stitches remain for each side of the back.
Repeat Decrease Round once more—23 (27, 32, 37, 42, 47) stitches remain for each side of back.
Work even until the armholes measure approximately 9½ (10, 10, 10½, 10½, 10½)"/[24 (25.5, 25.5, 26.5, 26.5, 26.5)cm].
Bind off.
Sleeves (Make 2) With the smaller double-pointed needles and A, cast on 48 stitches;
distribute on 3 needles,
place a marker for the beginning of the round, and join, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Change to B, work the Rib Pattern until the piece measures approximately 2½"/[6.5cm].
Set-Up Round:
Change to the larger double-pointed needles and work Round 1 of the Fair Isle Pattern beginning and ending where indicated in the chart for the Sleeves as follows:
Work 11 stitches before the marked pattern repeat,
work the 24-stitch pattern repeat once,
work 12 stitches after the marked pattern repeat,
place a marker,
p1 in the background color for the “seam” stitch.
Next (Increase) Round:
M1 in pattern,
work the established pattern to the first marker,
M1 in pattern, slip the marker,
p1 in the background color—50 stitches.
Continue the established pattern and repeat the Increase Round every round 0 (0, 0, 0, 0, 1) time(s),
every other round 0 (0, 3, 18, 24, 27) times,
every 3 rounds 13 (23, 22, 10, 4, 0) times,
then every 4 rounds 10 (2, 0, 0, 0, 0) times—96 (100, 100, 106, 106, 106) stitches.
Work even until the piece measures approximately 19½ (19, 18, 16½, 15½, 14¼)"/[49.5 (48.5, 45.5, 42, 39.5, 37)cm].
ESTABLISH SLEEVE STEEKS
Next Round:
Cast on 9 stitches for a steek,
slip the beginning-of-round marker,
work to the next marker,
slip the marker,
bind off the purled seam stitch—95 (99, 99, 105, 105, 105) stitches remain.
Work even until the Sleeve measures approximately 21¾ (21½, 21, 20, 19½, 18½)"/[55 (54.5, 53.5, 51, 49.5, 47)cm].
Bind off.
Finishing
Secure the back neck, front neck, armhole, and sleeve steeks.
Block the pieces to the finished measurements.
Trim the steeks as necessary, fold back and tack to the wrong side.
Use mattress stitch to sew the shoulder seams.
Neckband
With the right side facing, using the smaller circular needle and B and beginning at the left shoulder neck edge, pick up and knit 40 stitches to the center front,
knit the stitch on the safety pin and mark it,
pick up and knit 40 stitches along the right front neck and 50 stitches along the back neck,
place a marker, and join—131 stitches.
Decrease Round:
Work in the Rib Pattern to 1 stitch before the marked center stitch,
s2kp2;
beginning with p1,
work in the Rib Pattern to the end of the round—129 stitches.
Repeat Decrease Round every round, adjusting the Rib Pattern at center front as stitches are decreased, until the band measures 1"/[2.5cm].
Next Round:
Change to A, and work in the established rib.
With A, bind off loosely in rib.
Sew each Sleeve into an armhole, sewing the steeked edges at the top of the Sleeve to the bound-off stitches of the Body.
SUGGESTED ALTERNATE COLOR WAYS
Alternate Color way 1,
left:
Classic Elite’s Renaissance in Portofino Orange #7185 (A), Mountain Forest #7115 (B), Vatican Gold #7168 (C), Tiled Roof #7178 (D), Celery #7135 (E), Green Grape #7181 (F), and Espresso #7138 (G)
Alternate Color way 2,
right: Chianti #7127 (A), Denim #7114 (B), Vatican Gold #7168 (C), African Violet #7105 (D), Celery #7135 (E), Portofino Orange #7185 (F), and Renaissance Red #7155 (G)
