Smackover

Smackover

A pullover

MATERIALS

  • Garnstudio DROPS Puna, 9 (11, 14) skeins
  • US 6 circular needle
  • US 5 circular needle
  • Optional: US 6 double pointed needles
  • Optional: US 5 double pointed needles
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stitch markers

GAUGE

4”= 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch on US 6 needles

NOTES

Smackover is a super cozy everyday pullover that will become an instant classic in your knit wardrobe. The piece pairs great with a button down but also works just as well thrown over a tee and leggings. The line of decreases down the center of the front creates a modern silhouette and adds some interest to the otherwise plain stockinette stitch pattern.

The sweater is worked top down from the shoulders to the hem. The body is worked seamlessly. The sleeve pattern is written to be worked flat then joined to the body of the sweater after knitting. But for a truly seamless piece, you can easily just pick up stitches around the armhole and work in the round on double pointed needles instead.

The pattern is available here for free (obviously), but you can also purchase a printable PDF version from my Ravelry shop.

MEASUREMENTS and SIZING

Sizes: 1 (2, 3)

Finished dimensions

Bust: approx. 48 (53, 58)” around

Shoulder to hem: approx. 20 (23, 26)” long

Sleeves: approx. 13 (15, 17)” around

There are three sizes given: 1, 2, and 3. The piece is designed to be worn with significant positive ease. Pictured is a size 2, worn on a 35” bust with 18” of positive ease.

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PATTERN

RIGHT BACK SHOULDER

Using size 6 needle, cast on 50 (54, 58) stitches. Purl 1 row.

Row 1: knit 2, make 1, knit to end of row.

Row 2: purl until there are 2 stitches remaining, make 1, purl 2.

You should have 52 (56, 60) stitches. Break yarn and place stitches on hold to be worked later.

LEFT BACK SHOULDER

Using size 6 needle, cast on 50 (54, 58) stitches. Purl 1 row.

Row 1: knit until there are 2 stitches remaining, make 1, knit 2.

Row 2: purl 2, make 1, purl to end of row.

You should have 52 (56, 60) stitches. Don’t break yarn. You will now join the back pieces.

JOIN BACK

Row 3: With right side of left back facing, knit until there are 2 stitches remaining, make 1, knit 2. Cable cast on 12 (16, 20) stitches. With right side of right back facing, knit 2, make 1, knit to end of row. You should have 118 (130, 142) stitches.

Row 4: purl to end of row.

Continue working evenly in stockinette stitch for 36 (44, 52) more rows. Piece should measure about 6 (7, 8)” from armhole edge.

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LEFT FRONT

With right side of left back facing you and beginning at neck edge, pick up 50 (54, 58) stitches from the cast on edge using the size 6 needle. Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Row 1: knit until there are 3 stitches remaining, make 1, knit to end.

Row 2: purl to end of row.

Row 3: knit to end of row.

Row 4: purl to end of row.

Repeat these 4 rows, 8 (10, 12) more times. You should have 59 (65, 71) stitches. Break yarn and place stitches on hold to be worked later.

RIGHT FRONT

With right side of right back facing you and beginning at armhole edge, pick up 50 (54, 58) stitches from the cast on edge using the size 6 needle. Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Row 1: knit 3, make 1, knit to end of row.

Row 2: purl

Row 3: knit

Row 4: purl

Repeat these 4 rows, 8 (10, 12) more times. You should have 59 (65, 71) stitches. Don’t break yarn.

BODY

You will now work across all three pieces to join them and begin working in the round. If you are holding stitches on scrap yarn, return them to a spare needle.

Row 45:  With right side of right back facing you, knit 3, make 1, knit to end of piece. Place marker to indicate center of front piece. Then with right side of left front facing you, knit across this piece until there are 3 stitches remaining, make 1, knit to end of piece. Cast on 2 stitches using cable cast on method and placing a stitch marker between these two stitches to indicate the center of the round. With right side of back facing, knit all stitches across this piece. Cast on 2 stitches using cable cast on method and placing a stitch marker between these two stitches to indicate the beginning of the round. Join the pieces, being careful to make sure they aren’t twisted around the needle. You should have 240 (264, 288) stitches total.

Round 0: knit all stitches, ending at the marker that indicates beginning of the round (the one after the back piece and before the front piece).

Rounds 1 and 2: knit all stitches

Round 3: knit 3, make 1, knit until there are 3 stitches before next marker (the one at the center of the front piece), knit 2 together through the back loop, knit 1, slip marker, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit to 3 stitches before next marker (the one indicating the center of the round), make 1, knit to end of round.

Round 4: knit all stitches.

Repeat these 4 rounds until piece measures 11 (13, 15)” from where you joined the pieces at the underarm, or however long you like.

Then work in a mock rib stitch as follows:

Round 1: knit 1, purl 1 to end of round.

Round 2: knit all stitches

Repeat these 2 rounds 7 more times. Then loosely cast off or use your favorite stretchy bind off method.

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SLEEVES (make two)

The sleeves can be worked flat on a circular needle, or they can be picked up and worked in the round using double pointed needles. The instructions given are for working flat. If you wish to avoid seaming and would prefer working in the round, you can pick up stitches around the armhole, beginning at the underarm where you cast on two stitches, rather than casting on. To work in stockinette stitch, you will knit every round.

Using size 6 needle, cast on 62 (74, 86) stitches, placing a marker in the center. Work 7 rows in stockinette stitch, beginning with a purl row.

Decrease row (right side): knit to 3 stitches before marker, knit 2 together through the back loop, knit 1, slip marker, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit to end of row. 2 stitches decreased.

Continue working in stockinette stitch, repeating the decrease row every 6th row, 9 (11, 13) more times. After the last decrease row, you should have 42 (50, 58) stitches. Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch, ending with a wrong side row. Switch to size 5 needle and begin working in knit 1, purl 1 rib for 13 rows. Cast off using a stretchy bind off method.

NECKBAND

With the right side of work facing and beginning at center back, with size 5 circular needle pick up an even number of stitches around the back neck, left front, right front, and ending at the back. Pick up 3 stitches for every 4 rows along the front. Work in knit 1, purl 1 rib for 1/2” then cast off loosely or use a stretchy bind off method.

FINISH

If you worked the sleeves flat, join them to the body of sweater, lining up the center of the sleeve with the point where the front and back shoulders meet. Then sew the sleeves closed.

Weave in your ends, and don’t forget to block. Share your project with me on Ravelry or Instagram using #samsweaterz. I can’t tell you how much I love seeing your stuff online!