INTRODUCTION

Winter Holiday

by Alexis D'Arcy

Snuggle up with someone new, your tried and true, or even better – JUST YOU! This sweater is inspired by Cameron Diaz' gorgeous and squishy sweaters in the movie The Holiday.

This luxurious cloud of softness will keep you cozy inside by the fire or outside for a walk in freshly fallen snow. The silhouette is close fitting to just below the high hip with set in sleeves.

model: Alexis D'Arcy

photos: Melissa Freeman

SIZE

 XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X]
shown in size M with 1 inch/2.5 cm of positive ease at chest

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest circumference at underarm:  33.25[36.5, 38.75, 40.75, 44, 46, 52, 56.25, 61, 64.25] inches / 84.5[92.5, 98.5, 103.5, 112, 117, 129.5, 140.5, 152.5, 160.5] cm
Length:  21[22.75, 23.25, 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25.25, 25.25, 25.5, 26] inches / 53.5[58, 59, 59.5, 61, 62, 64, 64, 65, 66] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Bespoke Clinton Hill Cashmere Company [100% Italian Cashmere; 99yds/90m per 1.75 oz/50 g skein];
Capri Blue (54703 shown above) or Scarlet (51450 shown below); 8[9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18] skeins

Yarn Characteristics
This aran-weight yarn is 100% Italian cashmere. It is extremely soft with a round profile that makes cables pop. A multiple-ply wool or synthetic blend would make a good alternative.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below – every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #8/5mm needles for working flat
US #6/4mm needles for working flat

Notions
scrap yarn or stitch holders
stitch markers
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

15 sts/20 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in Stockinette stitch
19.25 sts/23 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in cable pattern

Note: gauge is measured after blocking.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: This sweater is worked flat from the bottom up and then seamed. It has a set-in shoulder construction and a 3-inch/7.5 cm folded funnel collar.

Tips:

• Choose a size that has 1 inch/2.5 cm of positive ease compared to your actual chest measurement.
• For a selvage edge for Back, Front, and Sleeves, the first st of every RS row is worked in St st, and the last st in rev St st.
• The cable pattern is a 9-stitch repeat, followed by a 3-stitch reverse Stockinette stitch repeat at the end of every row.
• For neater ribbing, slightly tighten each purl stitch on the right side of the fabric.
  For neater cables, tighten the first purl stitch after the last knit stitch of the cable.
• When working shoulders, neck, and collar, some cables will turn on different rows versus their nearest neighbors. Maintain pattern as possible while working short row shaping.
  
  

Techniques:

• Italian (tubular) cast-on (video)
• German short rows (video)

CHARTS

3/3 LC: Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3; k3 from cable needle.

DIRECTIONS

BACK

Hem

With smaller needles and using Italian cast-on method (see Pattern Notes), cast on 70[76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 103, 111, 120, 126] sts.

Row 1 [WS]: (K1tbl, p1) to last 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0] st(s), ktbl 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0] st.
Row 2 [RS]: P 0[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0] , (k1, p1) to end.
Row 3 [WS]: (K1, sl 1 wyif) to last 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2] sts, k1, p 1[1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1] .

Repeat Rows 2-3 until work measures 2[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5] inches / 5[6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5] cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Body
Switch to larger needles.

Sizes XS[S, M, L, -, -, -, -, -, -] only:
Increase row [RS]: K5, LLI, k 0[3, 5, 7, -, -, -, -, -, -] , (p3, k3, LLI, k2) 3 times, p3, k6, (p3, k3, RLI, k2) 3 times, p3, k4, RLI, k 0[3, 5, 7, -, -, -, -, -, -] , p1. 8 sts inc'd; 78[84, 88, 92, -, -, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes -[-, -, -, 1X, 2X, -, -, -, -] only:
Increase row [RS]: K5, LLI, k4, LLI, k -[-, -, -, 5, 7, -, -, -, -] , (p3, k3, LLI, k2) 3 times, p3, k6, (p3, k3, RLI, k2) 3 times, p3, k -[-, -, -, 5, 7, -, -, -, -] , RLI, k4, RLI, k4, p1. 10 sts inc'd; -[-, -, -, 98, 102, -, -, -, -] sts.

Sizes -[-, -, -, -, -, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X] only:
Increase row [RS]: K -[-, -, -, -, -, 5, 5, 7, 7] , LLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 4, 4, 6, 6] , LLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 5, 5, 6, 6] , LLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 3, 7, 3, 6] , (p3, k3, LLI, k2) -[-, -, -, -, -, 3, 3, 4, 4] times, (p3, k6) -[-, -, -, -, -, 2, 2, 1, 1] times, (p3, k3, RLI, k2) -[-, -, -, -, -, 3, 3, 4, 4] times, p3, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 3, 7, 3, 6] , RLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 4, 4, 6, 6] , RLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 5, 5, 6, 6] , RLI, k -[-, -, -, -, -, 4, 4, 6, 6] , p1. -[-, -, -, -, -, 12, 12, 14, 14] sts inc'd: -[-, -, -, -, -, 115, 123, 134, 140] sts.

All Sizes:
Note: Increase row [RS] counts as Row 1 of first repeat of Cable Chart.

Begin Cable Pattern:

Row 2 [WS]: K1, p 5[8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 23, 24, 27] , work Row 2 of Cable Chart to last 6[9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 25, 25, 28] sts, working 9-st repeat 7[7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9] times across, p 6[9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 28] .
Row 3 [RS]: K 6[9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 28] , work Row 3 of Cable Chart to last 6[9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 28] sts, k 5[8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 23, 24, 27] , p1.

These 2 rows est the pattern of St st, selvage sts, and Cable pattern.

Cont in patt as est'd until Rows 1-8 of chart have been worked a total of 9 times then work Rows 1-6 of chart once more. 78 cable chart rows (including initial Increase row) have been worked in total.

Work measures approx. 15.5[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] inches / 39.5[40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5] cm from cast-on, measured over cable pattern.

Shape armholes:
Cont in patt as est'd, BO 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] sts at beg of next 2 rows, 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5] sts at beg of next 2[4, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4] rows, 0[1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4] st(s) at beg of next 0[2, 4, 2, 4, 4, 6, 4, 2, 4] rows, and 0[0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] st at beg of next 0[0, 0, 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 8, 8] rows. 68[68, 70, 72, 72, 72, 77, 79, 86, 86] sts.***

Continuing to work selvage (see Pattern Notes), work even in patt until work measures 5.5[6.75, 7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 10] inches / 14[17, 18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23.5, 23.5, 24, 25.5] cm from start of underarm, measured over cable pattern.

Shape shoulders:
Note: Work German Short Rows at short row turns (see Pattern Notes).
Rows 1-2: Patt to last 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 3, 4, 3, 3] sts, turn.
Rows 3-4: Patt to 6 sts before last turn, turn.
Rows 5-6: Patt to 3 sts before last turn, turn.
Rows 7-8: Patt to end, working double sts as 1 st.

Break yarn and place 22[22, 20, 21, 21, 21, 22, 23, 22, 22] sts for each shoulder on separate holders. Place 24[24, 30, 30, 30, 30, 33, 33, 42, 42] rem sts for back neck on separate holder.

Front
Work as for Back to ***.

Work even until work measures 3[4, 4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 6, 6.5] inches / 7.5[10, 11.5, 12, 13.5, 14.5, 15, 16.5, 15, 16.5] cm or 14[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18, 16, 20, 20] rows shorter than Back to shoulder, measured over Cable patt and ending after a WS row.

Shape right front neck:
Row 1 [RS]: Patt 31[31, 32, 33, 33, 33, 37, 38, 40, 40] sts and place these sts on holder, patt 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6] sts and place these sts on holder, patt 31[31, 32, 33, 33, 33, 37, 38, 40, 40] sts to end.

Note: Work German Short Rows at short row turns (see Pattern Notes).

Row 2 [WS]: Patt to last 3[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6, 3, 3] sts, turn.
Row 3 [RS]: Patt to end.
Row 4 [WS]: Patt to 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6] sts before last turn, turn.
Row 5 [RS]: Patt to end.
Rep Rows 2-3 0[0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time more.

Sizes -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 5X, 6X] Only:
Next row [WS]: Patt to 6 sts before last turn, turn.
Next row [RS]: Patt to end.

All Sizes:
Next row [WS]: Patt to last 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] sts, place next 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] sts on holder for neck, turn and cont over rem 22[22, 20, 21, 21, 21, 22, 23, 22, 22] sts.

Work even in patt for 8[10, 8, 8, 8, 8, 10, 8, 10, 10] rows, ending after a WS row.

Shape right front shoulder:
Note: Work German Short Rows at short row turns (see Pattern Notes).

Row 1 [RS]: Patt to last 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 3, 4, 3, 3] sts, turn.
Rows 2, 4 & 6 [WS]: Patt to end.
Row 3: Patt to 6 sts before last turn, turn.
Row 5: Patt to 3 sts before last turn, turn.
Row 7 [RS]: Patt to end, working each double st as 1 st.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

Shape left front neck:
Join yarn to 31[31, 32, 33, 33, 33, 37, 38, 40, 40] sts held for left front with WS facing.

Note: Work German Short Rows at short row turns (see Pattern Notes).

Row 1 [WS]: Patt to end.
Row 2 [RS]: Patt to last 3[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6, 3, 3] sts, turn.
Row 3 [WS]: Patt to end.
Row 4 [RS]: Patt to 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6] sts before last turn, turn.
Row 5 [WS]: Patt to end.
Rep Rows 2-3 0[0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1] time more.

strong>Sizes -[-, -, -, -, -, -, -, 5X, 6X] Only:
Next row [RS]: Patt to 6 sts before last turn, turn.
Next row [WS]: Patt to end.

All Sizes:
Next row [RS]: Patt to last 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] sts, place next 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] sts on holder for neck, turn and cont over rem 22[22, 20, 21, 21, 21, 22, 23, 22, 22] sts.

Work even in patt for 8[10, 8, 8, 8, 8, 10, 8, 10, 10] rows, ending after a RS row.

Shape right front shoulder:
Note: Work German Short Rows at short row turns (see Pattern Notes).

Row 1 [WS]: Patt to last 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 3, 4, 3, 3] sts, turn.
Rows 2, 4, 6 [RS]: Patt to end.
Row 3: Patt to 6 sts before last turn, turn.
Row 5: Patt to 3 sts before last turn, turn.
Row 7 [WS]: Patt to end, working each double st as 1 st.
Break yarn and place sts on holder.

SLEEVES (make 2)
With smaller needles and using Italian cast-on method (see Pattern Notes), cast on 26[28, 30, 34, 32, 32, 34, 36, 36, 40] sts.

Row 1 [WS]: (K1tbl, p1) to end.
Row 2 [RS]: (K1, p1) to end.
Row 3: K1, (sl1 wyif, k1) to last st, p1.

Rep Rows 2-3 until work measures 2[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5] inches / 5[6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5] cm from cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Change to larger needles.

Next row [RS]: Knit to last st, p1.
Next row [WS]: K1, purl to end.
These 2 rows set the patt of St st with selvage edge (see Pattern Notes).

Work 8[9, 6, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2] rows even in patt.

Note: Work RLI/LLI as knit or purl, as needed to work into St st.

Sleeve inc row: Patt 3, LLI, patt to last 3 sts, RLI, patt 3. 2 sts increased.
Work 9[10, 7, 7, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3] rows even in patt, working increased sts into St st.
Rep last 10[11, 8, 8, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4] rows 5[5, 7, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19] times more, then work Sleeve inc row once more. 40[42, 48, 52, 56, 62, 66, 72, 76, 82] sts.

Work even in patt (if necessary) until SLEEVE measures 17[18, 18, 18.25, 18.25, 18.25, 18.5, 18.5, 19, 19.5] inches / 43[45.5, 45.5, 46.5, 46.5, 46.5, 47, 47, 48.5, 49.5] cm from cast-on, or desired length to underarm.

Shape sleeve cap:
Cont in St st, BO 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] sts at beg of next 2[2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 2, 2, 6] rows, 2[2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4] sts at beg of next 2[4, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4] rows, 0[1, 1, 2, 2, 0, 0, 3, 3, 1] st(s) at beg of next 0[2, 4, 2, 4, 0, 0, 4, 2, 8] rows. 30[26, 30, 34, 34, 38, 32, 34, 36, 28] sts.

Sizes XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, -] only:
Work 1[3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, -] rows even in patt.

Dec row [RS] K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, p1. 2 sts decreased.

Cont in St st and selvage st as set, repeating Dec row every foll 2[0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 6, 4, 6, -] rows 5[0, 0, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, -] times, then rep Dec row every foll 0[2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 4, 2, 2, -] rows 0[4, 5, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 1, -] times. 18[16, 18, 24, 24, 28, 26, 26, 30, -] sts.

Size 6X only:
Work 16 rows even in patt.

All Sizes:
Cont in patt, BO 1 st at beg of next 4 rows, then BO 1[1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2] sts at beg of next 2 rows.

BO rem 12[10, 12, 18, 16, 20, 18, 20, 22, 20] sts.

FINISHING

Join 22[22, 20, 21, 21, 21, 22, 23, 22, 22] sts of left shoulder on WS using 3-needle BO.

COLLAR
With RS facing and using smaller needles, join yarn to 24[24, 30, 30, 30, 30, 33, 33, 42, 42] sts held for back neck and work in patt as est across these sts, pick up and knit 12[12, 15, 15, 15, 15, 12, 12, 12, 12] sts to held left front neck sts, work in patt across 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] held left front neck sts, patt 6[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6] across held front neck sts, work in patt across 9[9, 12, 12, 12, 12, 15, 15, 18, 18] held right front neck sts, pick up and knit 12[12, 15, 15, 15, 15, 12, 12, 12, 12] sts to right shoulder. 78[78, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 114, 114] sts.

Note: Continue to work cables in pattern; cable crosses will take place over some Front neck stitches on a different collar row than other stitches.

Row 1 [WS]: Starting with st 9[9, 3, 3, 3, 3, 9, 9, 9, 9] of Cable chart and working left to right, work chart to end, ending after st 4[4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4] .

Cont in Cable patt as est until collar measures 5.5[6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6] inches / 14[15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15] cm from pick-up.

BO all sts in patt.

Fold collar in half, with BO edge on inside of garment. Seam in place around neckline.

Join right shoulder using 3-needle BO. Sew collar seam. Weave in ends and block pieces to measurements.

Sew side and sleeve seams. Set sleeve caps into armholes.

A—Front/Back chest width: 16.75[18.25, 19.25, 20.5, 22, 23, 26, 28, 30.5, 32] inches / 42.5[46.5, 49, 52, 56, 58.5, 66, 71, 77.5, 81.5] cm
B—Body length: 15.5[16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16] inches / 39.5[40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5, 40.5] cm
C—Cross back width: 14.25[14.25, 14.75, 15.25, 15.25, 15.25, 16, 16.75, 18, 18] inches / 36[36, 37.5, 38.5, 38.5, 38.5, 40.5, 42.5, 45.5, 45.5] cm
D—Armhole length: 5.5[6.75, 7.25, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.25, 9.25, 9.5, 10] inches / 14[17, 18.5, 19, 20.5, 21.5, 23.5, 23.5, 24, 25.5] cm
E—Underarm to front neck: 3[4, 4.5, 4.75, 5.25, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 6, 6.5] inches / 7.5[10, 11.5, 12, 13.5, 14.5, 15, 16.5, 15, 16.5] cm
F—Shoulder width: 4.75[4.75, 4.25, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 4.75, 4.75] inches / 12[12, 11, 11.5, 11.5, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 12, 12] cm
G—Neck width: 5[5, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 6.75, 6.75, 8.75, 8.75] inches / 12.5[12.5, 16, 16, 16, 16, 17, 17, 22, 22] cm
H—Cuff width (stretched): 7[7.5, 8, 9, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 9.5, 10.75] inches / 18[19, 20.5, 23, 21.5, 21.5, 23, 24, 24, 27.5] cm
I—Upper arm width: 10.75[11.25, 12.75, 13.75, 15, 16.5, 17.5, 19.25, 20.25, 21.75] inches / 27.5[28.5, 32.5, 35, 38, 42, 44.5, 49, 51.5, 55] cm
J—Sleeve length: 17[18, 18, 18.25, 18.25, 18.25, 18.5, 18.5, 19, 19.5] inches / 43[45.5, 45.5, 46.5, 46.5, 46.5, 47, 47, 48.5, 49.5] cm
K—Collar length (folded): 2.75[3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3] inches / 7[7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Alexis is an avid knitter, designer, mother and lawyer in Massachusetts. Her designs seek out playful color and sophisticated silhouettes. Her favorite fiber-related hobby is helping knitters overcome obstacles and tame errant or misbehaving WIPs.

Pattern & images © 2023 Alexis D'Arcy