Knitting -- meanwhile

Before starting on that argyle sweater, I tried an experiment with some new yarn.
5/2 yarn is like a heavy crochet thread.
The product I tried is Perly Perle, which is 100% mercerized cotton.
I thought it would make some nice sleeveless tees to wear out shopping and so on.
That means I wouldn't worry about my old sleeveless tees which have all kinds of dirt on them that won't wash out.
I can just wear them out gardening and what not.
And I didn't need to learn any new skills, YMMV if you haven't tried a Fair Isle pattern.
The pattern is:
Cast on 336 stitches for a 40 inch chest to a size zero circular with a 24 inch tether.  For other sizes, calculate about 7 stitches per inch.
Do k2/p2 rib for at least 4 rows.
Switch to a number 1 circular on same length tether, and do 160 rounds.

For armholes, put 7 stitches on a holder from the start of the next round.
Knit half way around and starting 7 stitches before the next armhole,
put 14 stitches on a holder. 
Knit around and put the last 7 stitches of the round on the first holder.
By the way, the holder can be a thicker piece of yarn pulled through the stitches with a crochet hook.
To keep the stitches on, double this yarn over and then run the free ends through the loop.

Keep knitting in the round, and when you finish knitting the steeking, knit the first two stitches of the body together.
When you get to the next armhole, stop two stitches before the steeking.
Slip the next to last stitch onto the needle, knit the last stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over, before you knit the steeking.

Do this for 7 rounds, then stop decreasing.
Knit a total of 90 rows from the bottom of the armhole.
Knit to the middle of the steeking on one side.
Turn inside out and use a third needle to knit off 35 stitches for one shoulder.
Turn right side out, knit to the middle of the opposite steeking, and then turn inside out and knit off those 35 stitches for the other shoulder.
Turn right side out and do k2/p2 rib for as deep a neck as you want, and bind off.
Now change to a #1 circular with a 16 inch tether.
Cut up the middle of the steeking.
Knit up the underarms off the holder, and pick up 181 stitches around the armhole.
The steeking will fold back as a facing.
Do k2/p2 rib around the armhole for as many rows as you want, probably 5-6 and bind off.
OR knit 45 rows in the round, decreasing at the underarm every other round for a short sleeve and finish it in rib so the bottom of the sleeve doesn't curl up.
I know that's a quick and dirty pattern, if you need any of it explained better, email me.


© Patricia Jo Heil, 2013-2018 All Rights  Reserved