Fair Isles Knit Sweater

For experienced knitters, try this knit sweater using a fair isles design! It'll keep you warm and cozy throughout the cold seasons. Great for knitters looking for a challenge, this knit sweater is perfect for all kinds of weather, and everyone will be so surprised that you made this sweater yourself! Use the colors suggested or use your own yarn colors to create a sweater unique to you! This is a lovely sweater that you will enjoy showing off to all your family and friends, and you may find that you're taking orders to make more!

Materials:
Sizes (S, M, L, XL)

Pattern [pdf]
6, 7, 7, 8 balls Patons Astra Yarn in Green (MC)
2, 3, 3, 3 balls Patons Astra Yarn in Burgundy (A)
2, 3, 3, 3 balls Patons Astra Yarn in Red (B)
1, 1, 1, 1 ball Patons Astra Yarn in White (C)
1, 1, 1, 1 ball Patons Astra Yarn in Light Teal (D)
1, 1, 1, 1 ball Patons Astra Yarn in Black (E)
Sizes 4 mm (U.S. 6) and 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) knitting needles
Size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) circular knitting needle or size needed to obtain tension
4 st holders

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] with smaller needles in stocking st.

Sizes:
To fit bust measurement

Small 34 ins [86.5 cm ]
Medium 36 ins [91.5 cm ]
Large 38 ins [96.5 cm ]
Extra-Large 40 ins [101.5 cm ]

Finished bust

Small 38 ins [96.5 cm ]
Medium 43 ins [109 cm ]
Large 45 ins [114.5 cm ]
Extra-Large 47 ins [119.5 cm ]

Instructions:
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ).
Use smaller needles when working MC in stocking st. Use larger needles when working from charts in fair isle pat.

Back

**With A and smaller needles, cast on 99 (113-119-123) sts.
Purl 2 rows.
Next 2 rows: With MC, knit, inc 6 sts evenly across last row. 105 (119-125-129) sts.
Sizes L and XL only: With MC, beg with a knit row, work 6 rows in stocking st.
All Sizes: Proceed in stripe pat as follows: 1st to 5th rows: With larger needles, work Chart I in stocking st to end of chart, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right and noting 20 st rep will be worked 5 (5-6-6) times.
6th to 12th rows: With smaller needles and MC, beg with a purl row, work in stocking st. These 12 rows form stripe pat.
Continue in stripe pat until work from beg measures approx 16 (16-17- 17) ins [40.5 (40.5-43-43) cm] ending on a 12th row of stripe pat.
Shape raglans: Keeping cont of stripe pat, cast off 3 (4-4-4) sts beg next 2 rows. 99 (111-117-121) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on following 7 (9-9-9) rows. 85 (93- 99-103) sts.
Size S only: Work 1 row even. Dec 1 st each end of next row. 83 sts.
All Sizes: Work 1 row even, ending on a 12th row of stripe pat.
Work Chart II in stocking st to end of chart, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right and noting dec will be worked at each end of first row, then every following alt row. 47 (57-63-67) sts.**
With MC, cont in stocking st dec 1 st at each end of needle on following alt rows from previous dec until there are 35 (37-39-43) sts.
Next row: Purl. Leave these sts on a st holder.

Front

Work from ** to ** as given for Back.
With MC, cont in stocking st dec 1 st at each end of needle on following alt rows from previous dec until there are 45 (51-53-57) sts.
Purl 1 row.
Shape Neck: Next row: (RS). K2tog. K10 (13-13-13) (neck edge). Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 5 (6-6-6) rows, AT THE SAME TIME, cont dec 1 st at raglan edge on every following alt row from previous dec until there are 2 sts.
Next row: P2tog. Fasten off. With RS of work facing, slip next 21 (21-23-27) sts onto a st holder. Knit to last 2 sts. Sl1. K1. psso.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 5 (6-6-6) rows, AT THE SAME TIME, continue dec 1 st at raglan edge on every following alt row from previous dec until there are 2 sts.
Next row: P2tog. Fasten off.

Sleeves

With A and smaller needles cast on 43 (47-51-53) sts.
Purl 2 rows. Break A.
Next 2 rows: With MC, knit, inc 6 sts evenly across last row. 49 (53-57-59) sts.
Sizes M and XL only: With MC, beg with a knit row, work (6-4) rows stocking st.
All Sizes: Proceed in stripe pat as follows: 1st to 5th rows: With larger needles, work Chart III in stocking st to end of chart, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right noting 20 st rep will be worked twice.
6th to 12th rows: With smaller needles and MC, beg with a purl row, work in stocking st.
These 12 rows form stripe pat.
Continue in stripe pat until 10 (10-11- 11) reps of stripe pat have been worked, AT THE SAME TIME inc 1 st each end of needle on following 4th rows from previous inc until there are 83 (91-97-99) sts, taking inc sts into stripe pat.
All sizes will end on a 12th row of stripe pat.
Shape raglan: Keeping cont of stripe pat, cast off 3 (4-4-4) sts beg next 2 rows. 77 (83-89-91) sts.
Dec 1 st each end of needle on next 9 rows. 59 (65-71-73) sts.
Work 1 row even, ending on a 12th row of stripe pat.
Work Chart IV to end of chart noting a dec will be worked at each end of first row and every following alt row. 23 (29-35-37) sts.
With MC, continue in stocking st dec 1 st each end of needle every following alt row from previous dec until there are 13 (9-11-13) sts.
Size S only: Dec 1 st each end of needle on next 2 rows. 9 sts.
Sizes M, L and XL only: Purl 1 row.
Leave these sts on a st holder.

Finishing

Pin all garment pieces to measurement. Cover with a damp cloth leaving to dry.
Sew raglan seams leaving left back raglan seam open.
Collar: With RS of work facing, smaller needles and MC, K9 (9- 11-13) from left sleeve st holder.
Pick up and knit 9 (12-14-14) sts down Left Front neck edge. K21 (21-23-27) across front st holder.
Pick up and knit 9 (12-14-14) sts up Right Front neck edge. K9 (9- 11-13) from right sleeve st holder.
K35 (37-39-43) across back st holder. 92 (100-112-124) sts.
Work 7 ins [18 cm] in (K2. P2) ribbing. Cast off in ribbing. Place markers on each side of Collar 4 ins [10 cm] from cast off edge.
Sew left back raglan and Collar seam, reversing seam for turnback at markers. Sew side and sleeve seams.