To celebrate the launch of this new MERICA 100% American Rambouillet untreated wool, I am happy to offer this pattern FREE of charge ♥ Enjoy!!

This sweater was my vacation project in Cape May during the summer of 2023. I left with 5 beautiful skeins of the new Merica wool in my luggage and returned with this sweater and many great memories!

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YARN
PatricKnits MERICA 100% Merino Rambouillet untreated, 411 m (450 yds) / 100g - 394 (480, 575, 673, 792, 914, 1028, 1145, 1232) grams.

To knit a version identical to the picture above, you will need these 5 colors in the following quantities:
A - BLUEBERRY FIELD : 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3)
B - CAMAIEU: 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3)
C - PAPAYA: 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3)
D - ORANGE: 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3)
E - WITHOUT YOU : 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3)

You could also opt for a total of 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13) skeins in the colors of your choice!

NEEDLES
Main fabric: 3.5 mm (US#6) circular needles - 80 cm (32”) or + for the cable (or the needle size needed to obtain the gauge) and the type of needles preferred for knitting a small circumference in the round.

Ribs: 3 mm (US#4) circular needles - 80 cm (32”) or + for the cable (or .5 mm less than the size required for the main fabric) and the type of needles preferred for knitting a small circumference in the round.

ACCESSORIES
Stitch holder or waste yarn to hold stitches for sleeves.
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Scale for weighing yarn (optional)

GAUGE
23 stitches & 36 rows = 10 cm; 4” knitted with 3.5 mm needles, in stockinette and with yarn doubled before blocking.

21.5 stitches & 31 rows = 10 cm; 4” knitted with 3.5 mm needles, in stockinette and with yarn doubled after blocking.

ATTENTION: Note that blocking adds about 5% to the width and about 15% to the length of the knitted fabric.

SIZES A (B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I)
Final bust circumference: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66)“ with a suggested positive ease of 10 cm; 4”. There is a schematic with more information on sizes available in the pattern.

NOTES
This sweater is knitted top-down and in the round. You can adjust the length of the body and sleeves as needed, keeping in mind that you will also need to adjust the amount of yarn required accordingly to knit the sweater.

USE OF COLORS
To lighten the text, the use of colors is explained below, and you’ll need to change your colors as you go along, following the model’s instructions.

This sweater is entirely worked by doubling 2 yarns and alternating colors, every 16 rounds, to form stripes where the colors blend together. You would, for example, use two strands of color A to knit one stripe (A & A), replace one of the two strand A with B to knit the next stripe (A & B), then use two strands of color B for the next stripe (B & B) and so on.

Therefore, I suggest winding your skeins into a “cake” so that you can use both ends of the yarn (the one coming out from the center of the ball and the other unwinding on the outside). This way, you can use both ends of the same ball when knitting the stripes with two strands of the same color.

Knit the neckline and short rows with A & A, then follow the sequence below:
16 rounds with A & B
16 rounds with B & B
16 rounds with B & C
16 rounds with C & C
16 rounds with C & D
16 rounds with D & D
16 rounds with D & A
16 rounds with A & A

Repeat the sequence from the beginning.

Note that this sequence is suggested for those who wish to knit a version identical to the illustrated pattern, but I still invite you to experiment with your own mix of colors and stripes. You could opt for a version with more or fewer colors, and change the order of the colors to suit your mood! Before knitting the first sleeve, the most important thing is to separate your remaining colors into two equal halves (a scale is recommended for this) so that you can knit an identical second sleeve

La version française de ce patron se trouve sur LesLainesBiscotte.com