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Hyphenated may be a grammatical term, but in this sweater, hyphens are generated by mathematics. In its early stages, the colorwork chart for this design was complicated and messy, but once I allowed the math to conduct the show, the colorwork pattern began to take shape and formed the vertical hyphens naturally. I love how they dance around the neck and shoulders in waves.

Yet Hyphenated wanted more than a geometric yoke: it craved texture! Beginning early in the yoke, small groupings of purled stitches branch out to the body, where they expand into true, horizontal hyphens for a fun allover texture. A texture chart is worked for both the body and sleeves, and there are two style options for the sleeves: balloon (shown left) and tapered. See testers’ projects for tapered sleeve pictures.

Hyphenated is seamless and its construction is entirely top-down. One set of short rows raises the back of the neck, while a second, optional set lowers the back bottom edge of the sweater. The fit can be loose or more fitted depending on the size chosen. The sample pictured at left and throughout the pattern uses portions of five mini skeins to fade through the yoke.

Note: I steeked my second sample (shown at left in teal and yellow). Detailed steeking tutorial is up on my blog at knitosophy.com, but keep in mind that this version is untested and not included in the pattern.

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

SKILLS REQUIRED

Knitting in the round, stranded colorwork, knitting in small circumferences

SIZING

All of my patterns are #sizeinclusive.

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

To fit: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44) (48, 52, 56, 60, 64) in / 70 (80, 90, 100, 110) (120, 130, 140, 150, 160) cm bust

Finished bust circumference:
33.25 (36.5, 41.25, 44.5, 49.25) (52.5, 57.25, 60.5, 65.25, 68.5) in / 83 (91.5, 103, 111.5, 123) (131.5, 143, 151.5, 163, 171.5) cm

Intended to fit with 4.5-5.25 in/11.5-13 cm of positive ease. Size up for a looser fit; size down for a tighter fit. I have a 36 in/90 cm bust and am wearing a size 41.25 in/103 cm in the photos.

SEE SCHEMATIC AT LEFT FOR MORE SIZING INFO.

GAUGE

28 sts and 36 rounds in 4 inches/10 cm of Texture Chart with main needles, blocked

28 sts and 34 rounds in 4 inches/10 cm of Colorwork Chart with main needles, blocked

32 sts and 42 rounds in 4 inches/10 cm in ribbing with ribbing needles, blocked

NOTIONS

Marker, darning needle, and scrap yarn for sleeves

NEEDLES

Ribbing: 16” US 1.5/2.5 mm circulars or greater (and DPN’s for cuffs if not using magic loop), or size needed to obtain gauge

Ribbing: 32” or greater 24” US 1.5/2.5 mm may be desired for hem and cuffs if using magic loop

Bind-off (optional): US 4/3.5 mm needle for binding off loosely

Main: 24” US 3/3.25 mm circulars or size needed to obtain gauge (and DPN’s for sleeves if not using magic loop)

Main: 32” or greater US 3/3.25 mm circulars may be desired for body and sleeves

YARN

Any light fingering yarn. A list of other yarns that have been used to knit this pattern (including more affordable options) are given in the Suggested Yarn category above.

La Bien Aimee Super Sock (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon), fingering weight

3 (4, 4, 4, 4) (5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins of MC (467 yds/425m/100 g per skein)

1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) mini skein of CC1 and CC2 (93 yds/85 m/20 g per mini skein)
1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) mini skeins of CC3
1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) mini skeins of CC4
1 (1, 1, 1, 2) (2, 2, 2, 2, 2) mini skeins of CC5

THE YARDAGE, METERS AND GRAMS FOR HYPHENATED ARE CLARIFIED IN THE TABLE IN THE PHOTOS AT LEFT. ALL AMOUNTS INCLUDE A 10% BUFFER. TOTAL MC YARDAGE IS PROVIDED FOR BOTH THE BALLOON SLEEVE AND TAPERED SLEEVE OPTION. IF USING ONLY ONE COLOR FOR THE CC, REFER TO THE TOTAL AMOUNTS BELOW EACH CC SECTION.