About the pattern
I’ve now long been fascinated with using short-rows to create motifs on my garments, but couldn’t figure out a good way to make them look down from the neckline…
This is the first successful attempt at making a lefy necklace, that in my eyes ended up looking a bit like a mistletoe wreath, therefore the name.
(The fact that it’s coming out in English right before Christmas is more of a coincidence, but definitely a happy one!)

Construction
Mistletoe is a sweater with classic fit (~5% positive ease at the bust) and decorative print at the front of the yoke. It is knit mainly top-down in the round with minimal seaming and purling.

• Start with circular yoke (flat sideways in garter stitch, using short-rows for shaping and creating the print).
• Pick up sts from the yoke, raise the back for a better fit and separate for the body & sleeves. Knit the body top-down in the round. You can choose if you want the body and sleeves in regular or reverse stockinette (minimal purling!). Basic instructions assume straight body, but there is additional guidance on A-line shaping/ tailored fit.
• In addition, adult sizes №3-14 have instructions for horizontal bust darts (optional, but highly recommended for better fit).
• Finish with sleeves, which have 2 shape options: 1) Bishop (flared towards the bottom, then cinched at the cuff). You can also skip cinching at the end to get bell-shaped sleeves instead, if you prefer; 2) Straight (slightly tapered).
• All edges (neckline, hem and cuffs) are decorated with an I-cord (applied along the neck, bind-off for cuffs & main body) – either in main or contrast color, based on personal preference.

Sizing and yardage - see further details in a table and schematic in the pattern photos
• 8 children sizes: 1year – 13-15 years or 52-78cm/20-31” bust circumference//86cm-164cm/2’8”-5’5” height
• 14 adult sizes: 1, 2 /3, 4, 5/ 6, 7 {8, 9 /10, 11, 12/ 13, 14} or 86-153cm/32-60” bust circumference,
166-170cm/5’5”-5’7” height (additional guidance on height adjustment provided)

Yarn
(Heavy) fingering weight wool (350-420m/380-455 yds per 100g/3.5oz) in 2 colors: main (MC) + 1 (or multiple) contrast color/s (CC).
Avoid 100% superwash merino or alpaca as MC, as they tend to sag by 15%+.
The sample was knit out of 100% Italian cashmere as MC and Madeline Tosh Merino Light as CC.

Testers have successfully used following yarns:

• Schachenmayr ‘Regia 4-ply’
• Knit Picks ‘Palette’
• Fyberspates ‘Faery Wings’
• Gazzal ‘Baby wool’

Needles

• Main: 3.5mm/US4 (or size to get stockinette gauge) circulars on a 40-100cm/16-40” cable, depending on the size worked + DPNs for the sleeves, if you prefer them to magic loop (for magic loop take 1 size larger needles);
• Smaller: 3mm/US2.5 (or size to get garter gauge) 60 cm/24” circulars (or straights) for the garter yoke and same cable length as the main ones for the I-cords.

Notions
Waste yarn, crochet hook, stitch markers, stitch holders, row counter, tape measure, tapestry needle, scissors; for children sizes up to and including 6-7 y.o. – 1 button (~8-12mm/ ¼-½” in diameter)

Gauge (per 10cm/4” square after wet-blocking)

• Stockinette: 24 stitches by 34 rows – on main needles;
• Garter stitch: 22 stitches by 46 rows – on smaller needles.

Pattern co-author, tech-editor and translator - Olga Barshai (gingerhandcrafts)

Should you need any pattern support, please, contact the designer via MrsKnowall Ravelry Group