Deeply textured honeycomb cables decorate the body and outer sleeves of this topdown seamless sweater. Victorian references style the bell shaped silhouette, with a high neck, slim sleeves, and fluted hem. Compound raglan shaping ensures a good fit for all sizes, while waist shaping further refines the silhouette.
Construction: Honeydip is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction, in a textured honeycomb cable pattern on the front, back, and along the outer sleeves, with smooth stockinette at the body side panels and undersleeves. Compound raglan shaping, in which the rate of body and sleeve increases varies depending upon size, is used to ensure a good fit across the entire size range. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the front and back neck are shaped with short rows, then the body is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked with gentle shaping to the fluted ribbed hem which flows smoothly from the cables. Sleeves are then continued to the ribbed cuffs; shaping takes place on body and sleeves in the stockinette sections, to avoid interrupting the cable panels. Stitches are picked up for the neckband and worked in ribbing to match the hem and cuffs.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cables, German short rows, picking up stitches. Pattern instructions are fully written, with charts also provided for cable pattern and increases; a link to my short row tutorials is included.
Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” bust; sample shown in fifth size, worn with 3” of positive ease.
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic (100% fine American wool; 180 yards/165m/58g), shown in Purple Rain 8951; 6 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins, or approximately 1050 (1125, 1175, 1250, 1350, 1425, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1775, 1925, 2050, 2200, 2300) yards of DK weight wool yarn.
Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 24” and 32” circular needle or size to match gauge, and US 6 dpns for sleeves and neckband if not using Magic Loop; Stitch markers (8) color A for raglan lines, and (4) color B for sleeve cable panel; Stitch holders (2); Cable needle; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 26 st and 30 rounds/4” in honeycomb stitch pattern, and 22 st and 30 rounds/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
