Milana by Jennifer Wood

Milana

Knitting
April 2014
DK (11 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette Stitch
US 5 - 3.75 mm
1003 - 1804 yards (917 - 1650 m)
Finished bust: 30.75 (33.5, 36.25, 39.5, 42.5, 45.5, 48.25, 51.5, 54.25, 57, 60.25)". Modeled size is 33.5 with a half inch a negative ease.
English
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This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

The name Milana has many origins with different meanings. I picked this name because I thought several were fitting for the design. The Sanskirt origin means joining together like the single cables from the neckline join together to form the double cable on the front. The Spanish origin means miracle of the blessed virgin and light. I had quite the time writing the instructions for the neckline of this design, but miraculously I accomplished it. Although it does not have a Italian origin, Milan is both a city and a province in Italy; Milana brings to mind grace and sophistication reminiscent of its inspiration which is expressed in this design. The beautiful cables in this design are built upon an eight stitch left crossed cable arranged in certain ways. As one of the tester’s so eloquently put it “I love that the whole pattern is like a meditation on a single cable… how one simple twist can create many different design elements”.
The neckline of this pattern can be tricky but once you get to the raglan increases it is pretty straight forward. This sweater is a compound raglan constructed from the top down in one piece. The compound raglan allows for a more flattering fit because the rate of increase varies to more accurately follow the shape of the body. It increases more rapidly between the neck and shoulders and at the end to curve around the underarm, but more gradually in the section in between. The length of the body and sleeves are easily adjusted.

I have posted notes and answers to questions in the Milana KAL thread in the Woodhouseknits Group here.

Sizes:
Finished bust: 30.75 (33.5, 36.25, 39.5, 42.5, 45.5, 48.25, 51.5, 54.25, 57, 60.25)“. Modeled size is 33.5 with a half inch a negative ease.
Materials:
Yarns: Shibui Staccato, 65% superwash merino, 30% silk, 5% nylon; 191 yds per 50g skein; color: #11 Tar, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10) skeins, 921 (1003, 1086, 1183, 1273, 1363, 1445, 1542, 1625, 1706, 1804) yds.
Shibui Pebble, 48% silk, 36% merino, 16% casmere; 330 yds per 25g skein; color #11 Tar, 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins, 921 (1003, 1086, 1183, 1273, 1363, 1445, 1542, 1625, 1706, 1804) yds.
Needles: Size 5/3.75mm 24” (or longer) circular needle and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed needles.
Other: Stitch markers, locking stitch markers, waste yarn, tapestry needle.
Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” in Stockinette Stitch. 28-st Double Cable = 3” wide when blocked. 14-st Single Cable = 1.75” wide when blocked.

Notes: This sweater is a compound raglan constructed from the top down in one piece. The compound raglan allows for a more flattering fit because the rate of increase varies to more accurately follow the shape of the body. It increases more rapidly between the neck and shoulders and at the end to curve around the underarm, but more gradually in the section in between. There is no body shaping past the armholes; the cable panels add some natural shaping. The length of the body and sleeves are easily adjusted.

The neck band is worked first, then the yoke stitches are picked up from the long edge along the selvedge stitch.

There are a lot of markers used in this pattern to make the instructions more clear; you certainly do not have to use them all. I would suggest using different colors for the cable panels and raglan stitches.

Once the yoke is begun, the stitch counts are given
for the Stockinette stitches only, unless stated
otherwise, since the stitch count for the cables
remain constant. This way you do not have to
subtract the cable stitches from the total when
checking your stitch numbers.

If using two finger weight yarns hold a strand of each together throughout pattern, If using a dk weight use a single strand.