This yarn is very difficult for figuring out gauge, being somewhere between aran and bulky. This was the only sweater I could find that I could even get close to gauge on, using one size smaller needle than suggested. When the swatch was washed it didn’t appear to make any changes in color or size, just a bit of fluffing out. The top down, simple construction will allow me some flexibility in sizing and shaping as I go. Here goes!

Mods for stitch chart:
I created a stitch pattern (link above) to run across the bottom of the sweater and began it after the first waist increase round. I added an extra increase in this round (center back) to bring the total stitch count to 120. This allowed me to knit the brown and red stitch band. Then I increased 4 stitches in the green band so I’d have a total of 124 stitches for the tan and white band. I did not increase again until after the tan and white band. In the following green band I increased one stitch to bring the total to 125 stitches for the final brown and red band. I then knit one green band and decreased a stitch back to 124 before beginning the 2x2 ribbing for the finish. I knit the body ribbing in the US9 needle to keep it loose. However, I plan to use the US8 for the neck ribbing.

Sleeve mods:
I want long sleeves so after looking through several other knitters’ modifications I knit about two inches (14 rows) and then decreased two stitches every 7 rows (Last two stitches of row 6: SSK, beginning of row 7: K1, K2G). I continued decreasing until I had 31 stitches, then instead of decreasing two on the next decrease round, I only decreased one to bring total stitches to 30. I then began color chart, doing the brown and read motif twice with a green stripe in between. Then I continued in Size 9 needles and finished with ribbing. Might have made a nicer finish with size 8 needles for sleeve ribbing. update: after wearing the sweater for a day I decided tighter ribbing would be good, so went back and redid the cuffs and body ribbing with the size 8 needles. much better!

Neck:
Picked up every other stitch and did use Size 8 for ribbing.

Other mods:
I used the KFB increase in the raglan to avoid the holes from a YO.

The total amount given for yarn used (477g) is for the entire finished project, weighed out. Most of the project is the turquoise yarn, but small amounts of the others are included in this total.

LOVE the finished result. The sweater is very comfy cozy and fits well for a bulky yarn. The color is amazing. A great easy pattern, well written and clear and easy to make modifications!