Alyssum

Knitting
July 2022
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches
in garter and rib pattern
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 9 - 5.5 mm
722 - 1564 yards (660 - 1430 m)
6 dual sizes from 80cm/31.5in chest to 165cm/65in chest
English
This pattern is available from natalieinstitches.com for £15.00.

Alyssum is a textured knit sweater pattern with several variations.  The inverted trapeze neckband is a close fit, designed to flatter the face, and the loose-fitting sleeves make layering easy.  The stitch pattern is a crowd-pleasing blend of rib and garter stitch, so this will be a satisfyingly intuitive project!

You can mix and match the body and sleeve options to suit your personal style and the climate in which you live.  Or, you can knit two versions in different yarns or fibres to suit the passing seasons.  The photographed samples show the cropped body with long sleeves, and the regular body with short sleeves, but this isn’t the full story!  You can also create:

a classic sweater by combining the regular body and longer sleeves;
a cute cropped top by using the cropped body and short sleeves;
a tank top by dropping the sleeves altogether and only knitting the back and front.

The choice is all yours!

As an extra bonus, there are no curved seams whatsoever in this design.  This means that you don’t have to worry about picking up stitches around curves or setting in sleeves.  The sleeves are an unusual semi-raglan cut, which confers freedom of movement AND the fitted benefit of a set-in sleeve.  The depth of the sleeve inset also reduces the discomfort of several shoulder seams when layering clothes.  The cuffs are comfortably loose for the same reason.

Both body variations feature side seam shaping, which is more subtle in the regular variation.  The sweater is constructed in pieces from the bottom up, with the front and back joined via a 3-needle cast-off.  The sleeves are set in flat, matching the straight edges, and the side seams of the body and sleeves are joined in one go.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
Directional decreasing (ssk, k2tog, ssp, p2tog)
3-needle cast-off
Make 1 style increases (M1L, M1R)
CDD (central double decrease)

Alyssum is available in 6 dual sizes.  Please see the schematic drawing and measurements table for further information.