Barren Strawberry sweater is inspired by Chinese barren strawberry flowers.
Lightweight and soft Barren Strawberry sweater is a perfect transitional garment. Modern fit – oversized with pleasant drape, together with big intarsia flowers – reminiscent of vintage designs, create a statement piece.
For each size the flowers were drawn individually, so no matter what size you wear intarsia will be proportional and will give you a desired look.
Designed with only two colors in mind this sweater provides an opportunity to experiment with color combinations in a safe way. It can be light with bright flowers or it can be dark with fair flowers. It can be anything you want. The options are endless and in the end you will end up with a sweater that is uniquely yours.
For this sweater there is a complete video tutorial:

Sample on photos is in size M on a model with a 35’’ (88 cm) bust circumference and 11.5‘’ (29 cm) upper arm circumference.

Difficulty level
Advanced beginner, intermediate, experienced

Techniques used
Knit, purl, working in the round on circular needles, working small circumferences in the round on DPNs/with magic loop or with two circulars, decreases, intarsia, working from intarsia chart, German short rows, Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy bind off, mattress seam or crochet seam, grafting, crochet cast on (optional).

Sizes
S (M, L) (XL, 2XL) (3XL, 4XL)
Chose a size with approximately 12-15’’ (30-38 cm) of positive ease at chest.

Yarn
Sport or light DK weight – 385-420 yds (350-400 m) per 100 g
Do not use superwash yarns. The sweater will end up too heavy for this shoulder construction. Use lightweight yarns.

Gauge
23 sts and 30 rows = 4’’ (10 cm) on US 6 (4 mm) needles

Needles
US 6 (4 mm) long circulars or straight needles for body
US 6 (4 mm) 16’’ (40 cm) for sleeves
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 16’’ (40 cm) circular needle for neckband
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) DPNs, long circulars for magic loop or two circulars for cuffs

Approximate yardage
When getting yarn, pay more attention to yards or meters than to grams – it is a safer way to get enough. Different yarns can have very different amount of yards or meters in the ball of the same weight, despite being of a similar thickness. The way the yarn is constructed plays a huge role here. Blow yarns for example are usually very lightweight, and will have much more yards or meters in them compared to plied yarns.
Size S
Background color – 290 g – 1218 yds / 1160 m
Flowers color – 25 g – 105 yds / 100 m
Size M
Background color – 300 g – 1260 yds / 1200 m
Flowers color – 25 g – 105 yds / 100 m
Size L
Background color – 310 g – 1302 yds / 1240 m
Flowers color – 25 g – 105 yds / 100 m
Size XL
Background color – 315 g – 1323 yds / 1260 m
Flowers color – 30 g – 126 yds / 120 m
Size 2XL
Background color – 325 g – 1365 yds / 1300 m
Flowers color – 30 g – 126 yds / 120 m
Size 3XL
Background color – 340 g – 1428 yds / 1360 m
Flowers color – 30 g – 126 yds / 120 m
Size 4XL
Background color – 355 g – 1491 yds / 1420 m
Flowers color – 35 g – 147 yds / 140 m

Notions
Stitch markers, tapestry needle to weave in ends, stitch holders or waste yarn.
Optional - US G6 (4 mm) crochet hook for casting on.

Finished Measurements
Sweater circumference at the chest
48 (50, 52) (54, 56) (58, 60)’’ / 120 (125, 130) (135, 140) (145, 150) cm
Sweater length from the top of the shoulder
22.5 (22.5, 22.5) (22.75, 22.75) (23, 23)’’ / 56 (56, 56) (56.5, 56.5) (57, 57) cm
Center to end of the sleeve
31.75 (32, 32.25) (32.25, 32.5) (32.5, 32.5)’’ / 79.5 (80, 81) (81, 81.5) (81.5, 81.5) cm
Upper sleeve circumference
15.25 (16, 16.75) (17.5, 18) (18.5, 19)’’ / 38 (40, 41.5) (43.5, 45) (46, 47.5) cm

Pattern Notes
Barren Strawberry sweater pattern is accompanied by a complete video tutorial for each step of the process.
Body of a sweater is knit in pieces bottom up. Work starts with a crochet cast on for the bottom hem. (Other cast on method may be used depending on knitter’s preference). The back is in plain stockinette. Front has an intarsia design that is worked from a chart. For each size the chart is unique, so the flower design is proportional. Print out the two page chart for your chosen size and cut off a side margin on one of the pages. Then glue this page to the margin of another page, aligning the chart in a process. If you prefer to work from the screen, there is a separate document with big charts in color.
Neck opening is shaped with bound off stitches and decreases. The shoulder slopes are shaped with German short rows. Shoulder stitches are left live for future grafting.
When the front of the sweater is complete all the ends that are left after executing intarsia should be woven in at that point.
Before grafting of the shoulders and seaming of the sides it is advisable to steam block or wet block both front and back panels.
For the side seams you may use mattress stitch or crochet seam, depending on your preference. Crochet seam is demonstrated in a video tutorial.
After assembling the body the next step is to knit a neckband.
Sleeves are knitted last. Stitches for them picked up from the edges of armholes. Then the sleeves are knitted in the round and shaped with decreases.
For your entertainment there is a Project Vlog on YouTube about the birth of this sweater and pattern for it!

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