Pattern Details

Difficulty: Intermediate

The Damedame (da-may-da-may) Sweater is inspired by Ghanaian Kente Cloth, in particular the Checkboard Motif - Damedame. The Damedame motif is a symbol of wisdom,strategy and intelligence.

The Damedame Sweater is an all over colourwork raglan designed with 10cm of positive ease, to give a slightly relaxed fit.
The pattern begins at the neckline with ribbing and a folded collar. Optional German short rows are worked into the ribbing to add some additional length to the back of your sweater. The colourwork chart and raglan increases are worked until you have finished the yoke of your sweater. Next the sleeves are put on hold and the body is worked using the same pattern repeat. You can then work the remainder of the body of your sweater, finishing with a 1x1 ribbed tubular off. You will then pick up the sleeve stitches and work the sleeves in pattern until wrist length. Then you will do a rapid decrease round to create a balloon sleeve with 1x1 ribbing, finishing your sleeves with a 1x1 tubular bind off.

Ease
This pattern has been graded with 10cm - 15cm of positive ease. I would recommend picking the finished size which is as close as possible to 15cm larger than your bust size

Sample 1 (Green) is a Size 3, with 11cm Positive ease
Sample 2 (Brown) is a Size 4 with 18cm Positive ease

Finished Bust sizes in cm & inches

Sizes: 1(2,3,4,5)6,7,8,9

84.5cm (93.5cm, 102cm, 111cm, 124.5cm)138cm, 146cm, 155.5cm, 169cm

33in (37in, 41in, 46in, 50in)53in, 57in, 62in, 66

Finished Upper Arm Circumference

29cm (31cm ,33.5cm ,38cm ,40cm)44.5cm, 46.5cm, 51cm, 53.5cm

11.5in (12.5in ,13.25in ,15in ,16in)17.75in ,18.75in , 20.5in ,21.25in

Finished Yoke Depth

23.5cm (24.5cm, 24.5cm ,25.5cm ,26.5cm)26.5cm ,28cm, 28.5cm, 28.5cm

9.25in (9.75in, 9.75in, 10.25in ,10.5in)10.5in ,11in, 11.5in, 11.5in

Full Garment Length

56cm (57.5cm ,57.5cm ,58cm, 58cm)58cm ,59.5,cm, 60cm, 60cm

22.5in (23in ,23in ,23.25in ,23.25in)23.25in ,23.75in , 24in ,24in

See also the schematic in the pictures for full measurements

Yarn requirements in meters and yards

All quantities below are approximate and based on: meeting gauge, doing a swatch and a small margin for different knitting styles. Therefore if your size just tips over to requiring another skein of yarn you might want to consider if you can reuse your swatch yarn.

Sample Yarn
Weku Yarn Merino Sock base - 100% NSW Merino, 400m per 100g.

You will need a fingering weight yarn, 400m per 100g – or similar yarn to get the correct gauge.

Approximate Yardage:

MC
782 (854, 918, 1010, 1103)1219, 1307, 1404, 1488 m
855 (934, 1004, 1105, 1206)1333, 1429, 1535, 1627 yds
2 (3, 3, 3, 3)3, 4, 4, 4 balls

CC1
273 (298, 320, 351, 383)422, 452, 486, 514 m
299 (326, 350, 384, 419)462, 494, 531, 562 yds
1 (1, 1, 1, 1)2, 2, 2, 2 balls

CC2
213 (232, 249, 273, 297)327, 350, 376, 397 m
233 (254, 272, 299, 325)358, 383, 411, 434 yds
1 (1, 1, 1, 1)1, 1, 1, 1 balls

CC3
196 (213, 228, 250, 272)300, 320, 343, 363 m
214 (233, 249, 273, 297)328, 350, 375, 397] yds
1 (1, 1, 1, 1)1, 1, 1, 1 balls

Needles

• 2.75mm (US 2 ) circular Needles for ribbing and cuffs
• 3.5mm (US 4) circular Needles for the main body and sleeves

Length of circular needles, 24cm, 40cm, 60cm, 80cm ( 9”, 16”, 24”, 32”).

For the neckline, sleeves and cuffs, if you don’t have a 24cm short circular needle, you can either use the magic loop method or you will need DPNs in 2.75mm (US ) and 3.5mm (US 4)

Notions

• 8 Stitch markers
• Tapestry Needle
• Tape measure
• Blocking mats and pins
• Scrap yarn/spare cable wire to hold your sleeve stitches

Special Techniques

• German Short rows
• Stranded Colourwork
• Tubular bind off
• Increasing in established pattern

Many thanks to Faye Perriam-Reed for tech editing this pattern and thank you to all the wonderful Damedame testers!