Orbits by Rachel Illsley

Orbits

Knitting
November 2021
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 38 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 2 - 2.75 mm
1288 - 2285 yards (1178 - 2089 m)
XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
English Spanish
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Orbits is the fourth design in my Einaudi Collection – a collection of knitwear patterns inspired by pieces of music written by Ludovico Einaudi. Orbits features stranded colourwork through the majority of the yoke and into the upper body and sleeves, with patterns that capture the mysterious, repetitive yet delicate essence of the music.

SAMPLE
The wearer is 5’10” in height with a chest circumference of 37”/ 92.5cm. The sample is size L, giving the wearer 8” / 20cm positive ease at the chest. An extra 1” / 2.5cm have been worked into the sleeves and body to allow for the wearer’s height.

SIZING GUIDE
This garment is graded into sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). Recommended positive ease is 4-8” / 10-20cm at the chest.
Chest Circumference: 36 (39, 42, 45, 51) (54, 60, 63, 66)“ / 90 (97.5, 105, 112.5, 127.5) (135, 150, 157.5, 165) cm.

GAUGE
Using 3.25mm / US size 3 needles, or needle size required to meet gauge, 24 stitches over 38 rounds in stockinette stitch, blocked, creates a 4x4”/10x10cm square.

YARN
The sample has been worked using Kokon Yarn’s 100% Superwash Merino fingering-weight base (320m / 350yds per 100g) using colourway Moon as the main colour and Space as the contrast colour.

YARDAGE (includes ~10% excess)
MC: 963 (1036, 1109, 1242, 1345) (1471, 1529, 1679, 1725) metres / 1054 (1133, 1213, 1359, 1472) (1609, 1672, 1836, 1887) yards / 300 (324, 346, 388, 420) (460, 478, 525, 539) grams.
CC: 215 (227, 243, 268, 292) (315, 317, 352, 364) metres / 236 (249, 266, 294, 320) (345, 346, 385, 398) yards / 67 (71, 76, 84, 91) (98, 99, 110, 114) grams.

TOOLS & NOTIONS
3.25mm / US size 3 circular needles (varying cable lengths would be helpful to suit yoke, body and sleeves)
2.75mm / US size 2 circular needles (varying cable lengths would be helpful to suit neckband, waistband and cuffs)
1 marker
scrap yarn

SKILLS REQUIRED
-long tail cast on
-joining in the round
-twisted ribbing
-increasing using right and left lifted increases
-reading colourwork charts
-working stranded colourwork with two colours
-separating yoke stitches into body and sleeve stitches
-cable cast on
-working a regular pattern of decreases (using K2tog and SSK)
-standard bind off

PLEASE NOTE
The short row shaping gives a MAXIMUM number of repeats to work, but you do not necessarily need to work all short rows stated. (This is also mentioned in the pattern, but may have been overlooked or missed by some.) Personally I like to work all the short rows due to broad shoulders and a slightly rounded upper back, but others may find fewer short rows creates a better fit for them.

If you are concerned about the fit around the neck, I recommend using a provisional cast on to cast on the number of stitches needed for the start of the colourwork for your size, work the the garment from the start of the colourwork, then once complete, go back to the provisional cast on and work the neckband to achieve the fit you want.