Rita’s Quilted Sweater is a drop shoulder crewneck sweater that combines stockinette, reverse stockinette, and seed stitch squares for a beautifully textured, quilt-inspired fabric.
Construction details:

• The shoulders are shaped by starting at the back of the neck and increasing to full width, then working flat to shape the back armholes.
• The front chest panels are picked up from each shoulder and worked individually to shape the neckline and front armholes.
• Once complete, the front and back panels are joined and worked in the round to the desired length with faux I-cord side seams.
• The sleeves are picked up and begun with an applied I-cord and completed with stockinette with a faux I-cord seam running on the underside.
• The neckline features an applied I-cord to frame the crewneck for the 2x2 ribbing while the hem, and cuffs are finished with 2x2 ribbing, and an I-cord bind-off.

Pattern is fully charted with written instructions provided per chart.

Includes Knitter Swatch-Based Size Selection Guidance
This pattern features detailed instructions for choosing a size based on your swatch, allowing flexibility for variations in yarn thickness and stitch/row gauge. With guided, informative notes, you are guided to make a confident, informed decision on sizing to achieve your desired fit.

Schematics

Sizes: 1, (2, 3) 4, (5, 6)

Sample is worked in size 2, bust is 35”.

Dual Sizing
Sizes to fit busts: 28 - 33 (34 - 39, 40 - 46, 47 - 52) 53 - 58 (59 - 64)” or 71 - 81 (84 - 99, 102 - 117, 119 - 135) 137 - 150 (152 - 165) cm

Ease: Positive Ease of 4 - 9” or 10 - 23 cm

Finished Bust Circumference: 37.25 (43.5, 49.75, 56) 62.25 (68.5)” or 95 (110.5, 126.5, 142) 158 (174) cm

Finished Length (Shoulder to Hem): 17.5 (19, 20.25, 21.5) 23 (25.5)” or 45 (48, 51.5, 55) 58.5 (64.5) cm

Sleeve Circumference (at widest): 15.25 (16.25, 18, 19) 20.5 (21.5)” or 39 (41, 46, 48) 52.5 (55) cm

Sleeve Length: 19.25” or 49 cm (all sizes)

Cuff: 9” or 23 cm (all sizes)

Crewneck: 19” or 48 cm (all sizes)

Body Length, sleeve circumference & length can be customized

Materials
US 7 / 4.5 mm 16”, 24” and/or 40” circular needles (for body, hem and armholes) or needles used to obtain gauge.
US 5 / 3.75 mm 16”, 24” and/or 40” circular needles or 2 sizes smaller than needles used for the body.
Removable & regular stitch markers
Tapestry Needle

Skills Needed
Slipped stitches
Applied I-cord & I-cord bind off
Reading charts
Increasing on RS & WS
Picking up stitches
Grafting

Gauge

4” by 4” in Quilt Square Stitch/Blocked = 18 stitches by 30 rows

4” x 4” in Stockinette / Blocked = 18 sts by 25 rows

Textured stitches can shift depending on the yarn or blocking; Stockinette gauge is provided as a secondary check. It helps confirm your overall tension before committing to selected yarn.

Swatching Tip: Knit a swatch slightly bigger than the gauge to achieve an accurate swatch.

Yarn

Medium/Aran Weight Yarn: 100 g / 152 yds / 139 m

596 (687, 788, 890) 1011 (1168) grams
906 (1044, 1198, 1353) 1537 (1775) yards
828 (955, 1095, 1237) 1405 (1623) meters

To knit with the exact yarn as the sample:
1 strand of Malabrigo Rios and 1 strand of Isager Alpaca 2 were used. The weight of each strand is listed below, however, the yardage of EACH yarn listed below must equal the total yardage/meters listed above.

Malabrigo Rios: 431 (497, 570, 644) 732 (845) grams
Isager Alpaca 2: 166 (191, 219, 248) 281 (325) grams

Yardage needed for up to a 6x6” swatch has been factored in.
If you choose to knit a longer sweater, you will need additional yardage per inch of length:

Malabrigo Rios: 25 (28, 29, 32) 33 (36) grams / 52 (58, 61, 66) 70 (76) yards
Isager Alpaca 2: 10 (11, 12, 13) 14 (15) grams / 52 (58, 61, 66) 70 (76) yards