The Mermaid by HJ Kim Otsuki

The Mermaid

Knitting
March 2026
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
1258 - 2406 yards (1150 - 2200 m)
9 sizes
English
This pattern is available for C$10.00.

in testing, tester code - TEST-HKO-AC3DTD
PATTERN COMING SOON

This sweater began with a happy accident at the library. I was sitting in a sunny chair, flipping through knitting books, when I discovered the Carpe stitch in Twisted Stitch Sourcebook by Norah Gaughan—and instantly fell in love. My mind started racing with ideas for how I might use it.
Toward the back of the book, I came across a sample sweater with garter rib that reminded me of a fin. In that moment, the whole design clicked into place: a mermaid sweater.

Although top-down construction is very popular, the beautifully rounded lower portion of the Carpe stitch motif couldn’t be recreated in a top-down direction while preserving the natural, fish-scale flow of the pattern. After knitting two prototypes, I chose a bottom-up construction instead.
To keep the sweater from feeling overcrowded, I balanced the richly textured lower body with a plainer upper body. For a soft, romantic feel, I added balloon sleeves. The two contrasting sections are defined by the Vikkel braid, creating a clear and intentional visual transition.

KEYWORDS TEXTURED, BOTTOM UP, IN-THE-ROUND, RAGLAN, BALOON SLEEVE, CARP ST, GARTER RIB, VIKKEL BRAID

YARN Oliver, The Knitting Loft, 100% non-super wash merino, 218yds/199m, 100g, semi-solid, tonals,
approx. 575, 615, 650, 700, 750, 800, 900,1000, 1100 g
sample in photo col. Vintage Pink used 628g of Oliver, excluding swatches

NEEDLES 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle for sleeve & neck garter rib
4.5mm / US 7circular needle for Carp stitch
4 mm / US 6 circular needle for stockinette and bottom garter rib
4mm / US 6 DPN (optional) for grafting underarm

GAUGE Carpe St 22 st x 29 - 30 rows = 10x10 cm on 4.5mm / US 7
Garter Rib 22 st x 34 rows = 10 x 10 cm on 4 mm / US 6
Stockinette 20 st x 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm on 4 mm / US 6

SIZES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
96,103, 110, 118, 125, 133, 140, 148, 155 cm / 37.5, 40.5, 43.25, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61”) Finished chest circumference: after blocking