Free Sweater Pattern — Bonsai Shell

Other Materials:
Ring markers, tapestry needle, stitch holders or waste yarn
 
Gauge:
See Finished Dimensions for gauge information
 
Special Abbreviations:
- m1— make 1 lifted increase: pick up horizontal bar before next st onto LH needle from the front, then knit into the back of it.
 
Front:
 
With CC and double yarn for cast on only, cast on 90 (96, 102, 112, 122) sts. (Double yarn used for the tail for your cast on by pulling out twice as much yarn and folding it in half, then proceed to cast on.)
 
Change to MC and purl one row. C
 
Continue in St st until piece from beg measures 2 (2, 2, 2-1/2, 3)" [5 (5, 5, 6.5, 7.5) cm]. End having finished a RS row.
 
Next Row (WS): P30 (32, 34, 37, 40), pm; p30 (32, 34, 38, 42), pm; p30 (32, 34, 37, 40). (Markers are necessary to place darts.)

Waist Dart Shaping:
 
Row 1 (dec row) (RS): K to 2 sts before marker; k2tog, sl marker, k1, ssk; rep from * once; k to end.
 
Rows 2–6: Work in St st.
 
Rep Rows 1–6 three times more to 74 (80, 86, 96, 106) sts.
 
Work 6 rows even in St st.
 
Next Row (inc row) (RS): *K to marker; m1, sl marker; k1, m1; rep from * once; k to end.
 
Work 5 rows in St st.
 
Rep last 6 rows twice more to 86 (92, 98, 108, 118) sts.****
 
Continue in St st with no further increases until piece from beg measures 11 (11-1/2, 12, 13, 14-1/2)" [28 (29, 30.5, 33, 37) cm]. End having finished a WS row.

Bust Dart Shaping:
 
Row 1 (RS): K to last 6 sts, w&t.
 
Row 2: P to last 6 sts, w&t.
 
Row 3: K to last 9 sts, w&t.
 
Row 4: P to last 9 sts, w&t.
 
Row 5: K to last 12 sts, w&t.
 
Row 6: P to last 12 sts, w&t.
 
Continue in this manner (working 3 less sts in each row before w&t) until 7 sts have been wrapped on both sides. End having finished a WS row.
 
Next Row (RS): K across row, picking up wraps as you go. To pick up wraps on the knit side, insert RH needle into the wrap first, then into the next st and k the 2 sts tog.
 
Next Row: P across, picking up wraps. To pick up wraps on the purl side, pick up wrap from behind and place on LH needle, then p the 2 sts tog.
 
All shaping is complete.
 
Work even until piece from beg measures 12 (12-1/2, 13, 14, 15-1/2)" [30.5 (32, 33, 35.5, 39.5) cm]. End having finished a WS row. (Measure from the side edge.)

Armhole Shaping:
 
Bind off 3 sts at the beg of the next 2 rows. (Place a pin type marker somewhere in the middle of this row to help measure length of armhole).
 
Next Row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
 
Next Row: P.
 
Rep last 2 rows twice more to 74 (80, 86, 96, 106) sts.
 
Work 8 rows even in St st.
 
Change to CC and work in St st until total length of Armhole is 4-1/2 (5, 5-1/2, 6, 7)" [11.5 (12.5, 14, 15, 18) cm]. End having finished a WS row.

Right Neck Shaping:
 
Next Row (RS): Work across 56 (60, 65, 72, 80) sts; place last 38 (40, 44, 48, 54) sts just worked on a holder or waste yarn, work across remaining 18 (20, 21, 24, 26) sts.
 
Working on the Right Front only, continue:
 
Row 1 (WS): P.
 
Row 2 (dec row) (RS): K1, ssk, k to end.
 
Rep Rows 1 and 2 four (6, 6, 8, 8) times more to 13 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
 
***Work even if necessary until total length of Armhole is 7-1/2 (8, 8-1/2, 9, 10)" [19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5) cm]. End having finished a WS row.

Shoulder Shaping:
 
Next Row (RS): K10; w&t.
 
Next Row: P.
 
Next Row (RS): K6; w&t.
 
Next Row: P.
 
Next Row (RS): K all sts, picking up wraps as you go. Place sts on a holder or waste yarn. ***
 
Left Neck Shaping:
 
Join yarn on WS at neck edge.
 
Row 1 (WS): P.
 
Row 2: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
 
Rep Rows 1 and 2 four (6, 6, 8, 8) times more to 13 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
 
*Work even if necessary until total length of Armhole is 7-1/2 (8, 8-1/2, 9, 10)" [19 (20.5, 21.5, 23, 25.5) cm]. End having finished a RS row.
 
Shoulder Shaping:
 
Next Row (WS): P10; w&t.
 
Next Row: K.
 
Next Row (WS): P6; w&t
 
Next Row: K.
 
Next Row (WS): P all sts, picking up wraps as you go. Place sts on a holder or waste yarn.*
 
Back:
 
Work same as for Front to *****. Work even until piece from beg measures 12 (12-1/2, 13, 14,
15-1/2)" [30.5 (32, 33, 35.5, 39.5) cm]. End having finished a WS row.

Back Armhole Shaping:
 
Work from ** to ** for Front Armhole Shaping.
 
Change to CC and work in St st until total length of Armhole is 6-1/2 (7, 7-1/2, 8, 9)" [16.5, (18, 19, 20.5, 23) cm]. End having finished a WS row.
 
Right Back Neck Shaping:
 
Next Row (RS): Work across 58 (64, 69, 78, 87) sts; place last 42 (48, 52, 60, 68) sts just worked on a holder or waste yarn, work across rem 16 (16, 17, 18, 19) sts.
 
Working on the Right Back only, continue:
 
Row 1 (WS): P.
 
Row 2 (dec row) (RS): K1, ssk, k to end.
 
Rep Rows 1 and 2 twice to 13 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
 
Work from *** to *** of Front Neck Shaping.
 
Left Back Neck Shaping:
 
Join yarn on WS at neck edge.
 
Row 1 (WS): P.
 
Row 2: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
 
Rep Rows 1 and 2 twice to 13 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
 
Work from **** to **** of Front Left Neck Shaping.
 
Work 3-needle bind-off to join shoulders together from the wrong side.

Armhole Edges:
 
With circular needle and CC, from right side at underarm, pick up and knit 3 out of 4 sts around. Bind off loosely kwise. Rep for other Armhole.
 
Neck Edge:
 
Beg at Left Shoulder and pick up 3 out of 4 sts, knit all sts from holders at Front and Back neck.
 
Bind off loosely kwise.
 
Finishing:
 
Sew side seams and weave in any ends. Steam lightly or block according to directions on yarn label.

Adapted from "Knitting 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar," published by Accord Publishing, a division of Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC. Image and pattern via Lee Grant.