Description

Overview of the sweater:

The Sway Away Sweater is the ultimate in relaxed yet stylish batwing-sleeved comfort, knitted in an unconventional way — sideways. The fabric runs horizontally in this sweater, worked from armhole to armhole. It features snug, long cuffs at the wrists and a wide boat neckline that’s designed to slip slightly off the shoulder for a casual flash of skin. The wide batwing sleeves taper to the waist, where a beautiful ribbed hem gathers the otherwise loose silhouette for a polished finish.

Since this is a batwing-style sweater, the best way to choose your size is based on your waist circumference, as the waist is the narrowest point of the sweater. The sleeves are intended to be very roomy, draping naturally over the cuffs when worn. If the boat neckline feels too wide once finished, it’s easy to adjust by sewing a few centimeters together at the edges.

You’ll start by knitting one sleeve, beginning at the cuff, worked in the round. Increases gradually expand the sleeve until it’s time to divide the work at the underarm for the front and back pieces. The body is worked flat, alternating between front and back, until the work is rejoined at the other underarm and worked in the round again. The second sleeve mirrors the first, with decreases shaping it back toward the cuff. Finally, the side seam at the hem is closed with sewing, and stitches are picked up at the hem to work the ribbing in the round.

Difficulty level: The sweater is perfect for a knitter who knows basic knitting techniques

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9) – see measurements below

Recommended ease: approx. 10–15 cm / 4–6” of positive ease on the waist. Sample knit has 10 cm / 4” of positive ease on the waist.

Measurements for the finished sweater: 

• Waist circumference (narrowest part of the sweater): approx. 80 (86, 90, 96, 104) (108, 114, 127, 135) cm / 31.5 (33.75, 35.5, 37.75, 41) (42.5, 45, 50, 53.25)”

• Length from shoulder to hem approx. 51 (52, 53, 53, 54) (56, 57, 59, 60) cm / 20 (20.5, 20.75, 20.75, 21.25) (22, 22.5, 23.25, 23.5)”
• Sleeve length measured from shoulder to cuff approx. 53 (54, 54, 55, 55) (56, 56, 57, 57) cm / 7.75 (8, 8, 8.25, 8.25) (8.5, 8.5, 9, 9.25)”

Yarn: 
Approx. 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) (1400, 1500, 1700, 1800) meters / 950 (1050, 1200, 1300, 1400) (1550, 1650, 1900, 2000) yds OR 250 (260, 290, 330, 360) (400, 440, 500, 540) grams of fingering weight yarn.

Sample knitted with: 3 (3, 3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 5, 5) skeins of Ruukin Kehräämö Alpaca silk linen yarn (350 m / 380 yds / 100g, alpaca, silk, linen) in colorway Beige. 

Needles: 

3 mm / US 2.5: 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm /32” circular needles and double-pointed needles (or long circular needles if you use the Magic Loop Technique)

Other materials: 

Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle

Gauge:

26 sts x 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4″ in stockinette stitch with 3 mm / US 2.5 needles (after blocking). Change the needle size if needed to achieve the right gauge.