The high desert area of the southwestern United States encompasses many different types of gorgeous vistasfrom mountains to arroyos, mesas to valleys. This area has inspired many different types of artistic creations, including jewelry and pottery from the local Native American artisans, as well as the painted works of Georgia OKeeffe. These beautiful and majestic landscapes inspired this collection of mens and womens sweaters and accessories for the handknitter.
The deciduous aspen covers many mountain slopes across the Rockies. The trees vivid golden-yellow leaves are a sure sign of fall in the western mountains. As soon as I can look across the valley to Taos Mountain and see vibrant patches of yellow, I know its time for the Taos Sheep and Wool Festival, an annual pilgrimage for me every year in early October.
About 3414 (36, 3814, 4012, 4434, 49, 53)" (87 [91.5, 97, 103, 113.5, 124.5, 134.5] cm) bust circumference, and 2034 (2112, 2212, 23, 2312, 24, 2434)" (52.5 [54.5, 57, 58.5, 59.5, 61, 63] cm) long.
Project shown measures 36" (91.5 cm).
Fingering weight (Super Fine #1).
Shown here: Brooklyn Tweed Loft (100% American wool; 275 yd/134 oz [50 g]): #21 Hayloft, 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.
Body: Size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm) 24" (60 cm) or longer circular (cir).
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Stitch markers (m); stitch holders or waste yarn; pair of size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm) double-pointed needles (dpn) for three-needle BO; tapestry needle; 7 (7, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9) 58" (1.5 cm) buttons.
26 sts and 37 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st, after blocking; each 15-st Aspen Leaf panel = 212" (6.5 cm) wide.
The chart is worked back and forth. Read all right-side (odd-numbered) rows from right to left and all wrong-side (even-numbered) rows from left to right.
The lace chart begins with 15 stitches, increases to 17 sts on Row 5, to 19 sts on Row 7, then decreases to 17 sts on Row 9, and to 15 sts on Row 11. Stitch counts should not be taken on chart Rows 5 through 10. To ensure your stitch counts will match those in the pattern, begin the armhole and neck decreases on Aspen Leaf chart Row 2, 4, or 11.
Slip the first stitch of each row of the body to help provide a smooth, even edge to pick up the buttonband sts.
A cir needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. Work back and forth.
Design Notebook
This project is a womans cardigan sweater with waist shaping for a tailored silhouette. The sweater is knitted in one piece from the bottom up to the armholes. The fronts and back are then shaped separately and joined at the shoulders with three-needle bind-off. The cap sleeves are worked flat, seamed, and set into the armholes. A wide panel of leaf lace adorns the back, while a single panel of the same motif highlights the front cardigan opening and the sleeves. A simple garter stitch finishes the hems, the neckband, and the front bands.
Body
With cir needle, CO 221 (233, 247, 261, 287, 313, 339) sts using the long-tail cast-on method (see ). Do not join.
SET-UP ROW: (WS) Sl 1, k1, place marker (pm), k15, pm, k38 (41, 45, 48, 54, 61, 67), pm for left side, k32 (35, 38, 42, 49, 55, 62), pm, k47, pm, k32 (35, 38, 42, 49, 55, 62), pm for right side, k38 (41, 45, 48, 54, 61, 67), pm, k15, pm, k2.
NEXT ROW: Sl 1, k1, *sm, knit to m; rep from * 7 more times, work to end.
Rep last row once more.
NEXT ROW: (RS) Sl 1, k1, sm, work Row 1 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, (knit to next m, sm) twice, (work Row 1 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, k1) twice, work Row 1 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, (knit to m, sm) twice, work Row 1 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, k2.
NEXT ROW: (WS) Sl 1, p1, sm, work Row 2 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, (purl to next m, sm) twice, (work Row 2 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, p1) twice, work Row 2 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, (purl to m, sm) twice, work Row 2 of Aspen Leaf chart over next 15 sts, sm, p2.
Work 12 more rows as established.
SHAPE WAIST
DEC ROW: (RS) *Work to 3 st before side m, ssk, k1, sm, k1, k2tog; rep from * once more, work to end4 sts decd.
Rep Dec row every 12 rows 4 more times201 (213, 227, 241, 267, 293, 319) sts rem.
Work 11 rows even. Piece should measure 814" (21 cm) from beg.
SHAPE BUST
INC ROW: (RS) *Work to 1 st before side m, m1r, k1, sm, k1, m1l; rep from * once more, work to end4 sts incd.
Rep Inc row every 14 rows once more209 (221, 235, 249, 275, 301, 327) sts.
Cont even until piece measures 13 (1314, 1334, 1334, 1334, 1334, 14)" (33 [33.5, 35, 35, 35, 35, 35.5] cm) from beg, ending with a WS row.
SHAPE ARMHOLES
NEXT ROW: (RS) *Work to 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) sts before side m, BO 8 (8, 8, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts, removing m; rep from * once more, work to end48 (51, 55, 57, 63, 69, 75) sts rem for each front, and 97 (103, 109, 115, 129, 139, 153) sts rem for back.
LEFT FRONT
Work 1 WS row even.
BO at beg of RS rows 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) sts once, then 1 st 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) times44 (47, 51, 53, 57, 63, 69) sts rem.
Cont even until armhole measures 6 (614, 612, 612, 612, 634, 7)" (15 [16, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 17, 18] cm), ending with a RS row.
SHAPE NECK
BO at beg of WS rows 12 sts once, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts twice, then 1 (1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2) st(s) 1 (2, 3, 6, 5, 6, 8) time(s)25 (27, 27, 27, 27, 31, 33) sts rem.
Work even until armhole measures 734 (814, 834, 914, 934, 1014, 1034)" (19.5 [21, 22, 23.5, 25, 26, 27.5] cm), ending with WS row. Place rem sts on holder.
RIGHT FRONT
Join yarn to beg with a WS row.
BO at beg of WS rows 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) sts once, then 1 st 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) times44 (47, 51, 53, 57, 63, 69) sts rem.
Cont even until armhole measures 6 (614, 612, 612, 612, 634, 7)" (15 (16, 16.5, 16.5, 16.5, 17, 18] cm), ending with a WS row.
SHAPE NECK
At beg of RS rows, BO 12 sts once, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts twice, then 1 (1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2) st(s) 1 (2, 3, 6, 5, 6, 8) time(s)25 (27, 27, 27, 27, 31, 33) sts rem.