Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
I've always wanted to use the details from my Vodka Lemonade cardigan again, and a lightweight pullover with just a bit of detail is exactly the kind of thing I always need! Something comfy yet looks polished and simple enough to be worn 100 different ways. With that in mind, I designed this little top!
Worked top down in the round, it features the textured detail from the Vodka Lemonade cardigan at both raglan seams and down the sides of the body. Plus, that detail flows right out of the narrow collar ribbing into the body, a small touch which I love.
I added a split hem and designed the sweater to have an easy, boxy fit, which will be great for layering in winter and is also comfortable to wear in the summer. The fun sleeves might be my favorite part, worked to the forearm with a generous fit at top, then shaped down to a sweet little ribbing at the bottom, just below the elbow.
The sweater is incredibly easy to modify for fit, and notes are provided in the pattern at places where you might want to consider altering things. You can work any kind of sleeve you prefer - from short to long, and adjust the amount of ease in your arm as you like. See the test knits on Ravelry if you like, for a few variations.
I used yarn from my stash for this one. It's a gorgeous pale blue fingering wool from Green Mountain Spinnery. Lana is a 2-ply wool, and it knits up into a light and lofty fabric at the pattern gauge of 24 sts and 32 rounds per 4"/10cm on a US#5/3.75 needle. The pale blues, grays and whites of the heather in this wool are stunning in my Bahia colorway, and the resulting shade is a perfect neutral against almost anything in my wardrobe. Lana is available in a few more shades and a bunch of naturals and it's also very reasonably priced at $24.00 for 400 yards!
Blueberry Vodka Lemonade is worked from the top down in the round. The collar is shaped with short rows, and the split hem is worked flat in pieces. Sleeves and body can easily be shaped as desired.
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Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Lana, 2-ply fingering weight yarn (100% Fine Wool, 400yds/366m per 3.5oz/100g skein). Sample shown in Bahia.
If substituting yarn, This sweater is simple enough to look fantastic in any number of yarns, and you can play with the density and feel of your fabric by using either a fingering, a DK or a Sport weight yarn knit to the pattern gauge. You could even combine a fingering with a suri or mohair strand for a soft halo, as long as you get gauge. Your yarn could be a heather like mine - or a solid or a subtly variegated colorway. I also think this would also look fantastic with some speckle or a halo. I'd stay away from anything too variegated, so the detail stands out. Maybe even play with subtle stripes or add some color blocking or make the collar and hem in a different yarn if you have smaller quantities of yarn you want to combine. Please note that using substitute yarns may affect the drape of your fabric, and the yardage needed for your sweater.
Gauge: 24 stitches and 32 rounds in 4”/10cm. Gauge is based on final, blocked fabric worked in stockinette on smaller size needle.
Needles: US#5/3.75mm and US#6/4mm needles, or size to get gauge.
Sizes:
36(39.25,42.75,45.25,49.25)(52.75,56.5,61.25,66)”
91.5(99.75,108.5,115,125)(134,143.5,155.5,167.75)cm
For fit shown, I suggest 5”/12.75cm of positive ease.
Yardage:
1000(1100,1200,1300,1400)(1500,1600,1700,1800)yds
915(1005,1100,1190,1280)(1375,1465,1555,1645)m