Tantalus

I had a rough idea for a pullover with a lace cowl for quite a while when I got the call from Louet. The idea solidified as I dug through countless stitch dictionaries looking for just the right stitch for the cowl. The body of the sweater and sleeves would be a simple stockinette to properly showcase the lace, and the lovely and easy-to-knit Japanese feather stitch, which has been haunting me for quite some time, was the perfect thing for the cowl.

Normally the body of a sweater is knit with the largest needles. In this case, the largest needles and smallest yarn are reserved for the lace cowl, the smallest needles are used for the ribbing, and the medium-sized needles are used for gauge and to knit the body and sleeves of the sweater. Pieces are knit separately from the hem up, shoulders are seamed, and cowl is knit onto the sweater in the round. Then sleeves are sewn on, and sides are seamed.

• Yarn: sport weight for body: 1125, 1125, 1350 [1350, 1575, 1575, 1800]; and fingering weight for cowl: 185, 185, 185 [185, 1185, 370, 370].
• Model: Louet GEMS Sport and Louet GEMS Fingering knit in smallest size.
• Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows to 4 inches in stockinette stitch with sport weight yarn.
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) for body of sweater and gauge, US 3 (3.25 mm) for ribbing, US 5 (3.75 mm) for cowl.
• Finished sizes: 32.25, 36, 40.25 [44, 48.25, 52, 56.25].
• To fit bust: 0 to 2 inches smaller than finished sweater.
• Stitch instructions: Charted and written.

Images taken by Caro Sheridan. © 2014 Louet North America. Used with permission.