Chiroptera

Chiroptera is the name for the order of mammals that includes bats. From the little wing motif to the batwing sleeves, this pattern honors the only mammal capable of sustained flight.

Chiroptera is a top-down pullover knit in fingering weight sock yarn. It features a large motif of paired wings on the front and back. A small single motif cascades down the sleeves from the shoulder saddle, and runs from the underarm to the bottom hem and along the underside of the sleeves. The contiguous shoulder shaping is mirrored at the underarm with batwing shaping to the hem.

The pattern includes options for short sleeves and a standard body length, or long sleeves and a long body. 

Sizing

Sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2X, 3X, 4X, 5X)

Finished Measurements (Hip)

32 (36, 40, 44, 48) (52, 56, 60, 64) inches, OR 81 (91, 101, 111, 121) (131, 141, 151, 161) cm.

Recommended Ease 0-4” (0 - 10 cm) at Hip

The garment is shown in Size M with approximately 1” (2.5 cm) ease at the hip in the green sweater, and 0”/0 cm ease at the hip in the long burgundy sweater.

Bust isn’t a useful measurement for this sweater because of the deep armsyce created by the batwing shape.

Gauge

On US Size 5 (3.75 mm) needles, after blocking:

24 sts/ 36 rows in 4” (10 cm) in Stockinette

Yarn

Plucky Feet Fingering, The Plucky Knitter, 90% Superwash Merino, 10% Nylon, fingering weight, 425 yards (389 meters) per 115g skein/ball, OR

Any fingering weight yarn with similar properties that knits up to gauge.

Short Sleeve and Standard Body Length:

Yards: 1076 (1173, 1266, 1344, 1442) (1539, 1672, 1773, 1912)

Meters: 984 (1072, 1157, 1229, 1318) (1408, 1529, 1621, 1748)

Shown in Plucky Feet ‘Sea Glass’.

Long Sleeve and Long Body:

Yards: 1404 (1524, 1647, 1760, 1894) (2019, 2181, 2265, 2444)

Meters: 1284 (1394, 1506, 1610, 1732) (1846, 1994, 2071, 2235)

Shown in ‘Fools Rush In’ in Euro Sock by Madelinetosh, which has been discontinued.

Techniques Used

Working flat and in the round

Reading Charts

Twisted Stitches (faux cable)

Long-Tail Cast-on

Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off (Optional)