Shearwater Sweater

Glimmering, shining, iridescent, this sweater shimmers brilliantly and is a delight to knit and wear. The joy of Shearwater is in the merging of one color into the next, using yarn from your stash or purchased mini skeins. The eleventh contrasting color is where the magic occurs, pulling all of the colors together, worked in a beautiful, almost-woven stitch at the hem and cuff. This tunic-length sweater is knit top-down and seamless, without waist shaping, and can be tried on as you go along.  

Complete instructions are included for fading one color into the next. Like a shorter sweater? Notes included for shortening.

Skills Needed: Adding in colors, stretchy cast on, backward loop cast on, working in the round, slipping stitches, m1 and kfb increases, ssk and k2tog decreases, knitting through back loop, binding off purlwise and knitwise.

Sizes and Measurements:

This pattern is written with 1.25 in. [3.2 cm] negative ease to 0.5 in. [1.3 cm] positive ease, depending on size.  Choose your actual bust measurement as the pattern size, then see Finished Measurement at Bust for the finished size. If you like a looser sweater, make the next larger size. 

Pattern Sizes: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 50, 54, 58, 62) in. [71 (81, 91, 102, 112, 127, 137, 147, 157) cm]. 

Finished Measurement at Bust: 28.5 (31, 36, 38.75, 43.75, 49, 54.25, 56.75, 62) in. [72 (79, 91, 98, 111, 124, 138, 144, 157) cm].  

Yarn:Main Color (MC):

1 (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins Dragonfly Fibers Pixie (Fingering; 100% Superwash Merino; 430 yds/113 g) in Captain Nemo. If substituting yarn, 430 (430, 860, 860, 1290, 1290, 1290, 1720) yds [393 (393, 786, 786, 1179, 1179, 1179, 1572, 1572) m] fingering weight yarn.

Contrasting Colors 1-8 (CC1-CC8):

1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2) Mini Skein each of 8 colorways Sweet Georgia Yarn Tough Love Sock Party (Fingering; 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Nylon; 105 yds/28 g per skein).

Contrasting Colors 9-10 (CC9-CC10):

2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4) Mini Skeins each of 2 colorways Sweet Georgia Yarn Tough Love Sock Party (Fingering; 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Nylon; 105 yds/28 g per skein).

Contrasting Color 11 (CC11): 1 skein Manos del Uruguay Alegria (Fingering; 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Polyamide; 445 yds/100 g) in a colorway that pulls all the other colors, including the MC, together. In some cases, a colorway that also includes some colors not yet in the sweater adds a fabulous pop. 

Needles:   

Neckband and sleeve: US Size 4 [3.5 mm] 16 in. [40 cm] circular needle.

Yoke and bodice: US Size 4 [3.5 mm] 24, 32, 40, or 60 in. [60, 80, 100, or 150 cm] circular

needle (use cable length that is most comfortable for you for the number of sts at bust for your size).

Cuff: US Size 3 [3.25 mm] 16 in. [40 cm] circular needle.

     Or use needle size(s) needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge, using larger needles and after blocking: 

Check for colorfastness when soaking and blocking your gauge swatch.

Stockinette: 28 sts and 38 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm]. 

Yoke Section 1: 26 sts and 55 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm].

Yoke Section 2: 30 sts and 51 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm].

Yoke Section 3 and Bodice: 31 sts and 46 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm].

Hem: 33 sts and 65 rnds = 4 in. [10 cm].

Other Materials: 6 stitch markers, including 1 to mark beginning of round; 2 shank buttons (5/8 in. [15 mm]), sewing needle, thread to match yarn used in cuff, tapestry needle.