Leaf Stitch Sweater
How to knit the Leaf Stitch Sweater:
Sizes: US 8–10 (12–14), UK 12–14 (16–18), EU 38/40 (42/44).
Materials:
550 (600) g (19.4 (21.2) oz) yarn for the apricot sweater (51% cotton, 25% viscose, 24% acrylic; 125 m/50 g (137 yd/1.76 oz));
350 (400) g (12.3 (14.1) oz) yarn for the turquoise sweater (39% acrylic, 35% cotton, 26% polyamide; 195 m/50 g (213 yd/1.76 oz)).
US 1½ (2.5 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm) knitting needles; US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular needle.
Ribbing Pattern, US 1½ (2.5 mm) needles: Work 1 knit stitch, 1 purl stitch alternately throughout.
Stockinette Stitch, US 4 (3.5 mm) needles: knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows.
Leaf Stitch Pattern, US 4 (3.5 mm) needles:
Work according to the chart, which shows right-side rows only.
On wrong-side rows, work stitches as they appear; purl the yarn overs.
Repeat Rows 1–20 throughout.
Gauge: 24 stitches and 31 rows = 4 × 4 inches (10 × 10 cm).
Back:
Cast on 112 (122) stitches and work 2¾ inches (7 cm) in Ribbing Pattern, increasing 20 stitches evenly across the last row = 132 (142) stitches.
Continue as follows: 1 edge stitch, 5 (10) stitches in Stockinette Stitch, 120 stitches in Leaf Stitch Pattern (= 5 pattern repeats), 5 (10) stitches in Stockinette Stitch, 1 edge stitch.
At 13¾ inches (35 cm) from the ribbing, bind off 5 stitches once (8 stitches once) at each side for the armholes = 122 (126) stitches.
At 23¼ (23⅝) inches (59 (60) cm) from the ribbing, bind off the center 30 stitches for the neckline, then bind off at each side of the neckline in every second row 7 stitches once and 2 stitches once.
At 24 (24⅜) inches (61 (62) cm) from the ribbing, bind off the remaining stitches of each shoulder.
Front:
Work as for the Back, but with a deeper neckline.
For this, at 21¼ (21⅝) inches (54 (55) cm) from the ribbing, bind off the center 16 stitches, then at each side of the neckline in every second row bind off 4 stitches once, 3 stitches once, 2 stitches 3 times, and 1 stitch 3 times.
Sleeves:
Cast on 48 (52) stitches and work 2⅜ inches (6 cm) in Ribbing Pattern, increasing 26 stitches evenly across the last row = 74 (78) stitches.
Continue as follows: 1 edge stitch, 0 (2) stitches in Stockinette Stitch, 72 stitches in Leaf Stitch Pattern (= 3 pattern repeats), 0 (2) stitches in Stockinette Stitch, 1 edge stitch.
At the same time, increase 1 stitch at each side alternately in every 4th and 6th row 10 times, then increase 1 stitch at each side in every 4th row 17 times, working the added stitches in Stockinette Stitch = 128 (132) stitches.
At 18½ (18⅞) inches (47 (48) cm), bind off all stitches.
Finishing:
Sew the shoulder seams.
Using the circular needle, pick up 100 stitches around the neckline, work 7 rounds in knit stitches, then in the next round work *knit 2 stitches together, yarn over* throughout, work another 7 rounds in knit stitches, then bind off all stitches.
Fold the neckband to the wrong side along the eyelet round and sew it in place.
Sew the side and sleeve seams. Set in the sleeves.
