Nash Island by Mary Jane Mucklestone

Nash Island

Knitting
March 2016
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
16 stitches and 17 rows = 4 inches
in stranded colorwork "lice" pattern
US 9 - 5.5 mm
US 8 - 5.0 mm
875 - 1575 yards (800 - 1440 m)
XXS (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL)
English
This pattern is available for $8.00 USD buy it now

An old school Maine Wool sweater, the kind we wear year round in all seasons. For winter hauling wood through to summer evenings on the lobster boat. Nash Island is knit old school too, entirely flat, with the color work “lice” happening only on the right side to make it easy. Modified drop shoulder with a neckline placket that laces up to a snug mock-turtleneck should the wind blow fiercely.

Shown in size S with 3in (7.5cm) positive ease.
Choose the size with the ease you prefer.

XXS (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL)
Finished Bust 27½ (32½, 37½, 40, 45, 47½, 52½, 55, 60) in, 70 (92.5, 95.5, 101.5, 114.5, 120.5, 133.5, 139.5, 152.5) cm.

Yarn Nash Island Light 100g /skein, 175 yds (160m); 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins in Raven (Navy) (MC), 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2) ball each in Buoy (Lt. Blue) (CC1) and Urchin (Green) (CC2)

Almost any hearty worsted weight yarn could be used, …Lite Lopi would work well

Needles US9 (5.5mm) needles, US8 (5mm) needles – or needle size necessary to get gauge. Optional: US8 (5mm) double pointed needles if making an i-cord lace instead of a lanyard as shown.
Gauge 16 sts and 17 rows = 4x4in (10x10cm) in stockinette st on US9 (5.5mm) needles.
Notions Stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Nash Island is an old school knitting project, much like the first sweater knitting I did when I moved to Maine. Knit FLAT. I know. Really. But hear me out. I was teaching at a retreat last year along with a bunch of other teachers and the subject of flat vs. circular came up, with lots of pros and cons in each camp. MelissaLeapman was surprisingly vehement on the subject and quite convincing with her unwavering arguments in favor of knitting EVERYTHING flat.

So I thought – fine – let’s give it a go.

Nash Island is the result. The colorwork is all on the right side of the work, so you don’t have to purl in pattern. The shaping is what I call “Maine Wool Sweater” which is a modified drop shoulder and boxy, so you throw it on like a sweatshirt. I added the lace up placket, which reminds me of an old Candid pattern I never actually knit, but always wanted to, the Portuguese Fisherman’s Sweater.