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Allotrope is a top down, long-sleeved pullover with minimal waist shaping. A simple fair isle pattern adorns the yoke and there are three options for the waist shaping.

I wanted to create a sweater that would offer a colorwork yoke with a geometric shape that was familiar to most knitters and thus, would be fairly easy to visualize while knitting. I found myself doodling diamond shapes in different configurations for the yoke pattern and I thought of allotropes. Allotropes are different forms of the same element. Different bonding arrangements occur between atoms which result in different structures and properties. (..at least this is what I recall from my days in school…which we will NOT discuss how long ago that was….) And it just happens that a diamond is an allotrope of the element carbon.

Instructions for the fair isle pattern are both written and charted. An additional yoke chart with no colors is also included so that you may color in the chart to match the yarn you’ve chosen. German short rows are used to shape the neckline after the fair isle yoke pattern is completed. A video link showing how to work German short rows is included in the Abbreviations/Glossary.

GAUGE
22 sts by 34 rounds = 4” in St st on US 6
22 sts by 30 rounds = 4” in Fair Isle pattern on US 6

SIZES
Finished Bust Circumference:
31¾ (34¼, 36, 38½, 39¾, 42¼)” {44¾, 46, 47¾, 50½}”
51¾ (54, 56½, 58½)” {59¾, 62½, 64½, 66½}”

Length (from back neck):
23½ (23¾, 24½, 24¾, 25, 25¼)“ {25¾, 26, 26¼, 26½}”
27 (27¼, 27¼, 27¾)“ {28¼, 28¾, 29, 30}”

Ease:
Approximately 0” to 4” of positive ease
Purple sweater is 36” with 2” of positive ease
Brown sweater is 38½“ with approximately 4” of positive ease

YARN
Purple Sweater:
4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) {6, 6, 6, 6} skeins / 6 (7, 7, 7) {7, 8, 8, 8} skeins of Marianated Yarns Playtime DK, (100% superwash merino, 274 yds/100g) in Bunchberry Tart for the MC and 1 skein (all sizes) in Strawberry Qwik for the CC.

Brown Sweater:
4 (5, 5, 5, 5, 6) {6, 6, 7, 7} skeins / 7 (7, 8, 8) {8, 8, 9, 9} skeins of Marianated Yarns Cooper NSW-BFL DK (100% non-superwash Blue Faced Leicester, 246 yds/100g) in Charlotte for the Main Color (MC) and 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1) {1, 1, 1, 1} skein / 1 (1, 1, 1) {1, 1, 1, 2} skein(s) in Hoth for the Contrasting Color (CC).

Equivalent DK weight yarn:
950 (1015, 1090, 1160, 1225, 1285) {1390, 1460, 1500, 1570} yds / 1590 (1675, 1750, 1830) {1900, 1960, 2070, 2175} yds for MC and 135 (145, 150, 155, 160) {165, 170, 175, 185} yds / 190 (200, 210, 215) {220, 225, 230, 250} yds for CC.

MATERIALS
One US 5/3.75 mm 29-inch/74 cm (or longer) circular needle
Four each US 5/3.75 mm and US 6/4.00mm Double-Pointed Needles (DPNs)
One US 6/4.00 mm 16-inch and 29-inch (or longer) cm circular needles

Two stitch markers (different colors)
Stitch holders or waste yarn for holding stitches
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Marian of Marianated Yarns has put together kits for this sweater. You can find them here on her website. If you order a kit from her before midnight March 8th, the pattern will be included for free with your purchase!