The Carmel Formation is the thin layer of creamy limestone that is visible as short mesas and flat peak caps in eastern Zion National Park, the traditional territories of the Nuwuvi and Pueblo peoples. Deposited by a shallow sea 180 to 160 million years ago, the rock left behind is characterized by upward swirling bands and checkered cracks. Inspired by this topography, Carmel is the cozy sweater I want to wear when exploring this ethereal southwestern landscape.

NOTES
Design: Carmel is a colorwork pullover with a slightly relaxed fit. The yoke features small-scale southwestern-influenced motifs. Latvian braids accent the yoke and lower body. The hem is worked in corrugated ribbing. The collar is double folded for extra structure and coziness. The sleeves feature balloon shaping and contrast cuffs.

Construction: This sweater is worked from the top down. Stitches are cast on for the neckband, which is worked twice the finished length and folded over double before continuing to the yoke. Short rows create back neck shaping. The yoke is knit in stranded colorwork in three colors with no more than two colors worked at time. Once the yoke is complete, sleeve stitches are put on hold and then returned to the needles once the lower body is finished. Latvian braids are worked at the top and bottom of the yoke and on the lower body just before the hem.

Fit: This garment is designed to fit with 1.5 to 4.5 in. (4 to 11 cm) of positive ease at the bust and to hit at the top of the hip. To pick the best size for you, measure your full bust circumference and add your preferred ease of between 1.5 to 4.5 in. (4 to 11 cm). Make the size with a finished bust circumference closest to that number.

Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch patterns in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!

SIZES
(1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCE
(32.5, 36.25, 40.5)(44.25, 48.5, 52.25)(56.5, 60.25, 64.5) in.
(81.5, 90.5, 101.5)(110.5, 121.5, 130.5)(141.5, 150.5, 161.5) cm
This sweater is intended to be worn with 1.5 to 4.5 in. (4 to 11 cm) of positive ease.

YARN
Fingering weight
C1: (55, 62, 70)(77, 85, 94)(104, 112, 123) g/ (297, 335, 378)(416, 459, 508)(562, 605, 665) yds or (272, 306, 346)(380, 420, 465)(514, 553, 608) m
C2: (19, 21, 24)(26, 29, 32)(35, 38, 42) g/ (103, 114, 130)(141, 157, 173)(189, 206, 227) yds or (94, 104, 119)(129, 144, 158)(173, 188, 208) m
C3: (179, 203, 229)(251, 278, 309)(340, 368, 402) g/ (967, 1097, 1237)(1356, 1502, 1669)(1836, 1988, 2171) yds or (884, 1003, 1131)(1240, 1373, 1526)(1679, 1818, 1985) m

SUGGESTED YARN
Biches & Bûches Le Petit Lambswool (50 g/270 yds) – 100% lambswool
C1: (2, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2)(3, 3, 3) skeins
C2: 1 skein
C3: (4, 5, 5)(6, 6, 7)(7, 8, 9) skeins
The sample garment is knit in the colorways Very Dark Grey (C1), Red Brown (C2), and Light Grey (C3).

NEEDLES
Needle A (body and sleeves): US 4 (3.5 mm)
Needle B (ribbing): US 2 (2.75 mm)
For each needle size, you will need 24 in. (60 cm) to 50 in. (125 cm) circular needles and your preferred needles for smaller circumference knitting.

GAUGE
Measure gauge knit in the round on larger needles, after blocking.
26 sts and 35 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stockinette
26 sts and 33 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork

SKILLS TO USE (OR LEARN!)
Alternating cable cast-on, German short rows, knit increases and decreases, stranded colorwork, Latvian braids, corrugated ribbing, chart reading, tubular bind-off