Whether you are an annual migrant or restless nomad this sweater is written for knitting and wearing on the go. Made top down from the cast on of the integral neck band and totally seamless it is knit in the round with a hybrid saddle shoulder/contiguous construction, short rows to shape the shoulders and neck and a split hem detail.

Sizes (chest size):
Sweater is designed to be worn with around +2 to +4 in/5-10cm of ease on the chest and is shown modelled at + 2 in. Note that sleeves are slightly slimmer with about 1-2” of ease but are easily adjusted. Finished chest sizes and garment sizes are as follows:

I recommend that you choose a size based on your actual cross back measurement (the sweater is shown with 5cm/2in of positive ease on the chest) and 2.5cm/1in on the sleeve.

Your actual cross back measurements:
XS: 37cm/14 ½ in
S: 38cm/ 15in
M:42cm/ 16 ½ in
L: 44.5cm/ 17 ½ in
XL: 44.5cm/ 17 ½ in
XXL: 45.5cm/18in

Chest measurements by size:

XS: to fit actual chest 71-76 /28-30 in. Finished garment chest: 85cm/33 ½ in
S: to fit actual chest 81-86cm/32-34 in. Finished garment chest: 97.5cm/38 ½ in
M: to fit actual chest 91-96cm/36-38 in
Finished garment chest size: 107.5cm/42 ¼ in
L: to fit actual chest 96-101/40-42in.
Finished garment size: 120.5cm/47¼ in
XL: to fit actual chest: 111-116cm/44-46in. Finished garment size:127.5cm/50 ¼ in
XXL: to fit actual chest: 122-127cm/48-50in
Finished garment size: 137.5cm/54 ¼ in

Needles:
5.5mm and 5mm (US sizes 9 & 8)
circular needles with a long cable or correct needle size to achieve gauge (smaller needles for ribbing). Pattern assumes magic loop knitting for the sleeves, but you can subsitute your preferred method for small circumference knitting.

Gauge:
16 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm/4 inches over stockinette.

Yarn and yardage:
I used New Lanark 90% wool 10% silk aran in colourway blue lovage. You could use any wool or acrylic aran/heavy worsted yarn with which you can achieve gauge. An admixture of silk in the yarn gives beautiful drape to this garment, but is not essential.

The other yarns listed have been successfully used by testers with beautiful effect.

These allowances are based on sweater lengths for an average height of 165cm/5’4”. If you are tall you may wish to allow extra. The yarn I used goes quite a long way as it is at the heavy end of the aran spectrum; if substituting (e.g. using one of the worsted yarns listed) you are also advised to allow extra.

XS: 590m/645yds 5 balls
S: 655m/720yds 5 balls
M: 725m/795yds 5 balls
L: 800m/880yds 6 balls
XL: 880m/965yds 6 balls
XXL: 940m/1035yds 7 balls

Notions
waste yarn

Construction and techniques
The body of this sweater is knit in the round top down from the collar to the hem in one piece with short rows that shape the saddle shoulders and drop the neck at the centre front and back, also raising the back neck slightly compared to the front. Sleeves are separated from the body and cuffs knit down separately. The bottom hem is worked flat. The construction method is a specially designed hybrid contiguous/saddle shoulder. You may want to have knitted some sweaters previous to trying this pattern as there is some challenge in the short row shaping.

This garment uses some elements from the Contiguous method. To find out more about the Contiguous method, visit SusieM’s Contiguous project

Pattern contains
Full written instructions and links to tutorials for less familiar methods. Link to tutorial for short rows. Notes on adjusting the pattern for fit, including fit on the shoulder and chest. Link to full tutorial for bust shaping if desired (sample does not have bust darts).