The second in my mini-series of top down adventure sweaters Free to Travel is both a hybrid construction and a hybrid form. At the shoulder and sleeve it fits like a traditional sweater with 0 ease, but from the chest down it is poncho-type shape with around 50% ease against your actual body (you can of course stop increasing earlier for a more traditional sweater shape; notes are included on this). This means it will fit under coats when it needs to, but give you the look of an outer garment in transitional seasons.

The construction is an adapted form of the contiguous method which uses increase formulas a little more like a raglan, whilst still keeping the look of a set in sleeve.

The green sample by Jackky68 has been worked with an extra length on the neck to give a cowl neck.

Yarn & gauge
My sample is in the 100% wool New Lanark aran in the blossom colourway. New Lanark yarn is quite a heavy aran and the gauge for this is quite relaxed to give good drape, although is by no means airy in this yarn and will wear well. If substituting choose heavier aran yarns. A chunky yarn may work too, though be prepared for a heavier garment with less drape. As the garment gets quite large choose a yarn with plenty of memory that won’t get too heavy or stretch under its own weight - most pure wool yarns, acrylic or wool/acrylic mixes will be fine here.

XS: 645m/704yds (4 balls)
S: 710m/770yds (4 balls)
M: 815m/895yds (5 balls)
L: 945m/1035yds (5 balls)
XL: 1050m/1150 yds (7 balls)
XXL: 1150m/1260yds (8 balls)

Sizes (chest size):
Sweater is designed to be worn with around 0-+5cm/ 0-+2 in of ease on the shoulder and sleeve but has around 50% ease on the chest.

XS: to fit actual chest 71-76 /28-30 in. Finished garment chest 143cm/56 ¼ in
S: to fit actual chest 81-86cm/32-34 in. Finished garment chest: 150cm/59in
M: to fit actual chest 91-96cm/36-38in.
Finished garment chest size: 163cm/64in.
L: to fit actual chest 96-101/40-42in.
Finished garment size: 180cm/70 ¾ in.
XL: to fit actual chest: 111-116cm/44-46in. Finished garment size: 200cm/78 ¾ in.
XXL: to fit actual chest 122-127cm/48-50in
Finished garment size: 212cm/83 ¾ in.

Needles:
5 mm/US 8 (for neck rib), 5.5mm/US 9 (for stockinette) and 4mm/US 6 (for bottom and sleeve rib) circular needles with a long cable or correct needle size to achieve gauge.Shorter needles or DPNs for sleeves if you do not wish to magic loop.

Construction and skills
This sweater is knit in the round top down from the collar to the hem in one piece with short rows for back of neck shaping. Sleeves are separated from the body and cuffs knit down separately. The bottom hem is shaped with short rows. The method is a hybrid contiguous/raglan.

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 tutorials for cast on and off methods. Link to tutorial for short rows. Notes on adjusting the pattern for fit, including fit on the shoulder and chest (including creating a version with a more standard sweater fit with just 5-10cm/2-4 inches of ease).