Karen sweater

Pattern available in English and Danish

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Karen is a raglan sweater designed in cable knitting, inspired by 1940s housewife knitting, with a contemporary and modern touch. In the 1940s, cable knitting, diamond patterns of various kinds, and a close-fitted silhouette were the latest fashion. All of this is incorporated into the Karen sweater, where the cable knitting is shaped like various kinds of diamonds that intersect. 

The sweater comes in two versions. The 1st version features a large, chunky roll neck, short wide sleeves, an hourglass silhouette, and a relaxed fit with 9-14 cm 3.5-5.5 inches of positive ease. The 2nd version is designed with a high single collar, long wide sleeves, a boxy oversized silhouette, and 17-25 cm 6.5-9.75 inches of positive ease.

The sweater is seamless, and charts are included for each size. Karen sweater is not suitable for beginners.

Sizes: S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) 6XL

Measurements
Version 1
Featuring roll neck, hourglass fit and short sleeves
Bust circumference: 96 (101) 103 (108) 113 (117) 122 (132) 136 cm 37.75 (39.75) 40.5 (42.5) 44.5 (46) 48 (52) 53.5 inches
Waist circumference: 78 (82) 87 (92) 97 (99) 104 (111) 115 cm 30.75 (32.25) 34.25 (36.25) 38.25 (39) 41 (43.75) 45.25 inches
Hip circumference: 96 (101) 103 (108) 113 (115) 120 (125) 129 cm 37.75 (39.75) 40.5 (42.5) 44.5 (45.25) 47.25 (49.25) 50.75 inches
Under arm sleeve length: 11 (12) 12 (12) 13 (13) 14 (15) 15 cm 4.25 (4.75) 4.75 (4.75) 5 (5) 5.5 (6) 6 inches
Length (measured below the neckline on the front): 53 (54) 55 (56) 57 (58) 59 (60) 61 cm 21 (21.25) 21.75 (22) 22.5 (23) 23.25 (23.5) 24 inches

Version 2
Featuring high neck, boxy oversized fit and long sleeves
Bust circumference: 104 (108) 113 (118) 122 (129) 134 (144) 148 cm 41 (42.5) 44.5 (46.5) 48 (50.75) 52.75 (56.75) 58.25 inches
Under arm sleeve length: 39 (39) 39 (39) 39 (37) 37 (37) 35 cm 15.5 (15.5) 15.5 (15.5) 15.5 (14.5) 14.5 (14.5) 13.75 inches
Length (measured below the neckline on the front): 53 (54) 55 (56) 57 (58) 59 (60) 61 cm 21 (21.25) 21.5 (22) 22.5 (22.75) 23.25 (23.5) 24 inches

Size guide
The sizes S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) 6XL fits a bust circumference of 86-90 (90-94) 94-98 (98-102) 102-106 (106-112) 112-118 (118-124) 124-130 cm 34-35.5 (35.5-37) 37-38.5 (38.5-40.25) 40.25-41.75 (41.75-44) 44-46.5 (46.5-49) 49-51.25 inches. Version 1 has approximately 9-14 cm 3.5- 5 .5 inches of positive ease, and version 2 has approximately 17-25 cm 6.75-10 inches of positive ease. If you are between two sizes then choose the largest. You can always make it smaller at the waist or bigger at the hips, but it is essential your sweater fits nicely over the bust. For version 1: the measurements for the waist and hips are made from standard measurements - luckily every body is different! Therefore, try on sweater along the way while you are knitting to decide if your waist or hips are higher or lower, bigger or smaller so you can adjust it along the way.

Materials:
Version 1, Featuring roll neck, hourglass fit and short sleeves
400 (450) 450 (500) 500 (550) 550 (600) 650 g / 8 (9) 9 (10) 10 (11) 11 (12) 13 balls Önling No 1, 75% Merino Superfine Super 100s Wool, 25% Angora, 50 g = app. 197 yards (180 m), fingering weight: medium worsted
You work with 2 strands held together throughout.
NOTE!** If you wish to knit version 1 with long sleeves, you need to purchase another 150 g Önling No 1 for all sizes.*

Or

600 (650) 700 (750) 750 (800) 850 (900) 950 g / 12 (13) 14 (15) 15 (16) 17 (18) 19 balls Önling No 3, 100% fine organic merino wool, 50 g = approx. 145 yards (133 meters), fingering weight: DK / Worsted
You work with 2 strands held together throughout.
NOTE!** If you wish to knit version 1 with long sleeves, you need to purchase another 200 g Önling No 3 for all sizes.*

Version 2, featuring high neck, boxy oversized fit and long sleeves
600 (650) 650 (700) 750 (750) 800 (850) 850 g / 12 (13) 13 (14) 15 (15) 16 (17) 17 balls Önling No 1, 75% Merino Superfine Super 100s Wool, 25% Angora, 50 g = app. 197 yards (180 m), fingering weight: medium worsted
You work with 2 strands held together throughout.

Or

900 (950) 1000 (1050) 1100 (1150) 1200 (1300) 1350 g / 18 (19) 20 (21) 22 (23) 24 (26) 27 balls Önling No 3, 100% fine organic merino wool, 50 g = approx. 145 yards (133 meters), fingering weight: DK / Worsted
You work with 2 strands held together throughout.

Recommend needles
Circular needle 6,5 mm (40 & 80 cm) US 10.5 (16 & 32 inches)
Circular needle 5,5 mm (40 & 80 cm) US 9 (16 & 32 inches)
Cable needle (optional)

8 stitch markers
Stitch holders or a scrap of yarn to put stitches on hold

Gauge:
Cable knitting: 2 strands held together 19 sts x 21 rows on needle 6,5 mm US 10.5 = 10 x 10 cm 4 x 4 inches
Reverse stockinette stitch: 2 strands held together 15 sts x 21 rows on needle 6,5 mm US 10.5 = 10 x 10 cm 4 x 4 inches

Procedure:
The sweater is knitted in the round worked from the top down. First you knit the collar, then shape the neckline by using German Short Rows, resulting in a good fit along the upper back. Then continue down the yoke while making raglan increases before dividing the work into body and sleeves. In version 1 the body is shaped with decreases at the waist, followed by increases at the hips. Version 2 is knitted straight down. At last you knit the sleeves in the round. The whole sweater is finished with an I-cord-edge.