Ever wanted to knit a traditional colorwork sweater, but steeking put you off? Say hello to Little Crystals. Get the traditional look, with a modern seamless construction.

Construction:
This English tailored modified drop shoulder garment is worked from the top down seamlessly. The shoulders are carefully shaped to end above the bicep for all sizes. The pattern starts by shaping the upper back, then stitches are picked up and knit for the fronts. The fronts are joined after the neckline shaping is complete, the armholes are shaped, and then the piece is joined in the round. Once the body is finished stitches are picked up for the sleeves and the sleeves are knit in the round. Most of the colorwork is done in the round, but there is a small portion of colorwork on the fronts and the back that is worked flat.

The colorwork for each size is fully charted.

This pattern has been professionally tech edited by Hannah Middleton (Works of Our Hands), and test knitted.

Included:
-Main pattern PDF
-At least 5 bust dart options per size
-Illustrated construction overview
-Links to video tutorials and explanations of special techniques, including one for how to work fair isle without a jog
-Tips for colorwork, and recommendations on where to switch color dominance
-Chart for swatch

Sizing:

10 sizes graded to fit a full bust of 30” to 66” / 75 cm to 165 cm.

Full bust circumference:

36.5”, 42.75”, 45.75”, (48.75”, 54.75”, 58”) {61”, 67”, 70”, 73.25”} / 91.5 cm, 106.5 cm, 114.5 cm, (122 cm, 137 cm, 145 cm) {152.5 cm, 167.5 cm, 175 cm, 183 cm}

Little Crystals is meant to be oversized, super cozy, with long roomy sleeves with loose cuffs. I recommend 6-8” / 15-20 cm of positive ease at the bust. For better fit consider choosing the size graded for your Upper Chest measurement. See the schematic and size chart in the photos.

Samples are size 2 worn by Céline with ~7.5” / 19 cm of positive ease, and by Pierre-Yves with 4.75” / 12 cm of positive ease.

The shoulder is graded to drop 2.5” / 6.5 cm past the shoulder tip, accounting for the weight of the sleeves. Please note that Superwash yarn will stretch more and result in a bigger drop (see blue Cascade 220 Superwash sample vs. the ginger Cascade 220 sample). If you have broad shoulders you may wish to size up to achieve the intended shoulder fit.

The large motif is uninterrupted at the bicep, so several sizes share bicep circumferences. In most sizes the lower arm is then gently tapered to the wrist. Little Crystals has oversized, cozy, and super long sleeves, but that may not be your preference. A few test knitters added additional shaping to the wrist, and/or shortened the sleeves to suit their preferences. I highly recommend using the schematic to help you decide if you’d like to make modifications.

Gauge:
21 stitches and 24 rows in 4” / 10 cm in Colorwork on (Colorwork) needles, after blocking. See the recommended swatch chart in photos.

Needles:
(Stockinette) US 7 / 4.5 mm circular needles, or size needed to obtain stitch gauge after blocking.

(Colorwork) US 8 / 5.0 mm circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge after blocking.

(Ribbing) US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needles for the ribbing.

A few stitch markers (including some removable ones), darning needle, scissors, waste yarn or extra cables for putting stitches on hold.

Yardage:
Cascade 220 (220 yards / 200 meters per 100 g), 100% Wool, or comparable worsted weight yarn.

MC (Natural): 4, 5, 5, (5, 6, 6) {6, 7, 7, 7} skeins

OR 865, 933, 978, (1073, 1141, 1180) {1278, 1346, 1449, 1483} yards / 787, 858, 889, (976, 1038, 1072) {1162, 1224, 1317, 1348} meters.

CC (Ginger): 2, 2, 2, (3, 3, 3) {3, 3, 3, 3} skeins

OR 375, 405, 419, (458, 485, 506) {546, 573, 613, 634} yards / 341, 369, 381, (417, 441, 460) {496, 521, 558, 576} meters.

As with all my size inclusive garment patterns, you can use the code ANTIFATTAX to get 20% off the pattern, intended for sizes 6-10 to help combat the extra costs incurred by knitting larger sizes.