MERELE – to the sea; Estonian

Merele is a seamless boat neck sweater featuring 2 colour corrugated rib and twisted stitch detailing on the hems, cuffs, sleeves and neckline.

Inspired by the Estonian island of Kihnu where the sea brings life and inspiration. A world onto its own of seafarers where bright colours of the traditional national costume are set against the rippling and changing colours of sea and sky.

PATTERN NOTES
• This sweater is worked from sleeve to sleeve before steeking openings for the neck and body.
• The sleeves and neckline feature a “vikkel” pattern which is a faux cable stitch pattern made of left and right twisted or traveling stitches.
• Increases are added after the sleeve length is knit to accommodate the body size and steek stitches. If you are busty you may want to add additional increase repeats in the sleeves. The number of stitches are decreased after length for the body has been knitted to knit a matching sleeve.
• Openings for the neck and body are created using steeks. The pattern includes links to pattern specific steek tutorials for 2 methods: crochet steek and hand sewn back stitch steek. Stitches are picked up from the steek edge to knit the body. An additional crochet chain is added around the neck opening steek edge in contrast colour.
• The sweater is knit with instructions for a fade or gradient effect of 3 different colours.
• The cuffs and hem feature a 2 colour corrugated 1x1 rib in a contrast colour.

Skill Level: advanced
Skills Used:
• 2 colour corrugated ribbing
• Twisted stitches
• Knitting in the round
• Reading from charts
• Increasing
• Decreasing
• Steeking
• Picking up stitches from a steek

SIZING
(Modelled sample in photos is size 6 or bust size 106.5/ 42” worn by model with 101.5 cm/ 40” bust)
Positive ease at chest: 5 cm / 2”
High chest circumference/ Bust: 81.5, 86.5, 91.5, 96.5 (101.5, 106.5, 112, 117) 122, 127, 132, 137 cm / 32, 34, 36, 38 (40, 42, 44, 46), 48, 50, 52, 54”
Waist / Hem circumference: 100, 105, 111.75, 118 (123.25, 129.5, 134.5, 141.5) 148, 153.5, 160, 166.25) cm / 39.25, 41.75, 44, 46.5 (48.5, 51, 53 , 55.75) 58.25, 60.5, 63, 65.5)”
Wrist circumference: 14.5, 15, 16, 16.5 (17, 18, 18.5, 19) 19.5, 20.5, 21, 21.5 cm / 5.75, 6, 6.25, 6.5 (6.75, 7, 7.25, 7.5) 7.75, 8, 8.25, 8.5”
Length from armhole to hem: 33 cm / 13”
Sleeve length from cuff to armhole: 43, 44, 45.5, 45.5 (47, 47, 47, 47) 47, 47, 47, 47 cm / 17, 17.25, 18, 18 (18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5) 18.5, 18.5, 18.5, 18.5”
Upper sleeve circumference: 30, 30.5, 31, 33 (35.5, 38, 40.5, 43) 44.5, 46.5, 47, 47.5 cm / 11.75, 12, 12.25, 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) 17.5, 18.25, 18.5, 18.75”
Neck opening width: 21, 23, 23.5, 25.5 (26, 28, 29, 30.5) 32, 33, 35, 36 cm / 8.75, 9, 9.25, 10.25 (10.5, 11, 11.5, 11.75) 12.75, 13, 14, 14.5”
Body steek length: 40.5, 43, 45.5, 48.5 (51, 53.5, 56, 58.5) 61, 63.5, 66, 68.5 cm / 16, 17, 18, 19 (20, 21, 22, 23) 24, 25, 26, 27”

YARN
Uschitita Merino Singles
(Merino wool, 366 m / 400 yds - 100g)
MC1 (darkest colour of fade shown in darker blue on sample): Blue Moon: 1, 1, 1, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1)
1, 1, 1, 1 skein
MC2 (middle colour of fade shown in speckled blue taupe on sample): Days Like This: 1, 1, 1, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) 1, 1, 1, 1 skein
MC3 (main body colour shown in pale blue on sample): Tilt: 2, 2, 3, 3 (3, 3, 3, 3) 3, 3, 3, 4 skeins
Travel Knitter Tanami 4 ply
(50% baby camel, 50% silk, 400 m / 437 yds - 100g)
CC (shown in red on sample): Double Happiness: 1, 1, 1, 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) 1, 1, 1, 1 skein

OR

Desired fingering weight yarn in the following amounts:
MC1: 135, 145, 150, 160 (170, 180, 185, 195) 200, 210, 220, 225 m / 148, 158, 164, 176 (186, 196, 202, 214) 218, 230, 240, 246 yds
MC2: 95, 105, 110, 115 (120, 125, 135, 140) 145, 150, 155, 165 m / 104, 114, 120, 126 (132, 136, 148, 154) 158, 164, 170, 180 yds
MC3: 685, 730, 775, 810 (860, 900, 950, 1000) 1030, 1075, 1120, 1165 m / 750, 798, 848, 886 (940, 984, 1040, 1094) 1126, 1176, 1226, 1274 yds
CC: 50, 55, 60, 60 (65, 65, 70, 75) 75, 80, 80, 85 m / 54, 60, 66, 66 (72, 72, 76, 82) 82, 88, 88, 92 yds