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This payment model allows me to make my patterns accessible to everyone in accordance with their means, while also creating a sustainable business with which I can invest more in my test knitters, independent dyers, and fiber makers. THANK YOU for your support!

20% of all pattern sales will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in honor of my sister, Natasha Ott.

Natasha is the sweater you reach for when your siblings are in town and all that’s on your calendar is a holiday movie marathon with cocoa and a comfy couch.

Is it on inside out? Who cares!

Are you wearing a bra? No one can tell!

Is there a cat in there with you? Probably!

Featuring seamless drop-shoulder construction, reverse stockinette texture with faux side seams, and a gorgeous cable twist winding from cuff to neck, this bulky-weight sweater knits up quicker than you think.

Construction notes: Natasha construction begins with a shockingly simple tubular cast on for the sleeves. The sleeves and saddles are worked in one piece in the round. Shoulder stitches are picked up from the saddles, and front and back are worked flat to the underarm, then joined and worked in the round. Stitches are picked up around the neck, and the turtleneck is worked in the round. The body and sleeves are worked from the wrong side, because this sweater is ridiculous and we should all embrace that.

Cable pattern is charted.

This pattern has been professionally tech edited and sizes 40”, 52”, and 60” have been tested. If you are interested in testing a different size (and receiving this pattern for free), please message me.

Sizes:
Natasha is designed to fit with 8-16”/20-40cm positive ease in the body, and 4-8”/10-20cm of positive ease in the upper arm. However, it’s also gorgeous with less ease, as proven by my test knitters! Any body size can be matched with any sleeve size.

garment circumference (body): 40, 44, 48 (52, 56, 60) 64, 68, 72 (76, 80, 84)”/
103, 110, 123 (130, 143, 150) 163, 170, 183 (190, 203, 210) cm

garment circumference (upper sleeve): 14, 16, 18, (20, 22, 24) 26, 28, 30 inch / 37, 42, 47 (52, 57, 62) 67, 72, 77 cm

Yarn: bulky weight (my yarn is actually labeled extra bulky, but knits up nicely at 3 sts per inch). Yarn allowances are approximate, and do not include extra for swatching.
850, 940, 1020 (1100, 1200, 1280) 1360, 1450, 1530 (1620, 1700, 1790) yds /
770, 850, 930 (1000, 1080, 1160) 1240, 1310, 1390 (1470, 1540, 1620)m

Gauge: This pattern is based on a gauge of 12 sts per 4”/10cm. However, because gauge is tricky with bulky yarns, I’ve provided guidance on sizing for varied gauges, from 10 to 18 sts per 4”/10cm.. Row gauge is irrelevant; all vertical lengths are measured in inches and cm.

Needles:
Size A: US11/8mm (or size to obtain a fabric you love)
• DPN’s or preferred small-circumference style for sleeves
• circulars for body in a length shorter than the body circumference
• 16”/ 40cm circulars for turtleneck
Size B: US 10.5/6.5mm (or one size smaller than Size A)
• DPN’s or preferred small-circumference style for tubular sleeve cast on
• 16”/40cm circulars for turtleneck
• Two 16-24”/40-60cm interchangeable circulars, set up with one needle and one end cap each, for picking up sleeve stitches at the upper body. You will need these simultaneously with Size A needles for the body. Basically, have your entire interchangeable system close at hand!
Your favorite cable needle

Notions & extras: Waste yarn for tubular cast on, waste yarn or stitch holders for holding stitches, your usual knit kit (stitch markers, scissors, tapestry needle, etc), end caps for circular needles, 2 locking stitch markers

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

BoR beginning of round
CN cable needle
CO cast on
BO bind off
k knit
LN left needle
m marker
m1L make 1 (left leaning): lift running thread with left needle from front to back, then knit into the back loop.
m1r make 1 (right leaning): lift running thread with left needle from back to front, then purl into the front loop.
p purl
pm place marker
pu&k pick up and knit
rm remove marker
RN right needle
RS right side of the work
swyif slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn held in front of work
sspu sleeve stitch pick up (details in pattern)
w&t wrap and turn (details in pattern)
WS wrong side of the work
ww work wrap (details in pattern)

I designed this sweater for my sister, Natasha Ott, for her birthday in January 2020. She died just over two months later – one of the first casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic in her city. Natasha was a social worker and Peace Corps alum who focused on sexual health advocacy, especially on AIDS prevention and counseling those living with HIV. She was fierce, funny, and (she would force me to add) smokin’ hot. In her honor, 20% of all pattern sales will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.