The Southside Sweater is an oversized, drop shoulder sweater worked from the top down. You begin by casting on stitches for the back yoke and knitting back and forth, using German short rows to shape the shoulder slant. Next, the two front shoulders are worked separately by picking up stitches from the back cast on edge and knitting straight, before shaping the neck with increases.

The shoulder panels are then joined, and stitches are provisionally cast on for the front neck. The front yoke is worked straight before being joined with the back panel. Afterwards, the body is worked in the round and finished with purl and knit row details, followed by 3x3 ribbing.

Sleeve stitches are picked up and knit in the round. German short rows are used to create a slight shoulder cap, followed by decreases down the sleeve for a tapered shape. The sleeves are finished with the same purl and knit row details and 3x3 ribbing. Lastly, the neckline stitches are picked up, purl and knit rows are worked, and is finished with 3x3 ribbing.

There is also an accompanying tutorial video that provides a detailed explanation of all the techniques used.

Sizes: A (B) C (D) E (F) G (H) I

Actual bust circumference: 71-76 (81-86) 91-97 (101-107) 111-117 (122-127) 132-137 (142-147) 152-158 cm 28-30 (32-34) 36-38 (40-42) 44-46 (48-50) 52-54 (56-58) 60-62 inches

Finished garment measurements:

Bust circumference: 94 (103.5) 113 (124.75) 134 (146) 155.25 (164.75) 174 cm 37 (40.75) 44.5 (49) 52.75 (57) 61 (64.75) 68.5 inches

Length from mid back neck to hem: 56 (57.75) 60.25 (61.5) 62.5 (65.25) 65.75 (68.5) 69.25 cm 22 (22.75) 23.75 (24.25) 24.5 (25.75) 26 (27) 27.25 inches

Upper arm circumference: 37.75 (38.75) 42.25 (46) 47 (50.5) 53 (55.25) 57.75 cm 14.75 (15.25) 16.75 (18) 18.5 (20) 20.75 (21.75) 22.75 inches

Recommended positive ease: 18-23 cm 7-9 inches

Gauge: 17 sts x 24 rows in 10 x 10 cm 4 x 4 inches In stockinette stitch using a 5.5 mm needle, worked both flat and in the round, after washing and blocking. (Measurements are provided for each section, so if your gauge is slightly off, you can follow these, instead of the specific number of rows instructed in the pattern).

Notions: 6 mm and 5 mm crochet hooks (if doing crochet chain cast on and/or for the bind off), darning needle, elastic thread, scissors, scrap yarn, stitch holder, removable stitch markers.

Recommended Zakami yarn:
5 (5) 6 (6) 7 (8) 8 (9) 9 skeins of 100% Organic Fine Merino DK (225 m 246 yards per 100g) and 3 (3) 3 (4) 4 (4) 5 (5) 5 skeins of Suri Fluffy Lace (420 m 328 yards per 50g). The colourway ‘Waterfall of Memories’ was used in the sample sweater.

If you are using other yarns, you will need:
997 (1096) 1208 (1343) 1435 (1627) 1735 (1858) 1986 metres 1091 (1199) 1322 (1469) 1570 (1780) 1898 (2032) 2172 yards of both a DK weight yarn and a lace weight yarn, OR a single strand of worsted/aran weight yarn.

Please note that these are estimations only and some testers used less meterage for their versions.