According to the dictionary set a neighbor gave to me when I was a child, the Thorndike-Barnhart Comprehensive Desk Dictionary © 1957, Volume 2, page 749, to be exact, a squall is “a sudden, violent gust of wind, often with rain, snow, or sleet.” I’ve never lived in snow country, and so haven’t experienced a truly cold winter, so I can’t speak to squalls accompanied by snow or sleet. However, I have experienced amazing, sudden, violent, warm, rain squalls when on a dive yacht down in the South Pacific. When we first went up on the main deck, where all meals were served in the open air, we wondered about the purpose of the plastic curtains fastened to framework along the sides of the boat. We found out quickly enough. It didn’t take us any time at all to become expert at dropping our forks, and fastening the plastic to create makeshift walls and ceiling to wait out the violent storm that raged the blew off in the blink of an eye. A few minutes later the stars were out again, and everything was dry. We all felt so alive!

This simple top with its basic stockinette frame, cable back, and split hems, would easily weather a summer squall. Top is knit from hem up in pieces, and notes are provided to work the body, neckline, and armholes in the round.

Finished sizes: 30.25, 33, 35.5, 39 (41.75, 44.5, 48, 50.75) inches; 77, 84, 90, 99 (106, 113, 122, 129) cm

To fit bust sizes: up to 2 inches (5 cm) larger than finished sweater

Yarn: DK weight; 500, 550, 600, 650 (725, 775, 825, 875) yards

Skills: 2 stitch markers (total of 5 stitch markers required if knitting in the round), cable needle (optional), stitch holder, yarn needle

Notions: k2tog, ssk, m1, 5x5 cable

Stitch pattern: Charted and written.