Herringbone Sweater

The sweater is knitted in luxurious baby alpaca yarn in two tones of grey to work with any urban wardrobe.

Posted by Erika Knight

About

Herringbone fabric is a perennial classic for men's suiting. Here, this traditional pattern has been interpreted into a simple jacquard stitch. The sweater is knitted in luxurious baby alpaca yarn in two tones of grey to work with any urban wardrobe.

Sizes:
S M L XL XXL
To fit chest 92 97 102 107 112 cm
Actual chest 103 108 113 118 123 cm
Actual length 64 66 68 70 72 cm
Sleeve length 48 49 50 51 52 cm

Materials:
8 (8: 9: 9: 10) x 50g balls double knitting-weight yarn, such as Rowan Classic Baby Alpaca DK in each of light grey (A) and dark grey (B)
Pair each 3.75mm and 4.5mm knitting needles
Large-eyed blunt-tipped sewing needle

Tension:
24 sts and 22 rows to 10cm square measured over herringbone pattern on 4.5mm needles. Always work a tension swatch and change needles accordingly if necessary.

Tips and techniques:
Fully fashioned shaping
Decrease on a knit row:
K1, m1, patt to last st, m1, k1.

Herringbone pattern:
Multiple of 6 sts.
Row 1 (RS) K - [2A, 1B] to end of row.
Row 2 P - [1A, 1B, 3A, 1B] to end of row.
Row 3 K - 1A, 1B [1A, 1B, 3A, 1B] to last 4 sts
1A, 1B, 2 A.
Row 4 P - [1B, 2A] to end of row.
Row 5 K - 1B, 3A [1B, 1A, 1B, 3A] to last 2 sts 1B, 1A.
Row 6 P - 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B [3A, 1B, 1A, 1B] to last st, 1A.
These 6 rows form the herringbone pattern and are repeated throughout.

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You Will Need (3 things)

  • 8 x 50g balls double knitting-weight Yarn , such as Rowan Classic Baby Alpaca DK in each of light grey (A) and dark grey (B)
  • Pair each 3.75mm and 4.5mm Knitting Needles
  • Large-eyed blunt-tipped Sewing Needle

Steps (5 steps, 1200 minutes)

  1. 1

    To knit the back:
    With 3.75mm needles and B, cast on 125 (131: 137: 143: 149) sts and work in rib as follows:
    Row 1 (RS) K2, [p1, k2] to end of row.
    Row 2 P2, [k1, p2] to end of row.
    Rep last 2 rows until work measures 6 (6: 6: 7: 7)cm from cast on edge, ending with RS facing for next row and inc 1 st on last row. 126 (132: 138: 144: 150) sts.
    Change to 4.5mm needles and work in herringbone patt as given above until work measures 42 (43: 44: 45: 46)cm from cast on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.

    Shape armholes:
    Keeping patt correct, cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 116 (112: 128: 134: 140) sts.
    Dec 1 st at each end of next 3 rows, then on 2 foll RS rows, now dec 1 st at each end of 2 following 4th rows. 102 (108: 114: 120: 126) sts. **

    Shape shoulders and back neck:
    Keeping patt correct, cast off 9 (9: 10: 11: 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 84 (90: 94: 98: 102) sts.
    Next row Cast off 9 (9: 10: 11: 12) sts, work until 14 (14: 15: 16: 17) sts on RH needle, turn and leave rem sts on a holder.
    Cast off 4 sts at beg of next row.
    Cast off rem 9 (10: 11: 12: 13) sts.
    With RS facing, slip centre 40 (42: 42: 44: 44) sts onto a holder, rejoin yarn to rem sts and patt to end of row.
    Complete to match first side, reversing shaping.

  2. 2

    To knit the front:
    Work as given for Back to **.
    Cont straight until armhole measures 7cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
    Divide for neck:
    Next row Patt 51 (54: 57: 60: 63) sts turn and leave rem sts on a holder.
    Work 1 row.
    Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st (see notes on fully fashioned shaping) at neck edge on next row and every full row until 27 (29: 32: 34: 37) sts rem.
    Cont straight until armhole measures 22 (23: 24: 25: 26)cm ending RS facing for next row.
    Shape shoulder:
    Keeping patt correct, cast off 9 (9: 10: 11: 12) sts at beg of next row.
    Work 1 row.
    Cast off 9 (10: 11: 11: 12) sts at beg of next row.
    Work 1 row.
    Cast off rem 9 (10: 11: 12: 13) sts.
    With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts, patt to end of row.
    Work 1 row.
    Work to match first side of reversing shaping.

  3. 3

    To knit the sleeves:
    Using 3.75mm needles and B, cast on 59 (59: 65: 65: 71) sts and work in rib as given for Back for 6cm ending with RS facing for next row and inc 1 st on last row. (60 (60: 66: 66: 72) sts.
    Change to 4.5mm needles and work in herringbone patt as given above and inc 1 st each end of 3rd and every foll 4th row until 70 (70: 76: 76: 82) sts, then every foll 6th row until 92 (92: 98: 98: 104) sts.
    Cont straight until sleeve measures 48 (49: 50: 51: 52)cm from cast on edge, ending with RS facing for next row.
    shape top
    Keeping patt correct, cast off 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 82 (82: 88: 88: 94) sts.
    Dec 1 st at each end of next 5 rows, then on 9 (9: 10: 10: 11) foll RS rows, then on next 10 rows. 34 (34: 38: 38: 42) sts.
    Work 1 row.
    Cast off 6 (6: 7: 7: 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
    Cast off rem 22 (22: 24: 24: 26) sts.

  4. 4

    To make the neckband:
    Join right shoulder with invisible stitch.
    With RS facing, 3.75mm needles and B, pick up and k40 (42: 42: 44: 44) sts down left front neck, k into back of horizontal thread lying between 2 sts at centre front and mark this st with a coloured thread, pick up and k 40 (42: 42: 44: 44) sts up right front neck, 3 sts down right back neck, k across 40 (42: 42: 44: 44) sts at centre back then pick up and k3 sts up left back neck.
    127 (133: 133: 139: 139) sts.
    Next row (WS) P1 (0: 0: 0: 0), k1 (0: 0: 0: 1), [p2, k1] to marked st, p1, [k1, p2] to last 1 (0: 0: 2: 2) sts, k1 (0: 0: 1: 1), p0 (0: 0: 1: 1).
    Next row (RS) Rib as set to 2 sts before marked stitch, p2tog, k1, p2tog tbl, rib as set to end.
    Next row Rib as set.
    Rep last 2 rows until neckband measures 3cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
    Cast off in rib.

  5. 5

    To finish:
    Weave in any yarn ends.
    Gently steam work.
    Graft left shoulder and neckband seam.
    Lay work out flat and sew sleeves into armholes, easing to fit.
    Join sides and sleeve seams from armhole to cuff and hem with mattress stitch.