Alea’s Sweater

This is a pretty simple pattern which looks quite elegant.  I’d rank it perhaps advanced beginner; it’s not difficult at all.  The most complicated part is that it uses three different hook sizes.

worsted weight yarn in two colors: 1 skein A & small amount B  (I used white & black Caron Simply Soft)
5.5mm hook
5 mm hook
4.5 mm hook
5 1/2″ (12 mm) buttons
stitch markers

Gauge: 9.5 rows of 8 sc = 2″, using 5.5mm hook

PM: place marker

With 5.5mm hook:Ch 48.

1) Sc in 2nd st from hook & in next 6 sts. Sc 3x in next st; PM in center st of this cluster.  SC in next 9 sts.  Sc 3x in next st; PM in center st of this cluster.  SC in next 12 sts.  Sc 3x in next st; PM in center st of this cluster.  Sc in next 9 sts.  Sc 3x in next st; PM in center st of this cluster.  Sc in last 7 sts.  Ch 1, turn.

2 – 11) Sc in each st to first marker.  Sc 3x in st w/marker (move marker up to center st of this cluster).  Sc in each st to next marker. Sc 3x in st w/marker (move marker up to center st of this cluster).  Sc in each st to next marker.  Sc 3x in st w/marker (move marker up to center st of this cluster).  Sc in each st to last marker. Sc 3x in st w/marker (move marker up to center st of this cluster).  Sc in each st to end.  Ch 1, turn.  {At the end of 11, ch 2 & turn.}

Change to 5mm hook.

12) Dc in the first 18 sts.  Remove markers from st 19 & st 51.  DC through both these stitches at once (just put the hook through both sts when you’d usually put it through just one).  DC in next 34 sts.  Remove next two markers & DC through both sts.  Dc in final 18 sts.  Ch 2, turn.

13) *DC in 8 sts; Dc twice in the 9th st* across.  Ch 2, turn.

14 – 29) DC in each st.  Ch 2, turn.  At end of 29, finish off.

SLEEVES~with 5mm hook

1) Join yarn in one of the arm holes, at the bottom.  Ch 2.  Dc in each st around.  Join to first st with slst.
2 & 3) Ch 2.  Dc in each st around.  Join with slst.
4) Ch 1.  *Sc in 6 sts.  Sc decl over next 2 sts* around.  Join with slst.
5 – 7) Ch 2.  Dc in each st around.  Join with slst.
8 ) Ch 1.  *Sc in 5 sts.  Sc decl over next 2 sts* around.  Join with slst.
9 – 11) Ch 2.  Dc in each st around.  Join with slst.
12) Ch 1.  *Sc in 4 sts.  Sc decl over next 2 sts* around.  Join with slst.
13 – 15) Ch 2.  Dc in each st around.  Join with slst.  At the end of 15, finish off.

Repeat on the other side.

BUTTON PLACKET~ with 4.5mm hook & Color B

1) With right side facing, join yarn at lower corner of sweater.  Single crochet evenly up the sweater, putting 2 sts in the side of each dc & 1 st in the side of each sc.  At edge of neckline, place 2 or 3 scs in the same stitch to negotiate the curve.  Sc evenly around the neckline, 1 st in each of the free loops of the turning chain.  Working back down the other side, after working around the corner as before, ch 1 & skip the side of row 2.  Sc in side of next row & each of next 3 rows.  Ch 1, skip the side of the next row.  SC in side of next 4 rows.  Ch 1, skip 1/2 of next DC row.  Continue in this fashion (with 4 Scs followed by a ch & skip 1/2 the DC row) until you have a total of five buttonholes.  Sc evenly down the rest of the sweater, across the bottom and back around to where you started.  Join with slip stitch.

2) SC in each SC to neckline.  Slst in first st of neckline; ch 3, DC in same st.  *Dc in one st, V-st {DC, ch 1, DC} in next st* to end of neckline.  Sc in each sc & ch-1 sp down side front of sweater, around to bottom of sweater.  Work the bottom of the sweater in the same fashion as the neckline (with 1 Dc, V-st) across to beginning.  Join with slst & finish off.

SLEEVE TRIM~ with 5mm hook & Color B

1) Join to first st with ch 1.  SC in each st around.  Join with slst.
2) Ch 3, DC in same st.  *Dc in one st, V-st in next st* around.  Join with slst & finish off.

Repeat on the other sleeve.

Finish by weaving in all yarn ends & sewing on buttons across from the button holes.