Folk Rabbit Sweater

Design: The Folk Rabbit Sweater is a colorwork pullover with a slightly relaxed fit. The yoke features stranded colorwork, and the neckband, hem, and cuffs are worked in twisted ribbing. The neckband is folded for extra structure and polish. The sleeves feature a panel of lace and traditional tapered shaping.

Construction: This sweater is knit from the top down in the round. Stitches are cast on at the top of the neckband, which is worked first. Short rows create back neck shaping, and the yoke is knit in two-color stranded colorwork. Lifted increases shape the yoke. Once the yoke is complete, sleeve stitches are put on hold while the lower body is worked. Stitches are then returned to the needles to complete the sleeves.

Fit: This garment is designed to fit with 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm) of positive ease in the body. To pick the best size for you, measure your upper bust circumference and add your preferred ease of between 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm). Make the size with a finished chest circumference closest to that number. If you are unfamiliar with choosing garment size based on your upper bust measurement, One Wild Designs has a great blog post about this.

Yarn: Yarn estimates provided in this pattern are approximations. These estimates were calculated to include enough yarn to knit both a sizable swatch and the sweater along with a small margin of error. Your total yarn usage will depend on your personal gauge, the characteristics of your yarn (e.g., fiber content, plies, thickness, etc.), and any modifications you choose to make.

Stitch Patterns: The stranded colorwork stitch patterns in this sweater are only charted, so you should be confident in your chart reading skills—or be open to learning!

SIZES
(1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Finished Chest Circumference
(33.5, 37.5, 41.5)(44, 46.5, 48.75)(52.75, 56, 59.25) in.
(84, 94, 104)(110, 116.5, 122)(132, 140, 148) cm

Finished Upper Arm Circumference
(11.5, 12.25, 13)(13.5, 15, 16.75)(18.25, 19.5, 21) in.
(29, 30.5, 32.5)(34, 37.5, 42)(45.5, 49, 52.5) cm

This sweater is intended to be worn 2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm) of positive ease in the body. See the note above on fit for more information about choosing the right size for you!

The sample sweater pictured in this pattern uses two fingering weight yarns held together to achieve an overall weight of DK. Yarn requirements are provided for both yarns held together and a single strand of DK yarn. Note that MC yarn requirements will vary based on whether you choose cropped or full-length!

Yarns Held Together (Fingering + Fingering)
Cropped Length
MC: (325, 360, 390)(415, 435, 470)(510, 550, 585) g/(1425, 1580, 1710)(1820, 1910, 2065)(2240, 2415, 2570) yds or (1305, 1445, 1565)(1665, 1745, 1890)(2050, 2210, 2350) m
Full Length
MC: (385, 430, 465)(495, 525, 560)(610, 650, 690) g/(1690, 1890, 2040)(2175, 2305, 2460)(2680, 2855, 3030) yds or (1545, 1730, 1865)(1990, 2110, 2250)(2450, 2610, 2770) m
Cropped and Full Length
CC: (60, 65, 70)(75, 80, 85)(90, 100, 105) g/(265, 285, 305)(330, 350, 375)(395, 440, 460) yds or (240, 260, 280)(300, 320, 345)(360, 400, 420) m

-- or --

Single Strand (DK Weight)
The totals below assume a DK weight yarn of 100 g/250 yds or 228 m.
Cropped Length
MC: (285, 315, 340)(365, 385, 420)(450, 485, 515) g/(715, 790, 855)(910, 965, 1045)(1130, 1210, 1285) yds or (655, 725, 785)(835, 885, 955)(1035, 1105, 1175) m
Full Length
MC: (340, 375, 410)(435, 460, 490)(535, 575, 610) g/(845, 935, 1020)(1090, 1155, 1230)(1340, 1440, 1525) yds or (775, 855, 935)(995, 1055, 1125)(1225, 1315, 1395) m
Cropped and Full Length
CC: (55, 60, 60)(65, 70, 75)(80, 90, 90) g/(135, 145, 155)(165, 175, 190)(200, 220, 230) yds or (120, 130, 140)(150, 160, 175)(180, 200, 210) m

SUGGESTED YARN
Yarns Held Together (Fingering + Fingering)
Purl Soho Linen Quill (100 g/439 yds (410 m)) – 50% fine Highland wool, 35% Alpaca, 15% linen
Totals account for yarn being held double to create a DK-weight yarn.
Cropped Length
MC: (4, 4, 4)(5, 5, 5)(6, 6, 6) skeins
Full Length
MC: (4, 5, 5)(5, 6, 6)(7, 7, 7) skeins
Cropped and Full Length
CC: (1, 1, 1)(1, 1, 1)(1, 1, 2) skeins

The sample garment is knit in Twig Brown + Peach Stone held together (MC) and Pale Oats held double (CC).

If you want to hold 2 different colors together as I did in my sample sweater, you will need a total of the skeins listed above. For example, to knit my sample sweater in Size 1, I began with 2 skeins of Twig Brown and 2 skeins of Peach Stone = 4 total MC skeins.

Needle A (body and sleeves): US 6 (4 mm)
Needle B (ribbing): US 4 (3.5 mm)

For each needle size, you will need 24 in. (60 cm) to 50 in. (125 cm) circular needles, depending on the finished chest circumference of your chosen size and your preferred needles for smaller circumference knitting (i.e., magic loop, short circular needles, or double-pointed needles).

Measure gauge on Needle A in the round, after blocking.

20 sts and 26 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stockinette
20 sts and 24 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in stranded colorwork

German twisted cast-on, German short rows, knit increases and decreases, stranded colorwork, backwards loop cast on, lace knitting, chart reading, tubular bind-off