Sweater knitting

Elena Dimchevska

The abundance of patterns and textures using motifs from the natural world was a distinctive feature of the decorative arts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which promoted the skills, craftsmanship, and humanization of the creators of decorative items.
The movement existed as a counterpoint to mass-produced goods, which were often cheap and poorly made. The fast fashion of the twenty-first century creates a different kind of abundance - an excess of clothing that goes beyond what people need, harming both people and the Earth.
Our knitting continues the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement and is embodied in the design of the pullover "Epoch" by Elena Dimchevska. "Epoch" imitates natural motifs commonly found in the works of one of the most outstanding figures of the decorative arts movement, William Morris.

The yoke is rich with braids representing the branches of grapevines, as well as grapes symbolizing harvest and gratitude for nature's generosity. Among them are autumn flowers, which, according to Elena, “boldly raise their heads to see the last rays of the sun.”

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Size of the pullover at the bust circumference (at the fullest point): 76 (90, 103, 112, 119.5, 127, 139.5, 152.5) cm - for wearing with a positive ease of approx. 4-8 cm.

Hiroko's height is 155 cm, with a bust circumference of 90 cm, and she is wearing the blue version of the pullover in size 3. Molly's height is 175 cm, with a bust circumference of 107 cm, and she is wearing the yellow version of the pullover in size 4.

Yarn: De Rerum Natura Pénélopé (DK-weight; 90% organic Merinos d'Arles wool / 10% silk; 133m/50g)

Color: Ocre; 7 (8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12) skeins OR approx. 920 (1020, 1050, 1175, 1250, 1320, 1400, 1500) m of DK-weight yarn.

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows = 10 cm in stockinette stitch, in the round on 3.5 mm needles, after blocking.

23 sts and 32 rows = 10 cm in the pattern of Chart A, in the round on 3.5 mm needles, after blocking.

Needles: circular needles 3 mm, 40 cm long and needles suitable for knitting small circumferences in the round; circular needles 3.5 mm, 80 cm long.

Always use a needle size that will give the correct gauge after blocking.

Other: 3 stitch markers (1 unique), scrap yarn or stitch holders, tapestry needle.

Notes: The Epoch pullover is knitted seamlessly from the top down, with a round yoke, starting with a ribbed round neckline. The patterned yoke is adorned with braids, lace, bobbles, and cluster stitches to create floral heads and fruits. The pattern on the yoke continues into the fullest part of the bust, with the sleeves separated under the bust. Then the body and fitted sleeves are knitted in stockinette stitch until the edge is finished in ribbing.

Abbreviations and Techniques

2 tog. knit. = knit 2 sts together as knit.

p. = purl

p2tog = purl through the front and purl through the back of the same st.

WS = wrong side

k. = knit

st st. = stockinette stitch

k2tog = knit through the front and knit through the back of the same st.

RS = right side

yarn over = yarn over the work

yarn before = yarn in front of the work

st. = stitch

M1L = make 1 knit left (with left-leaning increase): lift the strand between stitches by inserting the needle from the front, and knit it through the back of the st.

M1Li = make 1 purl left (with left-leaning increase): lift the strand between stitches by inserting the needle from the front, and purl it through the back of the st.

M1R = make 1 knit right (with right-leaning increase): lift the strand between stitches by inserting the needle from the back, and knit it through the front of the st.

= place a marker on the right needle

inc. = increased

prev. = previous

sl2k = slip 2 sts knitwise, 1 knit, yarn over the slipped

st. to knit

twisted. = twisted

slM = slip marker from the right needle to the left

sl = slip

sl1k = slip, slip, knit – slip 1 st as knit, slip another st as knit, return both stitches to the left needle, twisted, and knit them together as knit through the back of the stitches.

dec. = decreased

2/2 C: Slip 2 to a cable needle and leave at the back, k2, k2 from the cable needle.

2/2 LC: Slip 2 to a cable needle and leave at the front, k2, k2 from the cable needle.

2/1 RC: Slip 1 to a cable needle and leave at the back, k2, p1 from the cable needle.

2/1 LC: Slip 2 to a cable needle and leave at the front, p1, k2 from the cable needle.

Cluster 4 sts: [Slip 4 stitches with the yarn at the back, bring the yarn forward, slip 4 stitches back to the left needle] repeat once more, knit these 4 sts.

Double cluster 4 sts: [Slip 4 stitches with the yarn at the back, bring the yarn forward, slip 4 stitches back to the left needle] repeat 3 more times, knit these 4 sts.

3 of 4 below: (1 knit, yarn over, 1 knit) into the stitch 4 rows below the next stitch on the left needle, slip this stitch from the needle.

Patterns:

Ribbing 1x1 (in the round)

Round 1: [1 knit, 1 purl] to the end.

Repeat round 1 for the pattern.

WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHARTS

Chart A

Round 1: [4 purl, 2/2 C] 2 times. 16 sts.

Round 2: [4 purl, 4 knit] 2 times.

Round 3 (rep.): p2tog, 3 purl, 4 knit, 2 purl, 1 knit, p2tog, 4 knit. 18 sts.

Round 4: [5 purl, 4 knit] 2 times.

Round 5 (rep.): p2tog, 4 purl, 2/2 C, 4 purl, p2tog, 2/2 C. 20 sts.

Round 6: [6 purl, 4 knit] 2 times.

Round 7: 5 purl, 2/1 RC, 2/1 LC, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 8: 5 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, 2 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 9 (rep.): p2tog, 3 purl, 2/1 RC, 2 purl, 2/1 LC, 3 purl, p2tog, 2/2 C. 22 sts.

Round 10: 5 purl, 2 knit, 4 purl, 2 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 11 (rep.): p2tog, 3 purl, 2/1 RC, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2/1 LC, 3 purl, p2tog, 4 knit. 24 sts.

Round 12: 4 purl, 3 knit, 1 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 1 purl, 2 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 13: 4 purl, 2/1 RC, 1 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 1 purl, 2/1 LC, 4 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 14: 4 purl, 2 knit, [2 purl, 1 twisted knit] 2 times, 2 purl, 2 knit, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 15 (rep.): p2tog, 2 purl, 2/1 RC, [2 purl, 1 twisted knit] 2 times, 2 purl, 2/1 LC, 2 purl, p2tog, 4 knit. 26 sts.

Round 16: 4 purl, 2 knit, 3 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 3 purl, 2 knit, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 17: 3 purl, 2/1 RC, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2/1 LC, 3 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 18: 3 purl, 2 knit, 1 purl, [1 twisted knit,2 purl] 3 times, 1 twisted knit, 1 purl, 2 knit, 3 purl, 4 knit.

Round 19: 2 purl, 2/1 RC, 1 purl, cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, cluster 4 sts, 1 purl, 2/1 LC, 2 purl, 4 knit.

Round 20: 2 purl, 2 knit, [2 purl, 1 twisted knit] 4 times, 2 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, 4 knit.

Round 21: 2 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, double cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 22: Repeat round 20.

Round 23: 2 purl, 2/1 LC, 1 purl, cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, cluster 4 sts, 1 purl, 2/1 RC, 2 purl, 4 knit.

Round 24: Repeat round 18.

Round 25: 3 purl, 2/1 LC, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2/1 RC, 3 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 26: 4 purl, 2 knit, [1 twisted knit, 2 purl] 3 times, 1 twisted knit, 2 knit, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 27: 4 purl, 2/1 LC, [2 purl, 1 twisted knit] 2 times, 2 purl, 2/1 RC, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 28: 5 purl, 2 knit, [2 purl, 1 twisted knit] 2 times, 2 purl, 2 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 29: 5 purl, 2/1 LC, 1 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 1 purl, 2/1 RC, 5 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 30: 6 purl, 2 knit, 1 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 1 purl, 2 knit, 6 purl, 4 knit.

Round 31: 6 purl, 2/1 LC, 4 purl, 2/1 RC, 6 purl, 4 knit.

Round 32: 7 purl, 2 knit, 4 purl, 2 knit, 7 purl, 4 knit.

Round 33: 7 purl, 2/1 LC, 2 purl, 2/1 RC, 7 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 34: 8 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, 2 knit, 8 purl, 4 knit.

Round 35 (rep.): 3 purl, 3 of 4 below, 4 purl, 2/1 LC, 2/1 RC, 4 purl, 3 of 4 below, 3 purl, 4 knit. 30 sts.

Round 36: 3 purl, 3 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit, 5 purl, 3 knit, 3 purl, 4 knit.

Round 37 (dec.): 3 purl, sl2k, 5 purl, 2/2 C, 5 purl, sl2k, 3 purl, 2/2 C. 26 sts.

Round 38: [9 purl, 4 knit] 2 times.

Round 39 (rep.): 1 purl, 3 of 4 below, 3 purl, 3 of 4 below, 2 purl, 2/1 RC, 2/1 LC, 2 purl, 3 of 4 below, 3 purl, 3 of 4 below, 1 purl, 4 knit. 34 sts.

Round 40: 1 purl, 3 knit, 3 purl, 3 knit, [2 purl, 2 knit] 2 times, 2 purl, 3 knit, 3 purl, 3 knit, 1 purl, 4 knit.

Round 41 (dec.): 1 purl, sl2k, 3 purl, sl2k, 1 purl, 2/1 RC, 2 purl, 2/1 LC, 1 purl, sl2k, 3 purl, sl2k, 1 purl, 2/2 C. 26 sts.

Round 42: 7 purl, 3 knit, 4 purl, 2 knit, 7 purl, 4 knit.

Round 43: 6 purl, 2/1 RC, 4 purl, 2/1 LC, 6 purl, 4 knit.

Round 44: [6 purl, 2 knit] 2 times, 6 purl, 4 knit.

Round 45: 5 purl, 2/1 RC, 6 purl, 2/1 LC, 5 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 46: 5 purl, 2 knit, 8 purl, 2 knit, 5 purl, 4 knit.

Round 47: 4 purl, 2/1 RC, 8 purl, 2/1 LC, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 48: 4 purl, 2 knit, 10 purl, 2 knit, 4 purl, 4 knit.

Round 49: 3 purl, 2/1 RC, 10 purl, 2/1 LC, 3 purl, 2/2 C.

Round 50: 3 purl, 2 knit, 12 purl, 2 knit, 3 purl, 4 knit.

Round 51: 2 purl, 2/1 RC, 12 purl, 2/1 LC, 2 purl, 4 knit.

Round 52: 2 purl, 2 knit, p14, 2 knit, 2 purl, 4 knit.

Round 53 (rep.): 1 purl, 2/1 RC, p2tog, 4 purl, cluster 4 sts, 4 purl, p2tog, 2/1 LC, 1 purl, 2/2 C. 28 sts.

Round 54: 1 purl, 2 knit, 7 purl, 1 twisted knit, 2 purl, 1 twisted knit, 7 purl, 2 knit, 1 purl, 4 knit.

Round 55 (rep.): 2/1 RC, p2tog, 3 purl, cluster 4 sts, 2 purl, cluster 4 sts, 3 purl, p2tog, 2/1 LC, 4 knit. 30 sts.

Round 56: 2 knit, 6 purl, [1 twisted knit, 2 purl] 3 times, 1 twisted knit, 6 purl, 6 knit.

Weave in the ends of the yarn and block to the specified measurements.

a. Size of the pullover at the bust circumference (at the fullest point):

76 (90, 103, 112, 119.5, 127, 139.5, 152.5) cm

b. Body circumference at the division point (under the bust):

67.5 (81, 92.5, 102.5, 109, 116.5, 127.5, 140) cm

c. Depth of the yoke:

21 (23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35) cm

d. Length of the body (from the armhole):

30 (31, 31, 31, 32, 32, 33, 33) cm

e. Sleeve circumference at the top:

32 (32, 32.5, 34.5, 36.5, 37.5, 38, 40) cm

f. Length of the sleeve (from the armhole):

45 (44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38) cm

g. Neck circumference:

44 (49, 50, 50, 51, 53, 57, 61) cm