Shaded Steps Sweater Pattern

This knit v-neck sweater pattern is a dream for color lovers.

By: Caron Design Team from yarnspirations.com

By: Caron Design Team from yarnspirations.com

When color comes together in perfect harmony, it's simply magic. That's what makes this Shaded Steps Sweater Pattern so attractive; though the stitch pattern is lovely, and the loose fit is chic and in-fashion, the coordination of the Caron x Pantone yarn is just divine. You can even work this simple sweater knitting pattern so that the colors appear in the opposite order. While this sweater takes a little more skill to knit than some beginner patterns out there, it should be no sweat for someone who's taken on a pullover before.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size6 or 4 mm, 7 or 4.5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)

Gauge20 sts and 26 rows = 4" [10 cm] in stocking stitch with larger needles.

Materials List

Caron® x Pantone™Bamboo™ (3.5 oz/100 g; 180 yds/165 m) yarn in Night Owl - 10 (12, 14, 16, 17, 18) braids
Sizes U.S. 6 (4 mm) and U.S. 7 [4.5 mm] knitting needles.
Size U.S. 6 (4 mm) circular knitting needle 16" [40.5 cm] long or size needed to obtain gauge.
Stitch marker.
Stitch Holder

Instructions

Notes

Color Assignments:

Version 1:
A - 11-0603
B - 14-1305
C - 15-4306
D - 18-3905
E - 19-4205

Version 2:
A - 19-4205
B - 18-3905
C - 15-4306
D - 14-1305
E - 11-0603
Sizes:

To fit bust measurement:
XS/S: 28-34" [71-86.5 cm]
M: 36-38" [91.5-96.5 cm]
L: 40-42" [101.5-106.5 cm]
XL: 44-46" [112-117 cm]
2/3XL: 48-54" [122-137 cm]
4/5XL: 56-62" [142-157.5 cm]

Finished bust
XS/S: 40" [101.5 cm]
M: 44" [112 cm]
L: 47" [119.5 cm]
XL: 52" [132 cm]
2/3XL: 59" [150 cm]
4/5XL: 66" [167.5 cm]
Before working with Caron® x Pantone™ Bamboo™ multi-shade yarn braid, separate each color link and wind into 5 separate balls.
Each color link will be referenced by its Pantone # (see ball band).
Due to finite amount of yarn in each shade, pattern gauge must be matched to ensure successful results.
The instructions are written for smallest size. If changes are necessary for larger sizes the instructions will be written thus ( ). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Stripe Pat

With A, work 4½ (4½-4½-5-5-5)" [11.5 (11.5-11.5-12.5-12.5-12.5) cm], ending on 4th row of Lace Pat.

With B, work 4½ (4½-4½-5-5-5)" [11.5 (11.5-11.5-12.5-12.5-12.5) cm], ending on 4th row of Lace Pat.

With C, work 4½ (4½-4½-5-5-5)" [11.5 (11.5-11.5-12.5-12.5-12.5) cm], ending on 4th row of Lace Pat.

With D, work 4½ (4½-4½-5-5-5)" [11.5 (11.5-11.5-12.5-12.5-12.5) cm], ending on 4th row of Lace Pat.

With E, work 4½ (4½-4½-5-5-5)" [11.5 (11.5-11.5-12.5-12.5-12.5) cm], ending on 4th row of Lace Pat.

Front

**Referring to yarn colors for chosen Version, with A and smaller needles, cast on 99 (111-117-129-147-165) sts.

1st row: (RS). *K1. P1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: *P1. K1. Rep from * to last st. P1.

Rep last 2 rows 3 times more, then 1st row once.

Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace Pat as follows:

1st row: (WS). Purl.
2nd row: K2. *K2tog. yo. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
3rd row: Purl.
4th row: K2. *yo. K1. K2tog. Rep from * to last st. K1.

These 4 rows form Lace Pat.

Cont in Lace pat, AT SAME TIME working in Stripe Pat, until piece from beg measures 14 (14-14-15½-15½-15½)" [35.5 (35.5-35.5-39.5-39.5-39.5) cm], ending on a WS row of pat.

Shape armholes:

Keeping cont of pat, cast off 4 (6-5-8-7-10) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 91 (99-107-113-133-145) sts.**
Shape neck:

Left side:

1st row: (RS). K1. ssk. Pat across next 39 (43-47-50-60-66) sts. K2tog. K1 (neck edge). Turn. Place rem sts on st holder. 46 (50-54-57-67-73) sts.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: K1. ssk. Pat to last 3 sts. K2tog. K1.4th row: Purl.

Rep last 2 rows 1 (5-11-11-15-16) time(s) more, keeping cont of pat. 39 (35-27-30-32-36) sts.

Sizes XS/S and M only: Keeping cont of pat, dec 1 st every RS row at armhole edge and every following 4th row at neck edge 3 (2) times more. 30 (29) sts rem.

Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following 4th row to 20 (22) sts.

Sizes L, XL, 2/3XL and 4/5XL only: Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following (4th-4th-2nd-2nd) row to (22-22-30-34) sts.

Sizes 2/3XL and 4/5XL only: Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following 4th row to (25-28) sts.
All sizes:

Shape shoulder:

1st row: (WS). Purl.
2nd row: Cast off 10 (11-11-11-13-14) sts. Pat to end of row.
3rd row: Purl.

Cast off rem 10 (11-11-11-12-14) sts.Slip next unworked st (center st) onto a safety pin.
Right side:

With RS facing, join appropriate color to rem sts on st holder and proceed as follows:

1st row: K1. ssk (neck edge). Pat to last 3 sts. K2tog. K1. 43 (47-51-54-64-70) sts.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: K1. ssk. Pat to last 3 sts. K2tog. K1.
4th row: Purl.

Rep last 2 rows 1 (5-11-11-15-16) time(s) more, keeping cont of pat. 39 (35-27-30-32-36) sts.

Sizes XS/S and M only:
Keeping cont of pat, dec 1 st every RS row at armhole edge and every following 4th row at neck edge 3 (2) times more. 30 (29) sts rem. Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following 4th row to 20 (22) sts.

Sizes L, XL, 2/3XL and 4/5XL only:

Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following (4th-4th-2nd-2nd) row to (22-22-30-34) sts.Sizes 2/3XL and 4/5XL only:Dec 1 st at neck edge only every following 4th row to (25-28) sts.
All sizes:

Shape shoulder:

1st row: (WS). Cast off 10 (11-11-11-13-14) sts. Purl to end of row.
2nd row: Work even in pat. Cast off rem 10 (11-11-11-12-14) sts

Back

Work from ** to ** as given for Front.

1st row: (RS). K1. ssk. Pat to last 3 sts. K2tog. K1.
2nd and alt rows: Purl.

Rep last 2 rows 8 (10-11-12-17-18) times more. 73 (77-83-87-95-107) sts.

Cont even in pat until armhole measures 6½ (6½-7-7½-7½-8)" [16.5 (16.5-18-19-19-20.5) cm], ending on a WS row.

Shape back neck:

1st row:(RS). Pat across 22 (24-24-24-27-30) sts. ssk. K1. Turn. Leave rem sts on a spare needle. 24 (26-26-26-29-32) sts.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: Pat to last 3 sts. ssk. K1.
4th row: Purl.

Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. 20 (22-22-22-25-28) sts
Shape shoulder:

1st row: (RS). Cast off 10 (11-11-11-13-14) sts. Pat to end of row.
2nd row: Purl.Cast off rem 10 (11-11-11-12-14) sts.

With RS facing, slip center 23 (23-29-33-37-41) sts onto a st holder.

1st row: Join appropriate color. K1. K2tog. Pat to end of row.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: K1. K2tog. Pat to end of row.
4th row: Purl.Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. 20 (22-22-22-25-28) sts.
Shape shoulder:

1st row: (RS). Cast off 10 (11-11-11-13-14) sts. Pat to end of row.
2nd row: Purl.Cast off rem 10 (11-11-11-12-14) sts.

With RS facing, slip center 23 (23-29-33-37-41) sts onto a st holder.

1st row: Join appropriate color. K1. K2tog. Pat to end of row.
2nd row: Purl.
3rd row: K1. K2tog. Pat to end of row.
4th row: Purl.Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. 20 (22-22-22-25-28) sts.

Sleeves

Referring to colors for chosen Version, with A and smaller needles, cast on 57 (57-57-59-59-59) sts.

1st row: (RS). *K1. P1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
2nd row: *P1. K1. Rep from * to last st. P1.

Rep last 2 rows 3 times more, then 1st row once, inc 0 (0-0-1-1-1) st in center of last row. 57 (57-57-60-60-60) sts.

Change to larger needles and proceed in Lace pat as follows:

1st row: (WS). Purl.
2nd row: K2. *K2tog. yo. K1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
3rd row: Purl.
4th row: K2. *yo. K1. K2tog. Rep from * to last st. K1.

These 4 rows form Lace pat.Keeping cont of both Lace and Stripe pat, inc 1 st at each end of needle every following 6th row to 67 (69-69-72-76-76) sts, taking increased sts into pat.

Cont even in both Lace and Stripe pat until Sleeve measures approx 14½" [37 cm], ending on a WS row.

Shape top:

Keeping cont of both Lace and Stripe pat, cast off 4 (5-5-6-8-8) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 59 (59-59-60-60-60) sts.

Dec 1 st each end of next and every 4th row to 41 (41-41-36-36-36) sts, then every alt row to 15 (15-15-18-18-18) sts.Work 1 row even in pat. Cast off.

Finishing

Sew shoulder seams.

V-neck band:

With RS facing, smaller circular needle and E, pick up and knit 38 (38-40-42-42-44) sts down left front neck edge. PM. K1 from center safety pin. PM. Pick up and knit 38 (38-40-42-42-44) sts up right front neck edge and 8 sts down right back neck edge. K23 (23-29-33-37-41) from back neck st holder. Pick up and knit and 8 sts up left back neck edge.

Join in rnd and PM to indicate beg of rnd. 116(116-126-134-138-146) sts.

1st rnd: *K1. P1. Rep from * to 2 sts before first center marker. ssk. K1 (center st). K2tog. *P1. K1 to last st. P1.

Rep last rnd of (K1. P1) ribbing, dec 1 st at either side of center st 5 times more.Cast off loosely.
Sew in Sleeves, easing Sleeve cap at shoulders. Sew side and sleeve seams, taking care to match color changes.

See front & back diagram.

See sleeve diagram.