Irish Collared Men’s Pullover

I am so encouraged by all of the positive feedback from you all! I have to admit that starting this new phase is a bit intimidating, and realizing that people actually read this is exciting and scary all at the same time. I hope you will be patient with me as I learn how this blog stuff works, and figure out how to balance working full-time, keeping house, planning an 8-week trip to Europe (more on that later!!!) AND blogging consistently on top of all that.

Throughout my life, one thing has been certain: I usually bite off more than I can chew. Whether that’s in activities, or jobs, or projects… I get excited in the beginning and then go a little, well, crazy. To help offset that tendency, I am going to start off with one or (at the max) two substantial blog posts per week. I have so many great ideas in queue that I just can’t wait to show you all BUT I will simply have to bite my tongue and be patient. Hmph.

Meanwhile, here are some things you can be looking forward to in the future:

• – Knitting tips and featured links to great online resources
• – Repurposed projects
• – Beginner knitting lessons
• – Sourdough technique/bread baking
• – Europe trip plans and pictures!
• – Wedding flowers
• – “WBC” – posts on some favorite Wines, Beers, and Coffees
• – And more!

Now. To knitting.

But first, one more thing (sorry).
If you have never knitted before in your life, but are somewhat interested in starting, I hope that these projects serve as inspiration rather than intimidation for you to start! Unless you are a prodigy, you probably won’t be able to jump into clothing or crazy cables or lace right away. My hope is that these posts will show you the endless modern/stylish possibilities and that knitting isn’t just for grannies and crazy Christmas sweaters!

Okay, NOW we can knit.

This is a no-named, no copyrighted pattern I found while weeding through an online list of some crazy, 1970 and 1980’s styled sweater patterns . I will just say that there is some crazy ugly stuff out there. And some that are just shocking. This vintage find was a pearl among , um, non-pearls, and decided to give it a go for my husband. I love how the good parts of fashion tend to come back around in style! I loved the shawl collar, and the center and side detailing adds so much. Those rings are quite simple if you are familiar with any sort of cabling. The main sections are in reverse st st, which give it a different look than normal knitted items.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I HATE seaming. So figuring out how to seam on the collar was a bit trying for me, and it took me several tries to get it to fit right. I ended up using mattress stitching around the edges, and then your basic sewing stitch for the overlapping section in the front.

Sizing (measured around largest point of chest):
Small (32-34 in)
Medium (36-38 in)
Large (40-42 in)
Extra large (44-46 in)

The pattern will reflect the modifications for each size in the parenthesis as such:
S(M-L-ExL)

Supplies:
– Valley Yarns Northampton 100% Wool, Light Grey (100 g balls) — 6(7-7-8)
– Knitting needles: 1 pair each No. 5 US and 7 US
– 1 Cable needle

Gauge: 9 sts — 2 inches 6 rows = 1 inch
Yarn Weight: Worsted

Notes and Definitions:

All increases are made by picking up the thread lying between the last st and the next st and knitting into the back of it.

FC3 = Sl next st onto cable needle and hold in FRONT of work, k next 2 sts, k st from cable needle

BC3 = sl next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in BACK of work, k next st, k 2 sts from cable needle

Twist2 = P 2, skip next st, p into front loop of next st, p skipped st

Cable Pattern Stitch for Back and Front Armholes: To be worked on each Group of 6 sts as designated.

Row 1:  FC 3, BC3.
Row 2:  Twist2, p 2.
Row 3: BC 3, FC 3.
Rows 4 and 6: P 6.
Rows 5 and 7: K 6.
Row 8: P 6.

Repeat these 8 rows for cable pattern stitch for back and front armholes.

Cable Pattern Stitch for Front: To be worked on 17 sts as designated.

Row 1: FC 3, BC 3, p 5, FC 3, BC 3.
Row 2: P 2, Twist2, p 2, k 5, p 2, Twist2, p2.
Row 3: BC 3, FC 3, p 5, BC 3, FC 3.
Rows 4 and 6: P 6, k 5, p 6.
Rows 5 and 7: K 6, p 5, k 6.
Row 8: Repeat Row 4.

Repeat these 8 rows for cable pattern for front.

BACK:

Using smaller needles, cast on 79 (89-99-109) sts.

Row 1: P 1, * k 1, p 1, repeat from · across Row.
Row 2: K 1, * p 1, k 1, repeat from * across Row.
Repeat these 2 rows for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.

Change to larger needles and starting with a p Row, work even in reverse stockinette st until piece measures 18 (18 ½ -19-19 ½ ) inches or desired length to Underarm, ending with a k Row.

Shape Armholes:
Rows 1-4: At the beg of each row, bind off 5 (6-7-8) sts — 59 (65-71-77) sts.

Row 5: P 2 (3-4-5), k 3, inc 1 st, k 2, p 45 (49-53-57), k 2, inc 1 st, k 3, p 2 (3-4-5) — 2 sts inc.
Row 6: K 2 (3-4-5), p 6, k 45 (49-53-57), p 6, k 2 (3-4-5).
Row 7: P 2 (3-4-5), put a marker on needle, work Row 1 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, put a marker on needle, p to last 8 (9-10-11) sts, put a marker on needle, work Row 1 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, put a marker on needle, p 2 (3-4-5).

Row 8: K 2 (3-4-5), work Row 2 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, k 1, inc 1 st, k to I st before 3rd marker, inc 1 st, k 1, work Row 2 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, k 2 (3-4-5) — 2 sts inc.

Continue to work each group of 6 sts between markers in cable pattern st for armholes and remaining sts in reverse stockinette st.
Inc 2 sts (as explained above) every 8th Row, 5 times more — 73 (79-85-91) sts. Work even in pattern as established until armholes measure 8 (8½ -9-9½) inches.

Shape Shoulders:

At the beg of each of the next 4 rows bind off 8 (9-9-10) sts. At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 8 (8-10-10) sts. Bind off remaining 25 (27-29-31) sts.

FRONT:
Using smaller needles, cast on 79 (89-99-109) sts.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of back ribbing for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.

Change to larger needles.

Increase Row: P 32 (37-42-47), k2, inc 1 st, k 3, p 5, k 3, inc 1 st, k 2, p 32 (37-42-47) — 81 (91-101-111) sts.
On the next Row k 32 (37-42-47), p 6, k 5, p 6, k 32 (37-42-47).

Row 1: P 32 (37-42-47), work Row 1 of cable pattern st on next 17 sts,  p 32 (37-42-47).
Row 2: K 32 (37-42-47), work Row 2 of cable pattern st on next 17 sts, k 32 (37-42-47). Continue to work 17 sts between markers in pattern st and remaining sts in reverse stockinette st until piece measures 18 (18½, 19-19½) inches or desired length to underarm, ending with a wrong side row.

Shape Front Opening and Armholes:
Discontinuing cable pattern st on 17 sts between markers and removing markers, on the next Row p 31

36-40-44), sl remaining sts onto a holder.

Left Side Armhole:
Row 1: Knit.
Rows 2 and 4: At arm edge bind off 5 (6-7-8) sts, work to end of Row.
Rows 3 and 5: Knit.
Row 6: P 2(3-4-5), k 3, inc 1 st, k 2, p 14(16-17-18).
Row 7: K 14 (16-17-18),p 6, k 2(3-4-5).
Row 8: P 2 (3-4-5), put a marker on needle, work Row 1 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, put a marker on needle, p 14 (16-17-18).

Row 9: K 2, s1 1 as if to k, k 1, psso (neck dec), k to 1 st before marker, inc 1 st, k 1, work Row 2 of cable pattern st for armholes on next 6 sts, k 2 (3-4-5).

Continue in this manner to work 6 sts between markers in cable pattern st for armholes as established and remaining sts in reverse stockinette st, and AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at neck edge every 8th Row, 3 (4-4-4) times more and inc 1 st before first marker 5 times more.

When all shaping has been completed, work even in pattern as established on 24 (26-28-30) sts until armhole measures 8 (8½ -9-9½) inches.

Shape Shoulder: At arm edge bind off 8(9-9-10) sts twice and 8(8-10-10) sts once.

Right Side Armhole:
With right side facing you, sl 50 (55-61-67) sts onto larger needles. Join yarn at neck edge and bind off 1 9(19-21-23) sts, p to end of Row. K 1 Row, p 1 Row. Finish to correspond to left side, reversing all shaping and placing of armhole pattern st.

SLEEVES:
Using smaller needles, cast on 43 (45-47-49) sts.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of back ribbing for 3 inches.

Change to larger needles. Starting with a p Row, work in reverse stockinette st, inc 1 st each end of needle and repeat this inc every 4th Row, 11 (12-13-13) times, putting a marker in each side of work when piece measures 18 (18½ -19-19½) inches.
Work even in reverse stockinette st on 67 (71-75-77) sts until piece measures 20 (21-22-23) inches.

Shape Cap:
At the beg of each of the next 2 rows bind off 5 (6-7-8) sts. At the beg of each of the next 6 (8-10-10) rows bind off 7 (6-5-5) sts. Bind off remaining 15 (11-11-11) sts.

COLLAR, Left Side:
Using larger needles, cast on 23 (23-25-27) sts. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of back ribbing once.
At the beg of the next Row inc 1 st, then inc every other Row 3 (3-5-7) times more, forming new ribs as sts are inc.
Work 1 Row.
On the next Row inc 1 st at same edge and repeat this inc every 4th Row, 5 times more, ending at straight edge.

The following “Short Row” sets are broken up into 3 sets, just so it’s a bit easier to manage (not to confuse you!).  I had a bit of a hard time keeping track here, so I would recommend noting on paper what row and what short row set and what number of each short row set you are on as you go along. 

Short rows, set 1:
Row 1: Work to last 6 sts.
Row 2: Turn, work to end of Row.
(Work 3 rows. On the next Row inc 1 st at shaped edge of collar) twice.

Repeat the last 10 rows twice more. Put a marker at shaped edge of last Row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of short rows, set 1.
Work even on all sts for 4 rows.

Short Rows, set 2:
(Row 1: Work to last 18 sts. Row 2: Turn, work to end of Row. Work even for 4 rows.) four times (for a total of 24 rows).

Short Rows, set 3:
Row 1: Work to last 6 sts.
Row 2: Turn, work to end of Row. Work even for 2 (2-4-6) rows, ending at straight edge of collar.

Shape Center Back:
Short Rows:
Row 1: Work to last 6 sts.
Row 2: Turn, work to end of Row.
Row 3: Work to last 12 sts.
Row 4: Turn, work to end of Row.
Row 5: Work to last 18 sts.
Row 6: Turn, work to end of Row.
Row 7: Work to last 24 sts.
Row 8: Turn, work to end of Row. Sl sts onto a holder. Work right side of collar to correspond to left side, reversing all shaping. Place the two pieces tog, right sides facing and bind off tog in ribbing the 2 sets of sts.

FINISHING:
Sew underarm, shoulder and sleeve seams to markers. Set in sleeves. Sew shaped edge of collar to neck edge, overlapping at center front.