MATERIALS
Knitting Worsted: Main color, 10 oz. coral
Design color, ½ oz. white
Needles: 1 pair size 3, 1 pair size 5 (standard)
Knitting Chart
GAUGE
5 ½ stitches = 1 inch
6 ½ rows = 1 inch
Chest measurement of sweater = 26 inches
BACK
With size 3 needles and the main color, cast on 68 stitches. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 2 inches. Change to size 5 needles and knit across the next row, increasing to 71 stitches (increase about every 18th stitch). Purl back, then work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until work measures 10 ½ inches from the beginning, ending with a purl row. Bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows for the underarm, then bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of each of the next 6 rows. Always slip the first stitch when binding off. Work straight until piece measures 5 inches from the first row of the underarm decreases. Then bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 4 rows, and 5 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows. Place the remaining 23 stitches on a stitch holder for the neckband.
LEFT FRONT
With size 3 needles and the main color, cast on 37 stitches. Work the first 32 stitches in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, until 5 stitches from the end, then knit 1, purl 1 for the last 5 stitches. Continue, working these 5 stitches in the seed stitch (knit 1, purl 1, knitting over purl stitches and purling over knit stitches on both the right and the wrong sides) for the front band. When the ribbing measures 2 inches and with the seed stitch at the left hand side, change to size 5 needles and knit the first row shown on the diagram, increasing to 38 stitches on this row. Follow the half of the diagram marked "left front," continuing the seed stitch for the front band. When the piece measures 10 ½ inches from the beginning, ending with a purl row, bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next row, and bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of every knit row 3 times. When piece measures 3 ¾ inches from the first row of the underarm decreases, on a knit row work the first 19 stitches and place the remaining 12 stitches on a stitch holder for the neckband. Continue working the 19 stitches for the shoulder. Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge every other row until there are 17 stitches. (For decrease, knit to within 3 stitches of end of row, knit 2 together, then knit 1.) When work measures 5 inches from the first underarm decrease, bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 knit rows, then 5 stitches at the beginning of the next knit row.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 37 stitches on size 3 needles. Seed stitch the first 5 stitches and knit 2, purl 2, for the remaining 32 stitches. The first buttonhole is made in the seed stitch halfway up the ribbing and the other 5, every 2 ¼ inches, the last one being in the neckband. To make a buttonhole, bind off the 3rd and 4th stitches in from the outer edge. On the next row, cast on 2 stitches to replace these. When the ribbing measures 2 inches and with the seed stitch at the right hand side, change to size 5 needles and knit the next row, increasing to 38 stitches. Continue in the stockinette stitch (and seed stitch for the front band) until work measures 10 ½ inches from the beginning, ending with a knit row. This is the first row shown on the diagram marked "right front." Follow the diagram for underarm decreases and design. When piece measures 3 ¾ inches from the first row shown on the diagram, ending with a purl row, on next row work 12 stitches and put them on a stitch holder for the neckband. Work the remaining 19 stitches for the shoulder. Decrease 1 stitch at the neck edge of each knit row until there are 17 stitches. (For decrease, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit stitch.) When work measures 5 inches from the first row shown on the diagram, ending with a knit row, bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 purl rows, then 5 stitches at the beginning of the next purl row.
SLEEVES
With size 3 needles and the main color, cast on 36 stitches and work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 2 ¼ inches. Change to size 5 needles and knit across the next row increasing to 39 stitches (increase about every 9th stitch). Work in stockinette stitch, increasing 1 stitch at each end of the 7th row, then every 8th row until there are 53 stitches. When the sleeve measures 12 inches from the beginning, ending with a purl row, bind off 4 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows. Then bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of every row until 27 stitches remain, then 3 stitches at the beginning of every row until 15 stitches remain. Bind off these 15 stitches.
ASSEMBLY
Assemble the sweater according to the directions on patternbook page. For the neckband, with the right side facing, pick up 72 stitches (including those on stitch holders) with size 3 needles. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 7 rows, continuing the first and last 5 stitches in the seed stitch. Make the buttonhole 2 ¼ inches above the last one. Bind off loosely in the knit 2, purl 2 pattern.
Other great patterns from Wild West Sweaters, Volume 10:
Knitting Patterns
Rodeo Rider Sweater
Prairie Flower Sweater
Two Star Sheriff Sweater
Texas Longhorn Sweater
Thunder Bird Sweater
Cattle Brands Sweater
Lucky Ponies Sweater
Cowboy Sweater
Desert Flower Sweater
Prairie Cactus Sweater