MATERIALS
3-Ply Fingering Yarn: Main color, 7 oz. gray
Design colors, 1 oz. maroon, ½ oz. white
Needles: 1 pair size 2, 1 pair size 3 (standard)
Knitting Chart
GAUGE
7 stitches = 1 inch
9 rows = 1 inch
Chest measurement of sweater = 30 inches
BACK
With size 2 needles and the main color, cast on 100 stitches. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 2 ¼ inches. Change to size 3 needles and knit across the next row, increasing to 103 stitches (increase about every 25th stitch). Purl back, then work in the stockinette stitch until work measures 12 inches from the beginning, ending with a purl row. Start underarm decrease as shown on the diagram on the next row, by binding off the number of stitches shown. Always slip the first stitch when binding off. Continue following the diagram for the design. For the shoulders, start on the indicated row and bind off at the beginning of 6 consecutive rows the number of stitches shown, placing the remaining 31 stitches on a stitch holder for the neckband.
LEFT FRONT
With size 2 needles and the main color, cast on 55 stitches. Work the first 46 stitches in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2; then knit 1, purl 1, for the remaining 9 stitches. Continue working these 9 stitches in the seed stitch (knit 1, purl 1, knitting over purl stitches and purling over knit stitches on both right and wrong sides) for the front band. When the ribbing measures 2 ¼ inches and with the seed stitch at the left hand side, change to size 3 needles and knit across the next row, increasing to 56 stitches. Work in the stockinette stitch to correspond with back, continuing the seed stitch for the front band. When work measures 12 inches, ending with a purl row, start underarm decreases as shown on the diagram marked "left front." For the neck opening, work the first 29 stitches and place the remaining 17 stitches on a stitch holder for the neckband. Continue working these shoulder stitches. For the neck decreases, knit to within 3 stitches of the end of the row, knit 2 together, knit 1. For the shoulder, bind off at the beginning of 3 consecutive knit rows the number of stitches shown.
RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 55 stitches on size 2 needles. Seed stitch the first 9 stitches and knit 2, purl 2, for the remaining 46 stitches. The first buttonhole is made in the seed stitch halfway up the ribbing, and the other 5, every 2 ½ inches, the last one being in the neck ribbing. To make a buttonhole, bind off the 4th, 5th, and 6th stitches in from the outer edge. On the next row, cast on 3 stitches to replace these. When the ribbing measures 2 ¼ inches and with the seed stitch at the right hand side, change to size 3 needles and knit across the next row, increasing to 56 stitches. Work to correspond with back, following diagram marked "right front." For the neck opening, work the first 17 stitches and place them on a stitch holder. Then work the remaining 29 stitches for the shoulder. For the neck decreases, knit 1, slip 1, knit 1, pass slip stitch over knit. Underarm and shoulder decreases are made at the beginning of purl rows.
SLEEVES
With size 2 needles and the main color, cast on 44 stitches and work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 2 ½ inches. Change to size 3 needles and knit across the next row, increasing to 51 stitches (increase about every 6th stitch). This is the first row shown on the diagram. Increase 1 stitch at each end of rows shown, then increase 1 stitch at each end of every 10th row until there are 71 stitches. When the sleeve measures 15 inches from the beginning, ending with a purl row, bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows. Then bind off 1 stitch at the beginning of every row until 35 stitches remain, then 3 stitches at the beginning of every row until 17 stitches remain. Bind off these 17 stitches.
ASSEMBLY
Assemble the sweater according to the directions on patternbook page. For the neckband, with the right side facing, pick up 104 stitches (including those on stitch holders) with size 2 needles. Work in ribbing of knit 2, purl 2, for 9 rows, continuing the first and last 9 stitches in the seed stitch and also making the last buttonhole. 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