open knit linen&cotton sweater

when I saw this sweater on the net-a-porter site, I had an epiphany  moment.
first - it's be-a-u-ti-ful
then - it's a chunky knit a.k.a. goes in the fast project category 
last - but not least - how easy this pattern looks it's almost painful, in a good way.

Michael Kors Chunky Hand-knit Sweater

here's the how to for my DIY version, keep in mind that I'm a size 2, short vertically challenged (5'2") person.


*what you need:
knitting needles size: 9mm, 8mm, 7mm, 6mm, 5mm, 4mm
circular knitting needle: 6mm
in my case, about 500 grams of yarn, I used a linen-cotton blend (slightly lighter than the original MK), I love the linen more opaque and irregular effect. (sorry, bought my yarn in Italy in a yarn outlet and didn't have indication of brand of any kind)
the right 'chunkiness' is obtained using the 6mm needles. 

inspiration&realisation

*finish measurements:
- length 23"
- width at shoulders 14"
- sleeves length 25"


* tutorial:
--> front and back:
needles 8mm: cast on 67 stitches 
tubular ribbing 4 rows
switch to needles 9mm and knit in 1:1 rib for 4 rows
knit on stockinette for 12 rows
switch to needles 8mm and knit on stockinette for 14 rows
switch to needles 7mm and knit on stockinette for 16 rows
switch to needles 6mm and knit on stockinette for 16 rows
switch to needles 5mm and knit 2 rows, 
decrease on each side 3 stitches  
knit on stockinette decreasing only on the right side of the work  1 stitch at the beginning of the row and one at the end of the row for 6 rows
knit on stockinette for 8 rows
switch to needles 4mm


--> front: 
knit on stockinette for 4 rows
bind off the central 17 stitches
decrease 1 stitch (only on the right side of the work) on each side of your neck opening for 14 rows (total of 7 stitches each side)
knit on stockinette for 6 rows
bind off the 18 stitches on each shoulder.


--> back:
knit on stockinette for 16 rows
bind off the central 27 stitches
decrease 1 stitch (only on the right side of the work) on each side of your neck opening for 4 rows (total of 2 stitches each side)

knit on stockinette for 4 rows

bind off the 18 stitches on each shoulder.

--> sleeves x2:

needles 8mm: cast on 35 stitches 

tubular ribbing 4 rows

switch to needles 9mm and knit in 1:1 rib for 4 rows

knit on stockinette for 14 rows

switch to needles 8mm and knit on stockinette for 16 rows

switch to needles 7mm and knit on stockinette for 18 rows 

**at the 6th row with 7mm needles start to increase on each side of the front of the work 1 stitch every 6 rows for a total of 6 times = 12 stitches for a grand total of 47 stitches as a maximum width of the sleeves.**

switch to needles 6mm and knit on stockinette for 18 rows

switch to needles 5mm and knit 2 rows 

knit on stockinette for 4 rows

decrease on each side 4 stitches  

knit on stockinette decreasing only on the right side of the work  1 stitch at the beginning of the row and one at the end of the row for 18 rows

stitches left: 21

bind off 4 stitches on each side for 4 times

bind off the remaining 5 stitches

--> neck

circular needle size 6mm: cast on 84 stitches 

tubular ribbing: 4 rows

knit in 1:1 rib for 6 rows

bind off

sew all the pieces together and enjoy!

2 days of intense knitting and a happy happy me! (let's not mention my carpal tunnel, ok?)

xox, d.