Mohair Cloud Sweater

It is such a sunny day here in the beautiful Niagara Penninsula, that I decided to take my Shisshie outdoors for some fresh air. She is precariously balanced on the railing! I wanted to photograph some jewelry I had been making (check the sewing blog) in natural light, so finally got the photos done for the new sweater pattern! I used the white turtleneck underneath so that you can see how sheer the lace weight mohair can be. On me (scroll down to the photo of me and Shisshie) you will see it layered with black underneath, the way I have been wearing it. Also notice the almost green grass and amazing lack of snow here in Canada... It's been a weird winter indeed.

Mohair Cloud Sweater

Yarn: Elann Light Mohair (75% mohair, 25% nylon) lace weight mohair, 50gm = 225m, 5 balls. Black

Also: small pieces of contrast yarn to mark edges.

Needles: 4mm straight needles,* ball band calls for 3mm, but 4mm will make a lacier, sheer look to the fabric, light as a cloud! Also 4mm circular –short- or 4mm double points to finish neck opening.

Gauge: 15 sts = 4 inches on 4mm needles, in stocking stitch

Size: oversized (for me) 48 inch around, cropped (for me) at 20 inches shoulder to hem! Sleeves, short and kind of bat winged.

Body – worked in one piece from lower back edge: Cast on 90 stitches on 4mm needles. Work in knit2, purl2 ribbing for 3 inches. Change to stocking stitch (knit right side, purl wrong side) and work even for 3 more inches. Increase one each end every 4^th row until 114 sts on the needle, work even until 13 inches from the start. Using contrast yarn to mark the start and end of this row. (marks where sleeve opening will be). Work even until 7 inches from this marker (top of shoulder). Mark both ends of this row with contrast yarn.

Neck opening: Knit 43, cast off 28, knit 43. Next row purl 43, join a new ball on other neck side and purl 43 there too. Work both sides with separate balls, without increasing for 2 inches.

With right side facing, Cast on one stitch at neck edges only . Repeat cast on neck edges, every right side 5 more times (12 stitches added so far, 6 on each side of the neck).

Cast on two stitches at each neck edge once, then cast on 5 at each neck edge once. Next row, knit right across both sides using one ball of yarn (joining right to left front neck opening). You should have 114 stitches again on the needle. Work even until you have worked 7 inches from the last yarn marker (top of shoulder). Place yarn markers on each end here.

Working down the front half of sweater, decrease one each end every fourth row, until you have 90 stitches on the needle. Work even until Length from last yarn marker is 10 inches. Work in knit2, purl2 ribbing for 3 inches. Cast off VERY loosely (use a large needle if you cannot do this on the 4mm ones)

Lie flat with right side up, pick up 60 stitches between the outside markers for the sleeve. Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 2 inches, cast off loosely. Repeat on other sleeve.

Neckline: with small circular needles ( or four double points) pick up 76 stitches around the neck opening, and work in k2,p2 ribbing for 2 inches for mock turtle or more if you want bigger neck or cowel. Cast off loosely. Sew underarm/side seams.

Happy Family Day for those who celebrate it, Happy Presidents Day for those "over the river" from me!! Happy Monday to the rest of you!