Sizes

Directions are for women’s size X-Small.

Changes for sizes Small, Medium, Large, 1X and 2X are in parentheses.

Finished Measurements

Bust (closed) – 34(38-42-46-50-54)”.

Length – 27(27-27 1/2-27 1/2-28-28)”.

Materials

Berroco Suede (50 grs), 11(11-12-13-14-15) balls #3716 Maverick.

Straight knitting needles, sizes 6 and 8 OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

Seven 1” buttons.

2 St holders.

Gauge

19 sts = 4”; 28 rows = 4” in St st on size 8 needles.

TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE.

Back

With smaller needles, cast on 81(91-99-109-119-129) sts.

Row 1 (RS): K1, * p1, k1, rep from * across.

Row 2: P1, * k1, p1, rep from * across. Rep these 2 rows until piece measures 1” from beg, end on WS. Change to larger needles and work even in St st until piece measures 4” from beg, end on WS. Mark beg and end of last row for side slits. Work even until piece measures 18 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armholes: Bind off 4(5-4-5-6-6) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 73(81-91-99-107-117).

Dec Row (RS): K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2. Rep this dec every RS row 9(9-9-10-10-10) times more – 53(61-71-77-85-95) sts. Work even until armhole measures 8 1/2(8 1/2-9-9-9 1/2-9 1/2)”, end on WS. Bind off all sts for shoulders and back neck.

Left Front

With smaller needles, cast on 43(47-53-59-63-67) sts. Work in ribbing same as for back for 1”, end on WS. Change to larger needles.

Next Row (RS): K36(40-46-52-56-60), sl remaining 7 sts onto holder for frontband. Beg with a p row, work even in St st until piece measures 4” from beg, end on WS. Mark end of last row for side slit. Work even until piece measures 18 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Armhole: Bind off 4(5-4-5-6-6) sts at beg of the next row. Purl 1 row – 32(35-42-47-50-54) sts.

Dec Row (RS): K2, KSP, k to end. Rep this dec every RS row 9(9-9-10-10-10) times more – 22(25-32-36-39-43) sts. Work even until armhole measures 5 1/2(5 1/2-6-6-6 1/2-6 1/2)”, end on RS.

Shape Neck: Next Row (WS): Bind off 3(2-5-6-6-5) sts, p to end.

Dec Row (RS): K to last 3 sts, SSK, k1. Rep this dec every RS row 6 times more – 12(16-20-23-26-31) sts. When armhole measures 8 1/2(8 1/2-9-9-9 1/2-9 1/2)”, end on WS. Bind off all sts for shoulder.

Right Front

Work same as for left front until piece measures 3/4” from beg, end on WS.

Next Row (buttonhole): K1, p1, k1, k2 tog, yo, p1, k1, k to end. Complete to correspond to left front, reversing all shaping. Work armhole decs as SSK, k2. Work neck decs as k1, KSP.

Sleeves

With smaller needles, cast on 39 sts. Work in ribbing same as for back for 1”, end on WS. Change to larger needles and work in St st, inc 1 st each end of the next row, then every 1/2” 0(0-0-5-9-13) times, every 1” 8(8-14-13-11-9) times, then every 1 1/2” 5(5-1-0-0-0) times – 67(67-71-77-81-85) sts. Work even until sleeve measures 17 1/2” from beg, end on WS.

Shape Cap: Bind off 4(5-4-5-6-6) sts at beg of the next 2 rows – 59(57-63-67-69-73) sts.

Dec Row (RS): K2, KSP, k to last 4 sts, SSK, k2. Rep this dec every RS row 16 times more, end on WS. Bind off 3(2-3-5-3-5) sts at beg of the next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 19(19-23-23-29-29) sts.

Finishing

Left Frontband: With RS facing, sl 7 sts from holder onto smaller needles. Join yarn and inc 1 st, work in ribbing to end – 8 sts. Work even in ribbing as established until frontband, when slightly stretched, reaches to beg of neck shaping, end on WS, dec 1 st at end of last row – 7 sts. Sl sts back onto holder. Sew inside edge of frontband to front edge of sweater. Mark placement of 7 buttons evenly spaced along frontband, the first opposite 1st buttonhole worked in ribbing of right front and the last 2 1/2” below sts on holder.

Right Frontband: With RS facing, sl 7 sts from holder onto smaller needles. Join yarn and work in ribbing to end, inc 1 st – 8 sts. Complete same as for left frontband, making 7 more buttonholes opposite markers. When right frontband measures same as left frontband, end on WS, dec 1 st at beg of last row – 7 sts. Sl sts back onto holder. Sew inside edge of frontband to front edge of sweater. Steam pieces lightly with pressing cloth and a hot steam iron. Sew shoulder seams.

Collar: With WS facing, using smaller needles, join yarn and work in ribbing as established across 7 sts from left holder, pick up and k16(16-17-17-18-18) sts along left front neck edge, 29(29-31-31-33-33) sts across back neck edge, 16(16-17-17-18-18) sts along right front neck edge, then work in ribbing as established across 7 sts from right holder – 75(75-79-79-83-83) sts. Work even in ribbing same as for back for 1 1/2”. Change to larger needles and work even until collar measures 3 1/2” from beg, end on WS. Bind off all sts loosely in ribbing. Sew in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams, leaving 4” below markers open for side slits. Sew on buttons.