Knitting: The Aspen Sweater

 My little boy (age 3) requested to be an Aspen tree for Hallowe'en, which made this mama super happy! I've been waiting to do some sort of Aspen pattern for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity to design a sweater for him. The sweater is knit from thick roving, so it takes very little time to whip up. It is knit flat and seamed to give it shape. A shawl collar finishes it off. Stay tuned for the matching toque pattern, which I'll post just as soon as I can do a little photo shoot.

For the printable pattern, click here.

For the printable graph, click here.

The Aspen Pullover

Yarn: Briggs and Little Country Roving in Natural White (2 skeins) and Dark Grey (1 skein)

Needles: 6mm and 5mm for ribbing

Gauge: 9st x 15rows = 4”

Abbreviations:

k-knit

k2tog-knit two together

p-purl

p2tog-purl two together

RS-right side

ssk-slip, slip, knit

ssp-slip, slip, purl

st-stitches

St st- Stockinette stitch

WS-wrong side
Size: 3t

Measurements:

Sleeves= 16”

Length= 16”

Girth= 29”

Front

On 5mm needles with Natural White, cast on 34st and work 1.5” in 1x1 ribbing.

Switch to 6mm needles and work in St st until front measures 8.5” from the bottom. End after working a WS row. Throughout the sweater, add in bars of Dark Grey randomly to create the effect of Aspen bark. Use the graph as a guide if needed for different shapes/spacing.

Bind off 1 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (32st)

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (30st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (28st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (26st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (24st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (22st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (20st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (18st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (16st)

WS: p

Neck and Left Front

RS: k8, turn

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to end (7st)

WS: Bind off 1 st, p to end (6st)

RS: k to end

WS: Bind off 1 st, p to end (5st)

RS: k1, ssk, k to end (4st)

WS: Bind off 1 st, p to end (3st)

Work until front measures 16” from the bottom. End after a WS row. Bind off.

Neck and Right Front

Return to the remaining st.

RS: k

WS: p

RS: Bind off 1 st, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (6st)

WS: p

RS: Bind off 1 st, k to end (5st)

WS: p

RS: Bind off 1 st, k2tog, k1(3st)

Work in St st until sweater front measures 16” from the bottom. End after working a WS row. On the next RS row, bind off remaining st for shoulder.

Back

On 5mm needles with Natural White, cast on 34st and work 1.5” in 1x1 ribbing.

Switch to 6mm needles and work in St st until front measures 8.5” from the bottom. End after working a WS row. Throughout the sweater, add in bars of Dark Grey randomly to create the effect of Aspen bark. Use the graph as a guide if needed for different shapes/spacing.

Bind off 1 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (32st)

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (30st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (28st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (26st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (24st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (22st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (20st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (18st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k to 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (16st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

Right Back Shoulder

RS: k5, turn

WS: p

RS: k2, k2tog, k1 (4st)

WS: p

RS: k1, k2tog, k1 (3st)

WS: p

Work in St st until sweater measures 16”, bind off.

Centre Back Neck

Reattach yarn and bind off 6 st

Left Back Shoulder

RS: k (5st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k1 (4st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk (3st)

WS: p

Work in St st until sweater measures 16”, bind off.

Sleeves

On 5mm needles with Natural White, cast on 16st. Work 1.5” in 1x1 ribbing. Switch to 6mm needles and work in St st. Throughout the sleeve, add in bars of Dark Grey randomly to create the effect of Aspen bark. Use the graph as a guide if needed for different shapes/spacing. Work the sleeve as follows:

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (18st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (20st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (22st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (24st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (26st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (28st)

WS: p

RS: k

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (30st)

WS: p

RS: k1, m1, k to 1 from end, m1, k1 (32st)

WS: p

Bind off 1 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (30st)

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (28st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (26st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (24st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (22st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (20st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (18st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (16st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (14st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (12st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (10st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (8st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k until 3 from end, k2tog, k1 (6st)

WS: p

RS: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1 (4st)

WS: ssp, p2tog (2st)

Bind off.

Get really comfy, because there are a lot of ends to weave in! Weave them in and block. Sew up seams and then work the shawl collar as follows:

Shawl Collar

With 6mm needles in Natural White, pick up and knit 36st around collar, starting at centre front.

Knit 0.75” in Garter st.

Next row: k until 3 from end, place marker, and turn.

Next row: k until 3 from end, place marker, and turn.

Next row: k until 1 from marker, place marker, and turn.

Next row: k until 1 from marker, place marker, and turn.

Next row: k until 1 from marker, place marker, and turn.

Next row: k until 1 from marker, place marker, and turn.

Slip all the stitches until you reach the beginning. Knit one row and bind off.

Weave in ends and you're done!