Purl Foundry - Gather Sleeve Sweater

Simple, yet structured for easy wear and a touch of drama. This simple, seamless sweater features gathered sleeve details, drop saddle shoulders, balloon sleeves, tied waistband and an oversized fit.

The Gather Sleeve Sweater is worked from the top down with the back, shoulders and front all worked as one piece before separating for the bust and rejoining at the underarms. The remainder of the body is worked in the round, then the sleeves and neckband are individually picked up and worked in the round too.

Fit & Yarn Details

I recommend a 4 ply / fingering weight yarn. For something extra luxurious, you could try something with a soft halo (eg blends with alpaca, possum or mohair) for blurred stitches. The sample was made using Wild Earth Yarns Ashley Merino in Cloud. This gorgeous yarn is NZ made and forms a subtle fuzz when knit up. I'm smitten! While the yarn does tend to pill with wear, the warm and lush fabric is totally worth the occasional lint shave. One tester also used Knit Picks Gloss Fingering and recommends it as a good alternative.

I have a 91 cm bust (size M in NZ) wearing size C in the photos with about 26 cm ease. Designed to be worn with 15-26 cm / 6-10" of positive ease, depending on your fit preference. 

Finished bust measurements: cm = 97 (106, 116, 126) (136, 146, 156) / inches = 38.25 (42, 45.5, 49.75) (53.5, 57.75, 61.25)"

Yarn quantity: metres = 1600 (1750, 1880, 2060) (2150, 2285, 2400) / yards = 1745 (1900, 2055, 2250) (2340, 2500, 2630)

Needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle (or size to obtain gauge) with a suggested 80 cm (40") long cord AND 2.75 mm (US 2) circular needle with a suggested 80 cm (40") cord. NOTE: the sleeves and neckline are worked using the magic loop method, but you also opt for a shorter cord or DPNs.

Other Notions: 4 x stitch markers, 1 x additional marker that looks different from the stitch markers, yarn needle, cute little scissors, scrap yarn, tape measure and bodkin or safety pin. Optional: icord maker or similar.

Gauge: 26 sts x 36 rows = 10 cm x 10cm / 4"x4" square in stockinette stitch. If you have too many stitches across your 10 cm/4" space, you need to go up one (or more) needle size. If you have less stitches than needed, you'll have to go down a needle size.