I am really enjoying the look of “well-loved” knits lately. Wearing something from a couple decades past, even though it isn’t particularly something bought at a vintage store, is super cool and chic. “What’s old is new” seems to be the motto!

Hand knitters can really take advantage of this theme. Purposely adding patches or embroidery to a sweater, hat, afghan or even sock can make your well loved items refreshed. Foxy Patches and Native American neckline and  Take a look at these clouds

F539 Plymouth Loden Pullover

For this month, I’ve designed a patched-up guernsey-esque pullover in lovely Grignasco Loden. I love how the tweedy fleck in the Loden matches all the colors I’ve used– the grey tweed has bits of gold and blue. The yellow and blue have a hazy tan/grey to it. They were meant to be together! The Loden creates a delightfully soft tweedy fabric with a hint of a halo.

Where to start? Your sweater is like a blank canvas. The best way to begin embellishing your knit is to sit down and plan out the space. Draw a couple sketches, swatch, until you are satisfied. I made had a couple patches (some in seed and some in garter) and had a pretty good idea where they would go on the pullover. Once  sewn in place, I felt like something was missing at the bottom of the sweater.  I knit up a floral arrangement of a vine and leaves and stitched it into place. It truly has a whimsical feel, much like the picture knits of the 80s.

Loden Women’s Patchwork Guernsey Pullover

Download the pdf

To Fit Women’s Size: S, (M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Approx. Finished Chest: 36”, (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)
Length: 24”, (24 ½, 25, 25 ½, 26, 26 ½)
Sleeve Length (from underarm): 18 ½” (all sizes)

Materials:
Loden:
8, (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)—50G balls, color 590 MC Grey
1, (1, 1, 2,  2, 2)—50G balls, color 603 CC1 Yellow
1, (1, 1, 2, 2, 2)—50G balls, color 809 CC2 Blue
Gauge: 18 sts, 22 rows= 4” in st st on US size 7 (4.5mm) needles,
18 sts, 28 rows= 4” in double moss st on US size 7 (4.5mm) needles,
18 sts, 40 rows= 4” in garter st (k every row) on US size 7 (4.5mm) needles,
20 sts= 4” in seed cable st & 2×2 ribbing on US size 7 (4.5mm) needles.
Needles/Notions: US Size 7 (4.5mm)- 16 & 32” circular
needle, set of US Size 7 (4.5mm) DPNs, 2 stitch
markers (m), 4 removable markers (m), 3 stitch holders, cable needle.

Pattern is written for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parenthesis. If only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.

When working the Seed Cable St, work either chart or written instructions. If following the chart, work RS Rows from right to left, and WS Rows from left to right.

Pullover body and sleeves are worked in the round until the armholes.

Double Moss St (Multiple of 2 sts + 1)
Rows 1 and 4: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * across.
Rows 2 and 3: P1, *k1, p1; rep from * across.
Rep these 4 rows for pattern st.

Seed Cable St (Multiple of 9 sts + 5)
Row 1 (RS): *(P1, k1)2x, p1, C2F, C2B: rep from * to last 5 sts, (p1, k1)2x, p1.
Rows 2 and 4: K2, p1, k2, *p4, k2, p1, k2; rep from *.
Row 3: (p1, k1)2x, p1, k4; rep from * to last 5 sts (p1, k1) 2x, p1.
Rep these 4 rows for pattern st.

Body
With 32” circular needle and MC, CO 180, (200, 220, 240, 260, 280) sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. PM to mark beg of round. Work in 2×2 rib (k2 sts, p2 sts) for 3”. K across next row, dec 18, (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) sts evenly across. 162, (180, 198, 216, 234, 252) sts. Place another m to mark the halfway point of the round.
Work in st st (k every row) until body measures 17” from CO edge, ending 11, (15, 16, 20, 20, 21) sts before the end of the last round.
Shape Armhole: BO 22, (30, 32, 40, 40, 42) sts- removing the m as you get to it, k to 11, (15, 16, 20, 20, 21) sts before next m, BO 22, (30, 32, 40, 40, 42) sts- removing the m as you get to it, k to end of row.
59, (60, 67, 68, 77, 84) sts for each section.  You will now be working just on the Back section.
Place the other 59, (60, 67, 68, 77, 84) sts onto a holder.
Back
Turn so that WS is facing. Work back and forth in rows in st st (p1 row, k1 row) for 2”, end having worked a k row. P across next row, inc 9, (8, 10, 9, 9, 11) sts evenly across. 68, (68, 77, 77, 86, 95) sts.
Beg working in Seed Cable st. When armhole measures 6”, (6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8, 8 ½), work neck shaping as follows:
Neck Shaping: Pattern to center 26, (26, 27, 27, 28, 29) sts, place those center sts onto a holder, attach another strand of yarn, pattern to end of row. 21, (21, 25, 25, 29, 33) sts for each shoulder.
Working both sides at once, dec 1 st at each neck edge every other row 5 times—5 sts dec’d for each shoulder.
16, (16, 20, 20, 24, 28) sts rem for each shoulder. Place sts onto a holder.
Front
With WS facing, rejoin MC & p across all 59, (60, 67, 68, 77, 84) sts on holder. Work neck shaping row same as for back when armhole measures 4”, (4 ½, 5, 5 ½, 6, 6 ½). 16, (16, 20, 20, 24, 28) sts rem for each front.
Work even until front measures same as back. “Kitchener st” or “3 needle BO” the back and front sts together.

Sleeves
With DPNs and MC, CO 36, (36, 40, 40, 40, 40) sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist and PM. Work in 2×2 rib (k2 sts, p2 sts) for 2”. Beg working in st st (K every row) for 2” more. Inc 1 st before and after the m on next and foll 5th, (4th, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd) round 14, (16, 16, 18, 21, 24) times total—28, (32, 32, 36, 42, 48) sts inc’d.
64, (68, 72, 76, 82, 88) sts. Work even in st st until sleeve measures 18 ½” from CO edge. Place a removable m at each end of next round. You will now beg working in rows in st st. Cont to work another 2 ½”, (3 ½, 3 ¾, 4 ½, 4 ½, 4 ¾). BO all sts on next round. Make another sleeve.

Double Moss Patches
Left Front Patch (applied just below the body rib)
With CC2 and 16” circular, CO 29, (31, 33, 35, 37, 39) sts.
Work in double moss st for 6”, (6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8, 8½). BO all sts on next row.
Right Sleeve Patch (applied around elbow)
With CC2, CO 19 sts.
Work in double moss st for 5”. BO all sts on next row.

Garter Patches
Right Front/Back Patch (applied ½ toward the back and ½ toward the front, just above the armhole)
With CC1 and 16” circular, CO 40, (46, 50, 54, 58, 64) sts.
Work in garter st (k every row) for 3 ½”, (4, 4 ½, 5, 5 ½, 6). BO all sts on next row.
Left Sleeve Patch (applied just above the sleeve rib)
With CC1 and 16” circular, CO 14 sts.
Work in garter st (k every row) for 2 ½”. BO all sts on next row.

Finishing
Block body and sleeves to measurements. Set in the sleeves (from the m) into the armholes.
Neck Rib: With 16” circular, MC, and RS facing, pick up and k15 sts along the left front neck to front holder, k26, (26, 27, 27, 28, 29) sts from front holder- dec 1, (1, 0, 0, 1, 0) st, k15 sts along the right front neck to shoulder, k6 sts from the back neck to holder, k26, (26, 27, 27, 28, 29) sts from the back neck-dec 1, (1, 0, 0, 1, 0) st, k6 sts from the back neck. PM to m beg of round. 92, (92, 96, 96, 96, 100) sts.
Work in 2×2 rib (k2 sts, p2 sts) for 1”. BO all sts in rib on next round.
Sew the patches to their designated areas if you so desire- or place them wherever you like. Use a basting st along the edges of the patches in either CC1 or CC2 to add extra contrast/texture if you desire.
Small Leaf:
(make 1 each in CC1 & CC2) With DPNs, CO 13 sts.
Row 1 (WS): K6, p1, k6.
Row 2: K5, sl2, k1, p2sso, k5—2 sts dec’d. 11 sts.
Row 3: K5, p1, k5.
Row 4: K4, sl2, k1, p2sso, k4—2 sts dec’d. 9 sts.
Row 5: K4, p1, k4.
Row 6: K3, sl2, k1, p2sso, k3—2 sts dec’d. 7 sts.
Row 7: K3, p1, k3.
Row 8: K2, sl2, k1, p2sso, k2—2 sts dec’d. 5 sts.
Row 9: K2, p1, k2.
Row 10: K1, sl2, k1, p2sso, k1—2 sts dec’d. 3 sts.
Row 11: K1, p1, k1.
Row 12: Sl2, k1, p2sso, cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Large Leaf:
(make 2 with CC1 & 1 with CC2) With DPNs, CO 5 sts.
Row 1 and all WS Rows: P all sts.
Row 2: K2, yo, k1, yo, k2—2 sts inc’d. 7 sts.
Row 4: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3—2 sts inc’d. 9 sts.
Row 6: K4, yo, k1, yo, k4—2 sts inc’d. 11 sts.
Row 8: K5, yo, k1, yo, k5—2 sts inc’d. 13 sts.
Row 10: K all sts.
Row 12: Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog—2 sts dec’d.  11 sts. Rep Row 11 and 12– 4 times more—8 sts dec’d. 3 sts rem.
Next RS Row: Sl1, k2tog, psso, Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
With a double strand of CC2, make a chain st across the front of the pullover. Arrange the leaves and sew them onto the front (as shown in the photo). Weave in all ends.

©2014 Plymouth Yarn Company. 021014vle

ABBREVIATIONS: beg= begin(ning), BO= bind off, C2B= sl 1 st to cable needle and hold to back, k1, k1 from cable needle, C2F= sl 1 st to cable needle and hold to front, k1, k1 from cable needle, CC= contrast color, CO= cast on, cont= continue, dec= decrease, DPNs= double pointed needles, foll= following, inc= increase, k = knit, m=marker, MC= main color, p = purl, PM= place marker, p2sso= pass 2 slipped sts over, psso= pass slipped st over, rep= repeat(ing), RS= right side, sl = slip,  SSK =  slip 1 st as if to knit, slip a second st as if to knit, knit them together through the back loop, st(s) = stitch(es), st st = stockinette st, tbl = through back loop,  tog = together,  WS = Wrong Side, yo = yarn over