Take it easy in this relaxed cotton slipover with a two-tone slip stitch fabric
LISA RICHARDSON
PATTERN NOTE
All slipped stitches should be worked with the yarn held at the WS of the work – this is the back of the work on RS rows, and the front of the work on WS rows.
BACK
Using 2.75mm needles and yarn A, cast on 153 (165:183:201:213:231:249:261:279) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K3, *P3, K3; rep from * to end. Row 2: P3, *K3, P3; rep from * to end. These 2 rows form rib. Cont in rib until work measures 5cm, dec (inc: -: dec: inc:-: dec: inc:-) 1 (1:-:1:1:
-:1:1:-) st at each end of last row and ending with RS facing for next row. 151 (167:183:199:215:231:247:263:279) sts.
Change to 3.25mm needles. Joining in yarn B when required, now work in patt as folls: Rows 1 and 2: Using yarn A, knit. Row 3 (RS): Using yarn B, K1, Sl 1 (see pattern note), K3, *Sl 1, (K1, Sl 1) twice, K3; rep from * to last 2 sts, Sl 1, K1.
Row 4: Using yarn B, K1, Sl 1, P3, *Sl 1, (K1, Sl 1) twice, P3; rep from * to last 2 sts, Sl 1, K1. Rows 5 and 6: Using yarn A, K2, (Sl 1) 3 times, *K5, (Sl 1) 3 times; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. Rows 7 and 8: As rows 3 and 4. Rows 9 and 10: As rows 1 and 2. Row 11: Using yarn B, (K1, Sl 1) 3 times, *K3, Sl 1, (K1, Sl 1) twice; rep from * to last st, K1. Row 12: Using yarn B, (K1, Sl 1) 3 times, *P3, Sl 1, (K1, Sl 1) twice; rep from * to last st, K1. Rows 13 and 14: Using yarn A, K6, *(Sl 1) 3 times, K5; rep from * to last st, K1. Rows 15 and 16: As rows 11 and 12. These 16 rows form the pattern.
Cont in pattern until Back measures 55 (57:59:61:63:65:66:68:69) cm, ending with RS facing for next row.
SHAPE SHOULDERS
Keeping patt correct, cast off 3 (4:4:5:5: 6:6:7:7) sts at beg of next 12 (16:10:16:8: 16:8:16:4) rows, then 4 (-:5:-:6: -:7:-:8) sts at beg of foll 4 (-:6:-:8:-:8:-:12) rows. 99 (103:113:119:127:135:143:151:155) sts.
SHAPE BACK NECK
Next row (RS): Cast off 4 (4:5:5:6:6:7:7:8) sts, patt until there are 26 (27:31:33:36: 38:41:45:46) sts on right needle and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.
Work each side of neck separately. Keeping patt correct, dec 1 st at neck edge of next 4 rows, then on foll 2 alt rows and AT THE SAME TIME cast off 4 (4:5:5:6:6:7:7:8)
sts at beg of 2nd and foll 3 (3:3:2:3:2:3:0:3) alt rows, then – (-: -:6:-:7:-:8:-) sts at beg of foll – (-:-:1:-:1:-:3:-) alt rows. Work 1 row. Cast off rem 4 (5:5:6:6:7:7:8:8) sts.
With RS facing, slip centre 39 (41:41:43:43: 47:47:47:47) sts onto a holder (for
