happy to make: How to knit a sweater in double rib pattern

Knitting project - Level: Intermediate

This is a simple knitting project: an unfussy, easy to knit turtle neck sweater in a double rib pattern, which is simple to follow, even for a less experienced knitter. This design is quite figure hugging and it looks good over jeans or a skirt.

I wanted to make a sweater with elongated sleeves because I find it both aesthetically pleasing and practical - the sleeves are long enough to cover my hands on a cold winter day, but you can make the sleeves shorter if you prefer.

Materials:

About 650g of thin wool mixture yarn (50% wool, 50% acrylic) in following 3 colors: light blue (100g), gray (300g), white (250g)
Pair of 4 mm knitting needles (UK 8/ US 6)
Round 4 mm (UK 8/ US 6) needles for knitting turtle neck
2 stitch holders (or short double pointed knitting needles with pieces of cork stuck at the ends)
Also used: a crochet and some leftover yarn for crocheted flowers (description to follow)

Measurements:

Bust size: 86/92 cm (34/36 in)
Length from back neck to hem: 68 cm (27 in)
Elongated sleeve length: 70 cm (28 in)

Tension:
Sample knitted with double yarn on 4 mm knitting needles (UK 8/ US 6):
18 sts x 30 rows = 10 cm (4 in).
TIP: When measuring stretch the tension sample a little, as rib patterns tend to make the sample look narrower than it actually is.

Front and Back:

Using double yarn (gray and blue color) cast 96 sts.
Row 1: knit in double rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2, repeat).
Row 2: purl 2, knit 2, repeat.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 12.5cm (5 in) in length.
Change colors to gray and white and continue until piece measures 48cm (19 in) in length.
Shape armholes: Cast off 3 sts in the beginning of next 2 rows. Cast off 1 st at each end of 7th row, then every alternative row until 76 sts remain. Work straight until armhole measures 18 cm (7 in) in length.
Cast off 5 sts in the beginning of next 6 rows, then 3 sts in the beginning of following 2 rows. Slip the remaining sts onto a stitch holder for the neckband.

Sleeve x 2:
TIP: Depending on your skill, you can knit 2 sleeves at the same time on the same pair of needles, using separate double yarn for each sleeve and turning the work clockwise, then anticlockwise in the end of every row to avoid yarn being twisted.

Using double yarn (gray and blue color) Cast 46 sts.
Continue knitting in double rib pattern until piece is 13 cm (5 in) in length.
Start adding extra stitch in the beginning of 2 consecutive rows every 10 rows. Continue as above until piece is 20 cm (8 in) in length.
Change colors to double gray yarn and continue adding the sts as above until piece is 30 cm (12 in) in length.
Change colors to gray and white and continue adding the sts as above until piece is 43 cm (17 in) in length.
Start adding extra st at the beginning and end of every other row until piece is 51 cm (20 in) in length.
Start shaping the sleeve top: Cast off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Cast off 1 st at each end of the next and following alternative rows until piece is 65 cm (26 in) in length.
Cast off 1 st at the end of each end of the next 4 rows. Then cast off 4 sts at the next 2 rows.
Cast off the remaining stitches.

Turtle neck:
Join front and back pieces together along the tops. Pick up the stitches from the stitch holders with the round knitting needles and knit using the double rib pattern until turtle neck measures 6 cm (2 and a half in). Cast off all stitches loosely in rib pattern. Join the sides of front and back. Join the sleeve seams. Insert sleeves. Optional: decorate with crocheted flowers.