CONSTRUCTION NOTES

Button bands are worked into the knitting in garter stitch, not picked up afterwards. Because of this the sides of the knitting form edges of garment so slipping first stitch on every row gives a neater edge. Also, when you come to start a new ball of yarn, knit the first 6 stitches of every row with the old ball first.

The sections are arranged and worked as foll: front left (narrower, with buttons), sleeve, back, sleeve, front right (wider, with buttonholes).

Increases used are as foll: Pick up bar between current and next stitch and knit into the back of it.

To resize simply cast on more or fewer stitches and keep trying on to gauge fit.

METHOD

CO 96 sts

Row 1: Slip 1, K 5, work in 2 x 2 rib to last 6 sts, K 6
Work this row 5 times more.

Row 7: (RS) Slip 1, K 5, pm, K 13, pm, K 32, pm, K 13, pm, K to end
Row 8: (WS) Slip 1, K5, P to last 6 sts, K6
Row 9: Slip 1, (K to within 1 st of marker, M1, K2, M1) to end
Row 10: as row 8

Every 10th row (RS) work a buttonhole as folls: Work as Row 9 to last 6 sts, K3, yo, k2tog, K to end

Rep rows 9-10 until the sweater fits around the chest and under arms (to try, put front, back and sleeves on separate holders or waste yarn).

Knit left front, back and right front onto one needle and work flat and even (keeping garter st border and buttonholes correct) until you've made 10 buttonholes (work should meas about 14" from underarm). You can add some waist shaping into the sides if you like a snugger fit. Work in 2x2 rib for 4", keeping garter st edge correct and adding two more buttonholes. BO loosely.

Knit sleeves in round, decreasing 2 sts (k2tog, k2, ssk) at underarm seam every 8 rows. finish off with 4" of 2x2 rib and BO.

Block and sew on 12 large buttons.

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