Daniel's Pirate Mashup

July 2013

This jumper was pretty much improvised with a little help from 3 or 4 existing patterns, and so I've set out in as much detail as I can how I did it below. I should add that I’m not a designer, this hasn’t been tested and my maths is terrible.

The skull and crossbones chart (14 stitches by 11 rows) is from We Call them Pirates by Adrian Bizilia, and the ship chart (33 stitches by 33 rows) was my feeble attempt at an approximation of the chart from Solbjørg Langnes 0601-20 Pirat, as I was unable to track down a copy of the pattern.

Gauge: 24 stitches and 28 rows = 4”

Schematic

Chest: 32” (width set by no. of stitches in ship chart, which is 33 (x 3))
Length: 17”
Armhole: 6.5” (76 stitches)
Sleeve: 10.5”

Not a standard size, but I’m fairly happy it will fit the recipient. I tried to make sure each of the measurements was at least an inch or so bigger than the corresponding measurement in a 4 - 5 year old sized sweater I have queued (Lucinda Guy’s Big Digger).

Body

With dark grey DG, cast on 98 stitches, place marker, cast on 98 stitches, place marker, join to work in the round.

Work 8 rows in 1x1 rib, then 8 rows stocking stitch. Join cream yarn and work skull and crossbones chart over next 11 rows. 14 repeats of chart in total (98 x 2 / 14 = 14).

After completing skull and crossbones chart, work 4 rows in DG, then switch to dark blue.

Increase 2 stitches in next row to make 99 + 99 stitches. This is because the ship chart requires a multiple of 33.

Then work evenly until work measures about 10” from cast on edge.

Switch to light blue and DG and work ship chart over next 33 rows, and at the same time, when work measures 10.5”, divide for armhole by putting back stitches onto scrap yarn and working front and back flat separately.

After finishing chart, work 7 rows even, and then shape neck, taking note of the number of rows from the end of the chart to the top of the shoulder.

Neck shaping

Work 32, cast off until 32 stitches remain, work to end and turn.

On neck edge, cast off the following number of stitches on next 4 right side rows: 3, 2, 2, 1.

Work even on remaining 26 stitches until work measures 17”. Place live stitches on scrap yarn.

Rejoin yarn to other side of neck, and match shaping.

Work back making sure that the number of rows from top of chart to end of shoulder matches up with front. On last row, place first 26 and last 26 stitches onto scrap yarn, but cast off remaining stitches.

Join shoulder seams with three needle bind-off.

Sleeves

With DG cast on 44 stitches and join to work in the round.

Work 8 rows 1x1 rib

Continuing in stocking stitch, increase 2 stitches every fourth row to 76 stitches.

Work even to 10.5” then cast off.

Sew sleeves to body.

Neckband

In DG pick up and knit 98 stitches evenly around neck hole. Work flat in 1 x 1 rib for 6 rows, making buttonhole (k2tog, yo) at start of 3rd row. Cast off. Sew on button.

Yarn: King Cole Moods duet dk and King Cole Big Value dk
Colour: 821 (Dark Blue), 834 (Light Blue) and 466 (Dark Grey)
Amount: 1 skein of each
On ravelry: here