Shakespeare in Love

Sometimes knitting a sweater is like reading a good book. Each piece is an act and the stitch patterns are the characters. We get to know them in one chapter, we watch as they develop in another, we notice how they interact. Another act brings in new characters, reintroduces familiar ones. The plot thickens, parallels are made, everything comes together at last. Very satisfying. I'm sorry to be finished.
Perhaps I'll knit another!

Shakespeare in Love is just such a sweater. It has sumptuous cabling, a high neck and slender sleeves.

It is knitted from the bottom in pieces and seamed, although it could easily be worked in one piece to the underarms, eliminating selvedge stitches.

The latticed back has an (optionally) lowered hemline.

Wrist ribs flow seamlessly into a cable that is a scaled-up version of front and back side panels.

The cozy high neck is worked in the round as a continuation of front and back.

Sizes: Finished sweater chest sizes 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56)".
1-4" ease recommended. Shown in size 36 on a 36" dress form.

Yarn: 10 (12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20) skeins Sunday Knits 5 ply worsted weight yarn (137 yds / 125 m per 50g skein) in Angelic (75% merino 25% angora), Eden (100% merino), Nirvana (92% merino 8% cashmere), or Brigadoon (100% merino tweed). Shown in Eden winter.

Needles & Notions: Needles size 7 US (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles for body and circular or double-pointed needles for neck; cable needle, tapestry needle, 6 markers, scrap yarn.

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4" in moss stitch.

Techniques used: Cables, reading charts, short rows (explained), 3-needle bind off.

Pattern includes: Written instructions, cable instructions in charted format only, schematic, glossary.

Available as a pattern download or as a kit

Knit Shakespeare in Love

Edited by Sandra Whittaker.