When I was in my early twenties, I thought that “perfect” exists. That there are people, places and lives that are just right and any deviation from this ideal is a failure. Of course life always shutters and tears down this kind of ideas at some point. You make mistakes that change the course of your life, but one day you wake up and realize that those mistakes were exactly what you needed to become who you are today and also to never repeat them again. It is just life that happens. YOUR life, in all its perfect imperfection.
When I was swatching for this sweater and the idea of creating a “broken” effect came to me, I felt so connected to it and I knew it would become one of my favorite projects if I can translate the meaning that it has for me through these stitches. It is my way to say to myself and maybe to one of you there – It is OK to be broken, it is OK to be imperfect, there is a beauty in it.
Broken‘s texture is created by knitting the classic stockinette stitch next to reverse stockinette divided by a travelling elongated slip stitch. The slip stitch is “moving” in a seemingly random uneven line to create the effect of a broken piece. As I mentioned in my preview post, I designed the direction of the line on the needles, trying to catch this unstructured hectic look, and only when I was happy with it, I created the chart. You are welcome to use this chart of course for your project, but you can get adventurous and create your own broken line. The pattern will give you the structure and the limits, but inside these limits, you are free to “make your mistakes” aka draw your line.
The rest of the sweater is very basic – top down construction with elongated raglan line for a more casual look, basic body shaping and simple 2×2 ribbing to finish the sleeves and the hem. The sleeve knitting is very fun as it is rare when you are using different stitches for sleeves, it makes the process more diverse.
As for yarn, I suggest you getting out of your stash a skein that you have been craving to use for a long time. I feel like simple stitch patterns ask for your yarn favorites, when the yarn plays a main role in the pattern. I used Daughter yarn in Chocolate by YOTH yarns. So cozy and deliciously thick, I love how it is spun. The tiny speckles in a thread made the whole process even more fun. Make sure that the yarn you are choosing can create a nice stitch definition so you do not lose the broken effect.
I hope this holiday season you will be surrounded by people that you love and that love you for who you are, with all your perfectly made mistakes and broken pieces of your heart.
General Pattern Information
CONSTRUCTION
Broken is a top-down seamless sweater knit using the compound raglan construction.
The piece is knit in simple stockinette/reverse stockinette stitch. The center travelling slip stitch breaks the pullover in two parts, creating the textured contrast between St st and Reverse St st fabric. The travelling st is moving in a seemingly random uneven line to create the effect of a broken piece.
The yoke is shaped as a compound raglan, which creates a natural line that runs from the neck to the base of the armhole. Yoke instructions are written step-by-step for each size individually.
Stitches for the sleeves are placed on hold at the end of the yoke, then the main body is continued to the hem.
Then sleeve stitched are picked up and worked top down in the round.
DESIGN DETAILS
Texture
The texture is created with the contrast between stockinette and reverse stockinette st and the elongated slip st.
Sleeves
Sleeves are worked in the round top down, finishing with the 2×2 rib cuff.
Neckline
The neckline is trimmed with a simple i-cord.
Sizing
The sweater is graded for 9 sizes with approximately 7″ of ease. The sample is shown in size 2 with 7″ of ease.
B O D Y S I Z E S:
Size 1 30″ [76 cm]
Size 2 34″ [86.5 cm]
Size 3 38″ [96.5 cm]
Size 4 42” [106.5 cm]
Size 5 46″ [117 cm]
Size 6 50″ [127 cm]
Size 7 54″ [137 cm]
Size 8 58″ [147.5 cm]
Size 9 62″ [157.5 cm]
F I N I S H E D M E A S U R E M E N T S:
Chest/Bust at Underarm: 37 (40 ¾, 45 ¼, 49, 52 ½) (57 ¼, 61, 65, 69)” [94 (103.5, 115, 124.5, 133.5) (145.5, 155, 165, 175) cm]
Upper arm circumference: 10 (11 ½, 12, 12 ¾, 14 ¼) (15 ½, 17, 17 ¾, 19 ¼)” [25.5 (29, 30.5, 32.5, 36) (39.5, 43, 45, 49) cm]
G A U G E
17.5 sts & 26 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch after blocking.
Y A R N
5 (6, 6, 7, 7) (7, 8, 8, 8) skeins of Daughter by YOTH Yarns, 100% Domestic Rambouillet and Merino wool. Worsted weight (165 yds/75g). Shown in color Chocolate.
List of techniques used:
I-cord edge – written instructions and link to the photo tutorial are provided.
Picking up sts – link to photo tutorial is provided
Elongated slip st – chart, written instructions and link to the video tutorial is provided
The pattern has been edited by a professional technical editor and test knitted.
I am running 15% discount to celebrate Broken’s release. The discount is applied automatically once you add the pattern to the cart.
Thank you for your support! Have a wonderful start of the week!
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