Almost Seamless Pullover Sweater Pattern ('Aiden')

Aiden is a cozy, roomy and warm masculine pullover worked from the bottom up. Other than a little Kitchener stitch at the underarms and a few whip stitches to hold the collar down, it is seamless and all in one. The neckline is reminiscent of the classic shawl collar but is constructed as your work, so no picking up stitches. Make this for your little (or medium or big) boy today!

Adapted from Helen Rose's pattern. For more of her unique knitting designs, head to her Ravelry shop, Need Knit Design

Size: 0-3m (6m, 12m, 18m, 24m, 4y, 6y, 8y)

Chest Size: 16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26 1/2 ) inch, 3 inches
of ease built into pattern

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 50% Alpaca, 50% Wool,
2l5yds/198m per 3.5 gm skein, Color 4285 :
Oceanic Mix, 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins.

Gauge: 20 st and 28 rows/4 in on US 6 in stockinette

Needle: US 6 (4 mm) 24 inch circulars and standard dpns (or needle that get gauge)

Source: Ravelry: Designs by Helen Rose

Step 1

Pattern Notes:

Weaving underarms (Kitchener Stitch): put live underarm sts on one needle (front) and live body sts on another needle (back). Position so wrong sides of fabric are together. Thread yarn tail through blunt tapestry needle. *Pull yarn through lst st on front needle as if to knit and take st off, pull yarn through 2nd st on front needle as if to purl and leave st on. Pull yarn through lst st on back needle as if to purl and take st off, pull yarn through 2nd st on back needle as if to knit and leave st on. Repeat from *, adjusting tension of seam as you go. If holes at beginning and end of seam, pull holes together and sew purl sts together at the ws of the garment.

Make One (backward loop cast on): Create loop with yarn with arms of yarn in position shown in picture.
Place loop on right hand needle. Repeat as many times as needed.
Seed st: First row: *kl, pl, repeat from * to end.
Second and all other rows: purl all knits, knit all purls.

Abbreviations:
K: knit
P: purl
k2tog: knit 2 together
ssk: slip 2 sts knitwìse, knit these sts together
St(s): stitch(es)
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
CO: cast on
BO: bind off
pm: pass markerŕplace marker
Ml : make one using backward loop cast on method

Step 2

Body:

CO 93 (101, 105, 113, 117, 133, 141, 153) sts using knit cast on. Join in round without twisting stitches in following way - slip last stitch onto left needle and knit first and last stitch together. You now have 92 (100, 104, 112, 116, 132, 140, 152) sts. Mark beginning of round and work K2P2 rib for 1/2(1/2, 1/2, 3/4, 3/4, 1 , 1 , 1 1/2 ) inch. Change to stockinette and work piece in stockinette until measures 6 (7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9 1/2, 10 1/2, 12 1/2) inches from the cast on edge. Leave work on needles.

Step 3

Sleeve:

Work sleeve in round using separate needles. CO 25 (25, 29, 29, 29, 33, 33, 37) sts using knit cast on. Join in round without twisting stitches in following way - slip last stitch onto left needle and knit first and last stitch together. You now have 24 (24, 28, 28, 28, 32, 32, 36) sts. Mark beginning of round and work K2P2 rib for 1/2 (1/2 , 1/2 , 3/4, 3/4, l, 1, 1 1/2) inch. Change to stockinette and do an increase round (as described below) every 5th round until you have 30 (34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts.
Increase round: k2, ml, k to one before end, ml, kl.

After completing all increases, continue to work sleeve in stockinette until measures 6 (6 1/2, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2 , 10 1/2, 11 1/2, 12 1/2) inches from CO edge. Work first 4 (4, 4, 4,4, 5, 5, 6) sts of
next round. Leave live sts on needles or on holder with a long tail of yarn.

Repeat to make other sleeve.

Step 4

Yoke:

Join Yoke as follows:
K 20 (21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32) sts on body needles, slip next 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, ll, ll, 12) sts onto holder, k 23 (26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 37, 40) sleeve sts, slip next 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 12) sleeve sts onto holder, k 39 (42, 44, 47, 49, 55, 59, 64) sts from body needle, slip next 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 12) body sts onto holder, k 23 (26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 37, 40) sleeve sts, slip next 7 (8, 8, 9, 9, 11, 11, 12) sleeve sts onto holder, k to end. Now have 124 (136, 144, 152, 160, 176, 192, 208) sts on main needles.

After connecting body and sleeve, knit until 2 1/3 (2 1/2 , 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 3, 3 1/4, 3 1/2, 3 3/4 ) inches from underarms.

Do first decrease round: *k1, k2t0g. Repeat from *. End with kl (kl, k2tog, k2, kl, k2, k2t0g, kl).

Next row sets up the neckline (you will be working back and forth now, and will be doing garter for the shoulders and seed stitch for the collar):

Row 1: K to 6 (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 12, 12) sts before end of round, pm, seed st to end of round, pm, turn work.

Row 2 (WS): Seed st to marker, pm, pl , pm, k to 1 before marker placed at end of seed st section, pm, pl, pm, ml x 6 (6, 6, 8, 8, 8,12,12). Now have 89 (97, 102, 110, 115, 126, 140, 151) sts.

Row 3: Seed st to marker, pm, kl, pm, k2tog, k to 2 before marker, ssk, pm, kl, pm, seed to end. This decreases by 2 sts. Now have 87 (95, 100, 108, 113, 124, 138, 149) sts.

Row 4: seed to marker, pm, pl, pm, k to marker, pm, pl, pm, seed to marker.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there are 83 (89, 94, 100, 105, 114, 128, 139) sts on needles, ending with the completion of a row 3. It should now measure at least, and close to, 4 (4 1/4, 4 1/4, 4 1/2, 4 3/4, 5, 5 1/4, 5 1/2) inches from the underarm.

Now do decrease row #2 on WS: seed st to marker, pm, pl, pm, *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to marker, ending with k2tog (k2tog, k2, kl, k2tOg, k2tog, k2t0g, k2), pm, pl, pm, Seed St to end. Now have 60 (64, 68, T3, 76, 82, 94, 102).

Repeat row 3 and 4 until you have 56 (60, 62, 67, 70, 72, 82, 88) sts on needles, ending with the completion of a row 3. At this point you should be at least, and close to 4 3/4 (5, 5 1/4, 5 1/2, 5 3/4, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2) inches from underarms.

Now do decrease row #3 on WS: seed st to marker, pm, pl, pm, *kl, k2tog, repeat from * to marker ending on k2tog (kl, k2tog, kl, kl, k2tog, k2, k2), pl, pm, seed st to end. Now have 42 (45, 46, 51, 53, 54, 64, 68) sts.

Step 5

Rounding off collar:

Row A (RS): k2tog, seed to marker, remove marker, seed x 1 st, pm, k, pm, k to 1 before marker, pm, kl , pm, seed xl , remove marker, seed to 2 before end, ssk.

Row B: seed st to marker, pm, pl, pm, k to marker, pm, pl, pm, seed to end.

Repeat rows A and B two more times.

Row C (RS): k2tog, seed to marker, remove marker, seed one st, remove marker, seed st to 10 before marker, evaluate whether or not seed will line up appropriately when you get to collar, if not, k2tog, continue seed st (removing markers along the way) to 2 before end of row, ssk.

Row D: Work all sts in seed st.

Repeat rows C and D one time.

BO in purl on RS.

Step 6

Finishing:

Weave underarms together using Kitchener stitch.

Using a simple whip st or st of choice, or even buttons, secure bottom edge of right side of collar to inside of sweater, lining right side collar bottom edge up with left side collar bottom edge.

Weave in ends.

Block to specifications on schematic.