Jenifer Paulousky (model)
Zev Fisher (photo)
click image to enlarge

Painted Lady

The idea of this project was twofold:

1. Use up sale balls of luxurious yarn I’d bought haphazardly.

2. Find a use for all the gorgeous sock yarn I covet, but have no intention of making socks with.

As such, you’re encouraged to scour your stash for things that have roughly similar gauge, with a good color scheme, and unite them under a common goal.

by Jenifer Paulousky

Suggested Reading

Painted Ladies in Wikipedia

Difficulty

Strong Intermediate
Click here for definitions of difficulty levels.

Finished Measurements

S[M, L] (33-36"[36-39", 39-42"] bust)

Materials

• 1 sk Karabella "Aurora Bulky"(100% merino, 54 yd/50g) black (Color 1)
• 1 sk Karabella "Aurora Bulky"(100% merino, 54 yd/50g) red (Color 2)
• 1 sk Regia sock yarn (wool/nylon blend, 220 yd/100g), pulled from both ends (two strands knit together)
• 2 sk Filtes-King "Super Merino" (100% merino, 128 yd/100g) grey (1sk per sleeve)
• 1 sk Bollicine "Victor" acrylic/wool blend, 113 yd/100g, black
• US 10.5/6.5mm circular needles (or size necessary to get gauge) in a length that works with your chosen size. (Also see Project Notes for further discussion of needles.)

Gauge

3.5 St/5 rows =1" in St st. on size #10.5 US (6.5 mm) circular needles (40" cord length).

Project Notes

About Needles: I use the Magic Loop method in all the circular work I do, which requires a 40" - 47" needle. I think the smallest you can get away with is a 36", comfortably. However, you can use two circulars at a time, or using a single 24" circular would work for the body, should you not want to try magic loop. Then you will want to switch to DPNs or two circulars at a time for the sleeves, since they get down to an 9" circumference at the cuff.

If you want to learn more about Magic Loop or knitting with two circulars, check out this excellent set of tutorials.

Directions

Torso:

CO 60[60,60] st, pm, and join in round. K 3 rounds St st.

On next round, K10, pm, K20, pm, K10, pm, K20.

This should be the end of your round, where the marker is placed when you first CO and join. I will refer to this marker has "end of round" or "4th marker" throughout the pattern.

On next two rounds, begin the following pattern and repeat within brackets 7[8,10] times:
{R1: K around in stockinette stitch, but M1 three stitches before and three stitches after every marker (8 increases total over the whole round).
R2: K around in St st.}
Note: This pattern will be referred to as the "yolk increase pattern".

Break color 1 (black) and begin color 2 (red).
Continue yolk increase pattern, repeating within {} another 7[8,9] times in color 2.

Break color 2 (red), begin color 3 (variegated color). Remember here, if you’re using sock yarn, to hold two strands together!

Continue yolk increase pattern, repeating within {} another 3[3,4] times.

At this point you will have added 136[152,184] stitches, for a total of 196 [212,244] stitches in your round, and you should have a total of 38[42,50] rounds.

Then continue working even in St.st. in color 3 for an additional 12[14,16] rounds without increasing.

On next round, place the first 44[48,56] stitches on scrap yarn, join the beginning of the round to the next live stitch (drop one marker, but keep one marker for beginning of round in place) and work 54[58,66] stitches. Then place the next 44[48,56] stitches on scrap yarn (drop both markers), join round to next live stitch and work another 54[58,66] stitches. You should now be at the end of the round. Continue work in the round in St.st. for another 5[7,9] rounds.

You should now have 108[116,132] stitches in your round and 44[48,56] stitches on either side held by scrap yarn.

Break and pick up color 1. Work in 2x2 rib for 2"[2.5",3"]. BO loosely.

Sleeves (Make Two, One on Each Side):

Note: Start the next set of instructions with color 4 (the gray yarn in the photo). Also, the sleeves are identical UNTIL you get to the mitten. As the sleeves end in fingerless mitts, there are separate instructions below for the left and right hand. As you may have guessed, this is because your thumbs are, ideally, opposable.

Place the 44[48,56] held stitches on your needle. Pick up 4 stitches along the side of the body, where the underarm will be. PM, join, and K 6 rounds.

Repeat the following pattern for your size only, as many times as indicated under each size:

Small:
[R1: K2tog, K to 2 before end of round, SSK.
R2-9: K around] - repeat within brackets 8 times.

Medium:
[R1: K2tog, K to 2 before end of round, SSK.
R2-7: K around] - repeat within brackets 10 times.

Large:
[R1: K2tog, K to 2 before end of round, SSK.
R2-5: K around] - repeat within brackets 14 times.

You should now have 32 stitches in your round. Continue working in St.st. until sleeve measures 17.5" from the underarm. Note: If you have short or long arms, you want to make sure the sleeves are 1" short of the end of your wrist before starting the next set of instructions.

On next round, being to work around in 2x2 rib for 1". Break color 4 and pick up color 1 (black for mittens) and continue in 2x2 rib for another 2", or to the point where your thumb begins when fully extended.

RIGHT HAND ONLY:
On next round, work 18 stitches, place next 9 stitches on holder (these will be the thumb), work to end of round (5 more stitches), maintaining 2x2 rib as best as possible. Join and continue for another 5 rounds. BO loosely. Pick up the 9 held stitches, plus 2 additional stitches along the side of the hand (where your thumb meets your hand). Join and work in 2x2 rib (with 3 purl or knit stitches in a row where thumb meets hand) for 5 rounds. BO loosely.

LEFT HAND ONLY:
On next round, work 5 stitches, place next 9 stitches on holder (these will be the thumb), work to end of round (18 more stitches), maintaining 2x2 rib as best as possible. Join and continue for another 5 rounds. BO loosely. Pick up the 9 held stitches, plus 2 additional stitches along the side of the hand (where your thumb meets your hand). Join and work in 2x2 rib (with 3 purl or knit stitches in a row where thumb meets hand) for 5 rounds. BO loosely.

Finishing:

Work in any loose ends. Iron with steam iron if necessary. Finished unstretched measurements are approx. 31"[33", 37"] around at bust, 18.5" length for sleeves (cuff to underarm), 13"[14.5",17"] around at bicep, and 9" around at cuff.

About

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