I have a pattern for a fair isle jumper which has a pattern on the sleeves to be knitted in the round. The pattern on the chart is 12 stitches wide but the sleeve is 63 stitches, what should I do with the additional 3 stitches?
Also, would it be possible to knit it flat and seam it to make a tube to then join it to the front/back to knit from the underarms upwards in the round? It’s a beautiful jumper but is more of a challenge than I realised!!
Welcome to KH!
What is the name of your pattern?
Check the pattern and make sure there isn’t some reference to side or edge sts. Is the sleeve increasing is width as you knit? Perhaps you’re to work the increases into the pattern on each side.
You can of course knit the sleeve flat and join but be aware that many fair isle patterns are written for in the round knitting. You may find that a color that you need at the beginning of a row has been left at end of a row. You can work with that but it’ll mean more ends to cut and weave in later.
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Thank you so much for getting back to me! The pattern is for the Mia Jumper from the Love Craft website. The stitch count does increase as it goes up the rows, but it looks like that will be after the fair isle pattern part of it is done. To add the extra 3 stitches would you just restart the repeat? I suppose if this bit doesn’t quite fit with the pattern I could just make sure that this is where the seam could go. Thank you very much for your advice, I’ll have a go in the round and be reassured that if it’s too hard I can do it flat and just deal with extra ends to weave in! Thanks again, Emma
It’s very unusual to have 3sts outside the pattern repeat before any sleeve increases. Two sts are possible but 3?
At any rate, you could work the end of the repeat at the beginning of the round and the beginning of the repeat at the end of the round. Or you could work the 3sts in the background color. Definitely place them at the inside where a seam would go.
Thank you again, that is so helpful! I’m lucky that my sister is so slim, the larger sizes have an extra 5/7/9 stitches before the increases. This is for her Christmas present for this December so at least I have plenty of time to get it right! Keen to make a start now while everyone is having to stay at home. Thanks again, best wishes Emma
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I wonder if you would quote just the row or two before the start of the chart. Don’t post any more than that due to designer copyright. I’m still surprised that the pattern hasn’t addressed the difference between stitch number and chart repeat.
Hi, these are the instructions For that part of the pattern:
Change to 3.5 mm double pointed needles and k one round. At the same time increase by 3 sts evenly distributed over the round = 63 (65) 67 (69) 71 sts
Now work the rows from chart C. Count out from the arrow at middle of sleeve to find the starting point.
For the increases it does call for them to be added ‘at middle underarm’ perhaps it would be best to just do it flat and seam it before joining the arms to the body to knit the top bit in the round. Not being very experienced with fair isle it will probably save lots of knots and difficulties, and luckily weaving in ends is something that I really enjoy! Thank you again for your help!
Yes, that make a bit more sense. The key is starting mid-chart at the center stitch. Then figure out where to begin the row on the left side of the chart and just continue to the last full repeat and begin another repeat.
Whether in the round or flat, the increases will be at the start and end of round or start and end of row which will place them at the underarm seam.
Thanks for posting this. Enjoy working the lovely pattern.
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