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This is a PDF knitting pattern.
Dive into your yarn collection and experiment with splashy color combinations for this modular marled sweater or dress. This swingy garment begins with the first four sections of the Marled Magic Shawl and continues on a colorful journey using two strands of yarn held together throughout the entire project. All sections are picked up and knit or attached while you knit so there is minimal seaming. The only two seams are on each side, but you can use a three-needle bind off to avoid any sewing! Most sections are knit with seed stitch, garter stitch, mesh, or brioche.
The color and texture changes are simple and addicting so you are motivated to reach each new section. Mix all your fingering and lace weight yarns together to achieve your own one-of-a-kind artistic color collage! When you pick up stitches around the bottom border, you can either bind off for the sweater version or continue knitting mesh for a long dress version, the ultimate yarn extravaganza!
Use these modification notes in combination with the original pattern if you would like to alter this sweater into a drapey cardigan.
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Sizes
Small (Large)
Sizes are achieved with different gauges.
Knit the longer dress version (shown with dark blue sleeves) by picking up stitches around the bottom edge and knitting mesh so it can be as long as you want.
Finished Measurements
28 (30)“ / 72 (76)cm long from top neck to bottom back, 20 (21)” / 51 (53)cm neck circumference, 54 (72)“ / 137 (183)cm wingspan from cuff to cuff, 71 (86)” / 180 (218)cm hip circumference.
This garment is designed to fit with super generous positive ease.
Cuff length for the sleeves is customizable so the total wingspan could be 49 (62)“ / 125 (157)cm if you only add 1” / 2.5cm cuffs instead of the longer ribbed cuffs (shown in orange for the sweater and dark blue for the dress), 18” / 46cm from neckline to bottom front measured along the front center striped panel.
Dress version (sample with dark blue neckline and cuffs) measures 28” / 71cm along center striped panel from neckline to bottom front edge & 44” / 112cm along center back from neckline to bottom back edge.
Yarn
Sport or DK DK or Worsted weight.
Always hold two strands of yarn together to achieve the marled effect like the sample garments.
Small Size
Hold 1 strand of fingering weight together with 1 strand of lace weight or hold 2 strands of lace weight together to achieve the smaller size.
Large Size
Hold 2 strands of fingering weight together or hold 1 strand of fingering weight and 1 strand of lace weight mohair together for the larger size.
Using lace weight mohair helps add a lighter lofty feel to the fabric. If you use entirely superwash fingering weight wools, the overall fabric will be a bit heavier and may stretch over time. I recommend mixing in mohair to your palette OR combine your superwash wools with some non-superwash yarns like Brooklyn Tweed LOFT to give a bit more structure to the garment.
Yardage
The Sweater version uses approximately 800g using fingering weight and lace weight mohair. The dress uses approximately 950g. I recommend have a large collection of yarns to choose from. Gather at least 1500g of yarn to choose from so you have a wide array of color choices.
Needles
2 pairs of 40” US 6 (8) / 4 (5)mm circular.
40” US 5 (7) / 3.75 (4.5)mm circular for cuffs and collar.
Notions
Tapestry needle, spare circular needle for holding stitches.
Gauge
Large Size
20 sts & 40 rows = 4” / 10cm in garter stitch
Small Size
23 sts & 48 rows = 4” / 10cm in garter stitch
Standard Marl
Hold 2 strands of yarn together. Maintain these colors for the entire section.
Steady Marl
Hold 2 stands of yarn together. Always keep 1 strand the same color. Only stripe the second strand of yarn.
Fading Marl
Hold 2 strands of yarn together. Only change 1 strand at a time, but you can substitute colors with either strand of yarn at anytime. Blend and fade your colors together.
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A variety of fingering and lace weight yarns. I used mostly Hedgehog Fibres Sock, Skinny Singles,Sporty Merino, and Kidsilk lace for my samples. I also sussed some paper, cotton, and silk yarns from Habu for the sweater version with orange edges.
