Elsie

Elsie the moto sweater is so much fun – easy to make and a blast to wear! Her thick garter fabric is dense and weighty like her leather motorcycle counterpart. Zippers, positioned diagonally at the center front and at sleeve cuffs, add to the authenticity of this design – and a bit of sparkle. You’ll find this piece, worked flat from the bottom up in Aran weight wool, to be a delightfully quick knit too. The overall garter stitch requires no blocking, enables virtually invisible shaping, and lends itself to easy seaming and zipper insertions by matching rows and following the paths of its large, defined stitches. Enjoy!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56"/ 81.3, 91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 121.9, 132.1, 142.2 cm
Waist: 27, 31, 35, 39, 42, 47, 51"/ 68.6, 78.7, 88.9, 99.1, 106.7, 119.4, 129.5 cm
Hips: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56"/ 81.3, 91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 121.9, 132.1, 142.2 cm
Length: 25¼, 25¼, 25½, 25¾, 26, 26, 26¼"/ 64.1, 64.1, 64.8, 65.4, 66, 66, 66.7 cm

MATERIALS
Yarn
Shown in Osprey wool by Quince & Co. (100% wool; 170 yds per 100g skein); color – Kumlien’s Gull #152; 7, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 skeins, or for comparable yarn, approximately 1050, 1190, 1340, 1480, 1630, 1805, 1950 yds/ 970, 1090, 1225, 1370, 1510, 1650, 1800 m.
I always have additional yarn on-hand for swatching.

Needles
US10½ / 6.5mm or size to obtain gauge
• 1 24"/ 60 cm to 32"/ 80 cm circular (to manage multiple sts, pattern knit flat)
• 1 24"/ 60 cm circular or 1 pair straight (for upper bodice, left front lap, and sleeves)

Notions
Stitch markers
Stitch holders
Tapestry needle
Medium weight (#5) zippers – online zipper source information included
• (1) 21"/ 54 cm aluminum medium-weight, 2-way separating for center front (best to wait until knitting is completed before ordering to ensure accurate length)
• (2) 6"/ 15 cm aluminum medium-weight closed zippers for sleeves
Thread, sewing needle, bias tape, and pins for zipper insertion

GAUGE (after blocking)
14.4 sts and 30 rows to 4"/ 10.2 cm in Garter stitch

SKILLS REQUIRED
Long-tail CO, Cable CO or Knitted CO, decreasing (k2tog), increasing (kfb), Kitchener stitch grafting at shoulders, short row shaping, setting in sleeve caps, seaming, stitch pick-up for neckline trim, and zipper installation.

16 page pdf includes pattern instructions, photographs, tutorial links, schematics, assembly diagrams, photo tutorial for zipper installation, a ROW TRACKER for managing AT THE SAME TIME bodice shaping instructions, and definitions for relevant abbreviations.

You'll find this pattern for sale on Ravelry.