Maggie Mae - a free pattern for you

Maggie Mae

Lenora François Stewart

François Stewart Designs^TM

Maggie Mae is a simple sleeveless pullover with a deep neckline.   The top is worked in one piece beginning at the arm opening and continuing across the front then around the back and ending with a simple kitchener stitch join.  Short shoulder seams complete the construction.  Neck edge and arm openings are finished with reverse single crochet.  

NOTICE:  Pattern fit is easily adjustable.  To add to circumference you may add two rows of stockinette under each arm, add two rows of seed stitch to each front side or/and add and even number of seed stitch rows to the back.  For every four rows added, the blocked width is increased by 1 inch.

Size:  S (M, L)

Chest:   32” (34”, 37”) pattern is sized for a close fit and to accommodate stretch inherent in cotton garments. 

Length:  20.5 (20.5, 23)  NOTE:  Blocked length is actually determined by your stitch gauge.  Cotton will give.

Yarn:  Noro Taiyo (40% cotton, 30 % silk, 15% wool, 15% nylon, 100 g/ 201m), 3 balls

Needles:  size #10 (6mm) circular, 24”.  Use needle size to get gauge or knit loosely 

Hook:   size I (5.5mm) crochet hook

Notions: tapestry needle, stitch marker, waste yarn (used for provisional cast on)

Gauge:  16 sts = 4” (10 cm) Because the entire top is worked side to side, this gauge does not indicate the final length of the garment.  The cotton content of the suggested yarn, the weight and the downward pull all combine to make the final length after blocking approximately 20.5 – 23 “

CO 32 (32, 36) stitches plus provisional CO 41 (41, 45) additional stitches. 73(73, 81) TOTAL stitches cast on.  If using a different yarn, increase the provisional CO stitches based upon your gauge.

Front Side

WS  Seed Stitch

RS  Seed Stitch  (place stitch marker to indicate right side)

Repeat Seed Stitch as established for 4.5” (5”, 5.5”)

End on WS row

Begin Neck Shaping

RS  BO 3 stitches at beginning (neck edge) and continue in seed stitch

WS  Seed stitch

Repeat these two rows 9 more times (Total of 30 stitches bound off)

RS  CO 3 stitches then work RS row in seed stitch.  Be careful to work the 3 new cast on stitches in pattern!

WS  Seed Stitch

Repeat these two rows 9 more times (total of 30 stitches cast on = 73 ((73,81)) total stitches)

Front Side

Working on stitches as established, continue in seed stitch until this side measures 4.5” (5”, 5.5”).  Measure from beginning of 73 (73, 81) stitches after completing neck.

Arm Hole

RS  Loosely BO 32 (32, 36) stitches, k across remaining 41 (41, 45)

WS  p 41 (41, 45)

RS  k 41 (41, 45)

WS  p 41 (41, 45)

RS k 41 (41, 45))

Large Size Only work four more rows: 

WS    p 45

RS    k 45

WS    p 45

RS    k 45

Back

WS  seed stitch across 41 (41, 45) stitches

RS  CO 32 (32, 36) stitches then work entire row in seed stitch pattern  73 (73, 81) stitches after completing cast on

Continue in seed stitch for 15 (16, 17) inches ending with a WS row

RS   BO 32 (32, 36)  stitches, k across remaining 41 (41, 45)

WS  p 41 (41, 45)

RS  k 41 (41, 45)

WS  p 41 (41, 45)

Large Size Only work four more rows: 

RS    p 45

WS    k 45

RS    p 45

WS    k 45

Remove provisional cast on and return stitches to other end of circular needles (or use a spare needle)

Graft (kitchener stitch) 41 (41, 45) stitches together.

Sew shoulders

Weave in all ends

Beginning at right shoulder seam, work reverse single crochet around entire neck edge.

Work reverse single crochet around arm holes.

   

©2010 François Stewart Designs, Lenora François Stewart

All rights reserved

This pattern is for your personal, non-commercial use only.

You are not allowed to make garments from this pattern for sale anywhere.

You are not allowed to mass produce this pattern or garments made from this pattern.

Yo, Yo, Yo for Ho, Ho, Ho

Well, it is not gonna be your traditional holiday green, but the Rusted Diamond sweater is almost done. As in only eight inches, give or take, of the second sleeve left to knit. Around and around and around. Knit stitches. Nothin' but knit stitches with an occasional (and thus quite thrilling) SSK or k2tog. Over and over and over. Ad infinitum. Ad nausium.

Decided not to add in any diamonds on the sleeve because that would detract from the surprise side detail I thought up all on my own. Because this is done (just as the original Rusted Root from Zephyr Style) in the round, there are no side seams specified or faked. But I did add in one little bit of "ooooh" factor where the side seams would normally sit. Does this make me a designer?

As if my hips aren't spreading enough on their own, I decided to draw attention to them with bright shining white.

Yarn over! Simple eyelets with two stitches between. Yo! Yo! Yo! for Ho! Ho! Ho!

This extremely nonfunctional detail does require that that a marker, pattern placed at the under arm, be carried along row by boring row until it is time to put in the YOs. What row to begin - - any where you want based upon your own body, of course. I, as confessed, placed these quite low down so as to emphasize my holiday hips.

And, if you look carefully, you'll note that the YO eyelets continue through the ribbing at sweater's end.

I-cord to match the diamonds weaves and dangles like trimming on a tree. But I can also vision ribbon woven through for a more delicate look. Of course given that this sweater is cotton, it would need to be gross grain. Had the sweater been done of silk, a lovely gossamer would be quite elegant.

And here we admire the final product.

Woven and dangling

Ready for my hips

Maybe the casual observer will be drawn to the unique detail and fail to notice how far apart the two sides actually are.

Maybe the casual observer will fail to notice how far apart my two sides are.

Maybe........

Maybe.................

Maybe..........................