The perfect way to add a touch of vintage to your wardrobe, Olivier is my newest free knitting pattern in partnership with JOANN.
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Read through my inspiration, design process, and more below!
Inspiration
Most of you know, well I think most of you do, that I started designing in 2010 and by 2012 had started work on my first book of knitting patterns, The Heritage Collection.
In the book were nearly 20 patterns each with a vintage vibe. From sweaters to afghans to socks, each pattern recalled a time in America when knitting was used to aide soldiers during both WWI and WWII.
Since then, I’ve had an affinity to vintage knit and crochet. This month I wanted to give y’all a free knitting pattern that honored that vintage style while giving it a bit of a modern sizing and using a fun yarn from Lion Brand Yarns, Basic Stitch. More on that later.
Olivier is constructed flat and seamed. That means you’ll make four pieces. The back, front, and two sleeves. The seams provide stability and honor the tradition in which most sweaters were made in the 40s and 50s.
The sweater is completed in stockinette stitch with ribbed accents to give it a classic look. It is also tapered in at the waist.
Design Process
The yarn really directed my path here. Lion Brand Basic Stitch Premium, is a premium acrylic yarn with an impressive 219 yards per 100g skein. It’s a light worsted weight yarn which does well worked at a tighter gauge, which is what I chose. You can see the full range of colors here and pick up your own!
The sweater begins at the hem with a short bit of 1×1 ribbing, increases are worked on either side of the body to the underarm/bust area. Decreases form the raglan shape up to the neckline.
This pattern is extremely easy and anyone with a basic understanding of knitting and knit stitches would be able to complete it with ease.
The Pattern
Sizes:
XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X)
Finished Measurements:
Bust: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58) inches
Lower Edge: 26 (30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54) inches
Length: 22.75 (22.75, 23.25, 23.25, 23.25, 23.25, 23.25, 24.25) inches
Sleeve Length from Underarm: 13 inches
Sleeve Width at Lower Edge: 9.5 (9.5, 9.5, 10, 10, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5) inches
Sleeve Width at Upper Edge: 11.5 (12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17.5, 18.5, 19.75) inches
Gauge:
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4″
Yarn:
Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch (3.5oz/100g, 219yd/200m; 100% Premium Acrylic) 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins Color 141 PLUM
Needles:
US 7 (4.5mm) Knitting Needles
Notes:
For fully fashioned decreases on RS rows, k1, ssk, knit to the last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1; on wrong side rows, p 1, p2tog, purl to the last 3 stitches, ssp, p1.
For fully fashioned increases on the RS rows, k1, M1R, knit to the last stitch, M1L, k1.
BACK
Cast on 66 (76, 84, 96, 106, 116, 126, 134) stitches.
Begin K1P1 rib, and work even until the piece measures about 2″ from the beginning, ending after a WS row.
Increasing for the Bust
Begin stockinette stitch, and work fully fashioned increases each side every 14 rows 5 (3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 0, 0) times.
Then work fully fashioned increases each side every 12 rows 0 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5) times.
After last increase you will have 76 (86, 94, 106, 116, 126, 136, 144) stitches.
Continue, if needed, until piece measures about 13, (13, 13, 13, 12.5, 12.5, 12, 12)” from beginning, or desired length, ending after a wrong-side row.
Shape the Armholes
Bind Off 5 (5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 8) stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Work fully fashioned decreases each side every 4 rows 11 (8, 5, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) times.
Then work fully fashioned decreases each side every other row 5 (13, 20, 29, 32, 30, 29, 28) times.
Then work fully fashioned decreases each side every row 0 (0, 0, 2, 1, 8, 14, 19) times.
You will have 34 stitches remaining.
Bind off loosely.
FRONT
Work same as fro the back until the piece measures about 3″ less than total length of back.
Shape the Neck
Neck is shaped AND AT SAME TIME, continue to work raglan decreases as established.
Place markers on both sides of the middle 12 stitches.
Knit across to the first marker, join a second ball of yarn, and bind off the stitches between the markers then knit across to the end of the row.
Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn Bind Off 5 stitches each neck edge once.
Bind Off 3 stitches at each neck edge once.
Work fully fashioned decreases at each neck edge ever row twice.
Work fully fashioned decreases each neck edge every other row once.
SLEEVE (Make 2)
Cast On 48 (48, 48, 50, 50, 52, 52, 52) stitches.
Begin K1P1 rib and work even until the piece measures about 2″.
Size Extra-Small
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13: Knit Across.
Rows 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1-14, four more times.
Size Small
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3, 5, 7, 9: Knit Across.
Rows 4, 6, 8, 10: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1-10, six more times.
Size Medium
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3, 5: Knit Across.
Rows 4, 6: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1-6, four more times.
Row 31: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 32: Purl Across.
Rows 33, 35, 37: Knit Across.
Rows 34, 36, 38: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 31-38, four more times.
Size Large
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3, 5: Knit Across.
Rows 4, 6: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1-6, eight more times.
Row 55: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 56: Purl Across.
Rows 57, 59, 61: Knit Across.
Rows 58, 60, 62: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 55-62, one more times.
Size Extra Large
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3: Knit Across.
Row 4: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 1-4, 9 times more.
Row 41: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 42: Purl Across.
Rows 43, 45: Knit Across.
Row 44, 46: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 41-46, four more times.
Size 2-Extra Large
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Rows 3: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 4: Purl Across
Row 5: Knit Across
Row 6: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 3-6, 16 more times.
Size 3-Extra Large
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2, four more times.
Rows 11: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 12: Purl Across
Row 13: Knit Across
Row 14: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 11-14, fourteen times more.
4-Extra Large
Row 1: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 2: Purl Across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2, ten more times.
Rows 11: K2, M1, Knit across to last 2 sts, M1, K2.
Row 12: Purl Across
Row 13: Knit Across
Row 14: Purl Across
Repeat Rows 11-14, eleven times more.
You will now have 58 (62, 68, 72, 80, 88, 92, 98) stitches.
Shape Sleeve Cap
Bind off 5 (5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 8) stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Work fully fashioned decreases each side of every 4th row, 9 (9, 8, 5, 6, 4, 4, 2) times.
Work fully fashioned decreases each side of every other row, 9 (11, 16, 20, 20, 26, 28, 33) times.
You will now have 12 stitches remaining.
Bind off loosely.
ASSEMBLY AND NECKLINE
Sew raglan seams beginning at under arm up to the neckline using mattress stitch. Seam under arms and sides of sweater. Weave in all ends.
Pick up and knit an even number of stitches around neckline. As a general rule, pick up one stitch for every horizontal stitch (the front and back bind off edge) for the sleeve bind off, pick up 8 stitches along the vertical edge.
Work in a K1P1 rib for about 1″. Bind off loosely in pattern.
Weave in all ends. Wash and lay flat to block.
Rohn Strong 