Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade, made from Berroco's Weekend yarn, which was wonderful to knit, it has just the right amount of stretch and great stitch definition.
 This original modular design was based on panels of some of my favorite stitches, Trinity, yarn over stripes, double moss, and moss. I used a size 7US circular needle for the body, knit flat, and a size 6US for the ribbing, knit in the round as the final section after the body was finished.  I made the back first and knit to the right length, and knowing it would be too narrow, I planned to pick up stitches on the sides to knit the underarm sections.To facilitate this procedure, I slipped the first stitch of every row, which forms a nice chain edge. The front was made the same as the back with the exception of binding off the center 24 Trinity stitches for the neck opening.


After completing the front and back panels, I sewed the shoulder seams, and then picked up along the entire (chain) edge of both front and back. Since the amount of chains is 2/3 less than the correct amount of needed stitches I picked up one, then on the next chain I picked up one from the chain and also from the back loop of that chain. In other words, every other chain gave me two stitches, which was the correct number needed. Then I proceeded to knit in the new direction, that is, outward, keeping the shoulder area in Trinity (48 sts) and the rest of the side panel in moss stitch.
To determine the amount of width I needed I measured the center panel and using math (!) I knew I would have to knit at least 2 more inches to make it my size.
For example:
the needed width for the front or back was 20" and the center panel measured only 16" so 2" more on each side would have to be added to equal 20". This is a simple way for me to design a garment that fits. Even tho I made a swatch, when the panel is completely knitted, I can measure it more accurately. The finished length before ribbing was 20" also. The ribbing added another 3.5".
The picked up edge is emphasized by purling the first row (right side) to differentiate the double moss from the moss going in the other direction.
The armhole length was determined by trying on the garment and marking it with a stitch marker. Then I turned the garment to the wrong side and closed the side seam with a three needle bind off, up to the armhole. The armhole then was finished with ribbing. No shaping was needed for the armhole, or the shoulders. I repeated the process of picking up and knitting for the other side panel, and then finished the neck and bottom by picking up and knitting ribbing.



To make this modular design in different sizes, one could increase or decrease the amount of pattern stitches or switch to a smaller or larger needle.
And of course your choice of yarn is going to come into the mix. I always suggest trying out the pattern stitch in a small swatch, just to test the finished size.
Any questions? email me and I will gladly answer.
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Yarn over stripe pattern, over twelve stitches:
row 1: k
row 2: p
row 3: k
row 4: k (wrong side)
row 5: yo, k2tog to end of row
row 6: k (wrong side)
Repeat these six rows for pattern.