Mila Sweater by Dorothy Offeciers

The Mila Sweater is a classic sweater with a modified saddle shoulder construction.
The sweater is knitted seamlessly from top to bottom. First the back panel is worked back and forth, with increases in every row to shape the shoulders. Stitches are then picked up from the cast-on edge for the left shoulder, followed by the right shoulder, whilst shaping the neck. The left and right fronts are then joined together and worked further back and forth. Once completed, the front and back are joined. From that point on, the body is knitted in the round. There are a couple of options included in the pattern regarding the length of the body & style of hem:

1. Normal length - NO waist shaping
2. Normal length - WITH waist shaping
3. Long length - NO waist shaping
4. hem WITHOUT splits on the sides (normal length or long length)
5. hem WITH splits on the sides (normal length or long length)

Stitches are bound off using the ‘Ruke cast off’ method. Sleeve stitches are then picked up around the armhole opening and worked in the round. German short rows are used to shape the sleeves at the top. Again, you can choose to make the sleeves with or without sleeve shaping. In a last step, stitches are picked up along the neck edge. All ribbing, including the collar, is worked in a double twisted rib 2x1. As a ‘finishing touch’, the neck has a couple of rounds in stockinette stitch, which result in a curled up detail. The stitches of the neck are bound off using the ‘lace bind off technique’.

The Mila Sweater is an oversized sweater with a positive ease of approx. 21.5 - 26 cm 8.5 - 10.25 inches compared to the body bust circumference. The sizes XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL correspond to a bust circumference (of the body) of approx. 74 (84) 94 (104) 114 (124) 134 (144) 155 cm 29.25 (33) 37 (41) 45 (48.75) 52.75 (56.76) 61 inches respectively. Keep in mind that the final measurements of the sweater already take these extra 21.5 - 26 cm 8.5 - 10.25 inches into account. Take the necessary measurements to determine the right size before you start knitting.

Size:
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
Bust circumference: finished sweater
96.5 (110) 120 (130) 140 (150) 160 (166.5) 176.5 cm 38 (43.25) 47.25 (51.25) 55 (59) 63 (65.50) 69.50 inches
Length ‘normal’: measured center back, excl. neck
56 (56) 57 (57) 58 (58) 58 (59) 59 cm
22 (22) 22.5 (22.5) 22.75 (22.75) 22.75 (23.25) 23.25 inches
Length ‘long’: measured center back, excl. neck
66 (66) 67 (67) 68 (68) 68 (69) 69 cm
26 (26) 26.5 (26.5) 26.75 (26.75) 26.75 (27.25) 27.25 inches
Hip/seat circumference: with waist shaping, before the hem:
90 (102.5) 112.5 (122.5) 132.5 (142.5) 152.5 (160) 170 cm
35.5 (40.25) 44.25 (48.25) 52.25 (56) 60 (63) 67 inches
Sleeve length: measured under the armhole opening:
43 (41.5) 41.5 (41.5) 39 (39.5) 38 (39) 36.5 cm
17 (16.25) 16.25 (16.25) 15.25 (15.5) 15 (15.25) 14.25 inches
Sleeve circumference: measured at armhole opening:
45 (45) 46.5 (46.5) 50 (50) 53.5 (55) 55 cm
17.75 (17.75) 18.25 (18.25) 19.75 (19.75) 21 (21.75) 21.85 inches
Yoke depth: measured from center back cast-on edge to underarm cast-on edge:
25.5 (26.5) 27.5 (29) 30 (32.5) 33.5 (34.5) 36 cm
10 (10.5) 10.75 (11.5) 11.75 (12.75) 13.25 (13.5) 14.25 inches

Gauge: 
10 x 10 cm 4 x 4 inches:
12 sts x 17 rows (after blocking) with needles 8 mm US 11 in stockinette stitch.
Needles: Circular needles 8 , 6.5, 6 & 5 mm / cables length 40, 60 and/or 80 cm US 11, 10.5, 10 & 8 / cable length 16, 24, and/or 32 inches.

The needle size is only a recommendation. Always make a gauge swatch to check if the knitting tension is correct. If there are more stitches per 10 cm, your work will be smaller than the indicated measurements. If there are fewer stitches per 10 cm, your work will be larger. Wash and block your swatch to measure the correct gauge. If necessary, adjust the needle size to obtain the correct knitting tension to ensure that your finished sweater is the correct size.