Ohia Tunic

I saw something similar to this in a catalog years ago, and kept it in my head to one day (when I was a good enough knitter to figure out how) recreate it.  As I worked on it, I was sure that it no longer really resembled the original piece, whatever it was, but it began to more and more remind me of something else, of the crinkling brown leaves of Fall, and of the curls and whorls of the bark of the Ohia trees that grew around my house.  And so, to me, it feels simultaneously wholesome and stylish, and very cozy.

Gauge: 18 sts = 4 inches, 24 rows = 4 inches.

Materials:

US 8 24-inch circular needle

2 US 8 dpns

cable needle (optional—could use a dpn)

stitch markers

Knitpicks Wool of the Andes 100% wool worsted (shown in camel heather).  6 (7, 7, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins needed.

Sizes: x-small (Bust=32 inches), small (34), medium (36-shown), large (37), x-large (39) 2X (42), 3X (44)

Notes: C8R = Cable eight right.  Slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work.  Knit next 4 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.

Pattern:

CO 166 [176, 186, 196, 200, 208, 216] sts.  Join to begin working in the round.  Purl 3 rounds.  K 1 round, continue in stockinette for 2.25 [2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 2.75, 3, 3] in.

K 81 [86, 91, 96, 101, 102, 106] SSK, pm, k 81 [86, 91, 96, 101, 102, 106], k2tog, pm (this second marker is the end of round marker).

Rows 1 & 2: K 2 rounds

Row 3: K to 2 sts before m, SSK, k to 2 sts before m, k2tog.

Repeat these 3 rounds 9 [11, 11, 13, 11, 6, 6]X more—144 [152, 162, 168, 176, 192, 200] sts.

Knit 30 [24, 24, 20, 26, 42, 45] rounds.

Eyelet round:

SIZES X-SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, & 2X: (k1, k2tog, yo2x, SSK, k1) around.

SIZES SMALL, X-LARGE, & 3X: (k2tog, yo2x, SSK) around.

Cable section:

SIZE X-SMALL: Row 1: k4, (p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k8, p1) to last 13 sts, end p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove the other markers).

SIZE SMALL: Row 1: k4 (p1, k3, p1, k3, p2, k8, p1) to last 15 sts, end p1, k3, p2, k3, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove the other markers).

SIZE MEDIUM: Row 1: k4, (p1, k3, p2, k3, p2, k8, p1) to last 15 sts, end p1, k3, p2, k3, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove the other markers).

SIZE LARGE: Row 1: k4 (p1, k3, p3, k3, p2, k8, p1) to last 16 sts, end p1, k3, p3, k3, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove the other markers).

SIZE X-LARGE: Row 1: K4, (p1, k4, p2, k4, p2, k8, p1) to last 17 sts, end p1, k4, p2, k4, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more stitches, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove other markers).

SIZE 2X: Row 1: k4 (p1, k5, p2, k5, p2, k8, p1) to last 19 sts, end p1, k5, p2, k5, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove other markers). 

SIZE 3X: Row 1: k4 (p1, k5, p3, k5, p2, k8, p1) to last 20 sts, end p1, k5, p3, k5, p2, k4.  Knit 4 more sts, then place marker to consider this point the end of the round (go ahead and remove other markers).

Row 2: Work repeat section (directions in parentheses) for your size. 

Repeat row 2 four times.

*Cable round:

SIZE X-SMALL: (p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE SMALL: (p1, k3, p1, k3, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE MEDIUM: (p1, k3, p2, k3, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE LARGE: (p1, k3, p3, k3, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE X-LARGE: (p1, k4, p2, k4, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE 2X: (p1, k5, p2, k5, p2, C8R, p1) around.

SIZE 3X: (p1, k5, p3, k5, p2, C8R, p1) around.

Work Row 2 nine times.

Repeat from * 2X (2X, 2X, 2X, 3X, 3X, 3X) more, then work cable round once more.

Work Row 2 2X.  (Work repeat section 3X, work 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16) sts to next cable panel, BO 8 sts, purl 1) 2X. (remove marker).

Leave 64 [68, 73, 76, 80, 88, 92] sts just worked on holder, and work next 64, [68, 73, 76, 80, 88, 92] sts back and forth as follows:

Front:

Work 1 row. 

Decrease 1 st at each end of next 5 rows.  (54, 58, 63, 66, 70, 78, 82 sts).

Work cable row.

Work 7 rows even.

RS: Work 20 [21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29] sts, bind off center 14, [16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24] sts.  Work to end.

Work front right separately as follows:

Right Front:

Work 1 WS row.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge, work cable row across.

Work 1 row.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge on this and next RS row.

Work 3 rows even.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge, work across (16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 sts).

Work 1 row.

Work cable row.

Work even (working cable row every 10 rows) until piece measures 6.75 [7, 7.25, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.25] inches from underarm, ending with a RS row.

WS: BO 8 [8, 10, 10, 11, 12, 12] sts.

Work 1 row.

Bind off remaining sts.

Left front:

WS facing, attach yarn and work to end.  Work shaping as for right front.

Back:

RS facing, attach yarn.

Work 1 row. 

Decrease 1 st at each end of next 5 rows. (54, 58, 63, 66, 70, 78, 82 sts).

Work cable row.

Work even (working cable row every 10 rows) until piece measures 3.5 [3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4, 4] inches from armhole, ending with a WS row.

RS: work 19 [20, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29] BO center 16 [18, 19, 18, 20, 22, 24] sts, work to end

Back left:

Work 1 WS row. 

Decrease 1 st at neck edge on this and every other row two times (16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26 sts).

Work even for 1 row.  Work cable row.

Work even (working cable row every 10 rows) until piece measures 6.75 [7, 7.25, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.25] inches from underarm, ending with a RS row.

WS: BO 8 [8, 10, 10, 12, 13, 13].  Work 1 row.  Bind off remaining sts.

Back right:

WS facing, attach yarn.

Work to match Back Left.

Sew shoulder seams using kitchener stitch.

Pick up 120 [120, 120, 125, 125, 130, 130] sts around neckline

Row 1: (k3, p2) around

Repeat Row 1 four times.

Bind off all sts loosely.

Sleeves (make two): 

CO 46 [48, 48, 48, 50, 52, 54] sts. 

K 1 row

P 1 row

K 2 rows

P 1 row

Row 1: k1, SSK, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 2: p across

Repeat last 2 rows 5 [6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9]X (34 sts)

Work 3[3, 5, 7, 7, 9, 11] rows in stockinette. 

Decrease 1 st at each end of next row and every 4^th row two times (28 sts).

Purl 1 row.

Decrease 1 st at each end of next and every other row 4X, and every row 3X (12 sts).

Bind off all sts.

Sew into shoulder opening as follows:

Pin center of sleeve top to center of shoulder opening, and sew sleeve into armhole, leaving purl cuff unsewn.  Sew cuffs together.

Block as desired.

Tie:

Using dpns, CO 4 sts.  Work i-cord for 36 inches.  Bind off, leaving a tail for sewing on the pompoms.  

Thread through loops in tunic. 

Make 2 pompoms, and attach to i-cord ends.

 

Measurements:

Shoulder to armpit:  6.75 [7, 7.25, 7.5, 7.5, 8, 8.25] in.   

Across waist: 32 [34, 36, 37, 39, 42, 44] in.  

Waist to hips: 12.75 [13, 13, 13.25, 13.25, 13.5, 14] in. 

This pattern is complicated, free, and has not been tested.  if you come across any issues, please let me know!