Zig Zag Tunic

Inspired by a gift of wool-cotton yarn to make a roomy tunic-length pullover, Amy Tyler used a fancy zigzag stitch on the front and back to separate stockinette and reverse stockinette halves. Following advice from Deborah Newton, she knitted the yarn at a looser gauge than normal to allow plenty of drape, creating a top you’ll reach for from autumn’s first frost to spring’s last chill.

MATERIALS

Yarn Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton (50% superwash Merino wool, 50% pima cotton; 219 yd [200 m]/3½ oz [100 g]; DK weight); Ceremony, 5 (5, 5, 6) (6, 7, 7, 8) skeins.
Needles Size 6 (4.00 mm) at least 24" (60 cm)for body and sleeves. Size 5 (3.75 mm) 16" or 20" (40 or 50 cm) circular (cir) needle for neck edge. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Markers (m); stitch holders; scrap yarn or removable markers; tapestry needle.
Gauge 19½ sts and 26 rows = about 4" (10 cm) in St st using larger needles.

Finished Size 37 (40, 43½, 47) (51, 55, 60, 65)" (94 [101.5, 110.5, 119.5] [129.5, 139.5, 152.5, 165] cm) chest circumference. Tunic shown measures 47" (119.5 cm), worn with 11" (28 cm) ease.

NOTES

• The Zig Zag pattern can be worked from charts or written instructions.
• The tunic is worked flat in pieces from the bottom up and seamed.
• The two largest sizes have the widest upper bodies, so their sleeves are shorter to prevent the overall wingspan of the garment from becoming too wide.
• For instructions on working the Sloped Bind-off, see purlsoho.com/create/sloped-bind-off.
• The larger sizes have deeper armholes, so their lower bodies are shorter to prevent the overall garment length from becoming too long.
• Avoid binding off tightly across the sleeve tops.
• The lower edges of the body and sleeves will roll gently to the knit side of the fabric after blocking.