Learn from scratch how to knit a sleeve-to-sleeve brioche sweater with this free pattern by @iratirita

10/03/2022

The Itsaso Sweater designed by @iratirita is a seaside-inspired sweater knit with a combination of Katia Azteca and Katia Merino Aran. Itsao means sea in Basque. This meaning explains the colors chosen and the brioche wave on the sleeves. Discover Irati’s knitting life and knit this beautiful sleeve-to-sleeve sweater with brioche details.

Irati started to knit as a kid at school during crafts class. At the time, she knit a couple of shapeless scarves and left it there. A few years ago, she started watching crochet tutorials to make garments and was soon hooked, before falling even more in love with knitting. 

Since then, she hasn’t stopped. Irati loves knitting hats and sweaters, and lately, garments for her friends’ babies. She finds knitting both entertaining and relaxing.

Materials you will need to knit your Itsao sweater

• (MC) Katia Merino Aran color 57 (night blue): 5 balls 
• (CC) Katia Azteca color 7878 (pastel-violet-green): 3 balls

• US8 5-mm circular knitting needles 
• Tapestry needle 
• Stitch markers 
• Scissors

Stitches and techniques used in this pattern

• Knit 
• Purl
• Garter stitch - knit all stitches and rounds 
• 2×2 rib *k2, p2*, repeat ** to end of round

Gauge

• With US 8/5 mm circular needles in garter stitch, alternating both yarns 
• 15 sts x 16 rows = 4” x 4’’ (10 cm x 10 cm)

Finished measurements (one-size)

• Front/back width: 23.6’’ (60 cm) 
• Total length: 23.6’’ (60 cm)
• Neckline length: 15’’ (38 cm) 
• Sleeve length: 20’’ (51 cm) 
• Cuff length: 9.8’’ (25 cm)

Notes on construction

This sweater is knit sleeve-to-sleeve. The first sleeve is knit in the round, then the stitches needed for the front and back are cast on and knit flat. Separate front and back to create the neck opening. Front and back are joined again to knit the other shoulder and, finally, the second sleeve is knit in the round. Lastly, pick up stitches at the neckline and hem to work the ribbing. 

Abbreviations 

• BOR – beginning of the round 
• Brk – brioche knit 
• Brkyobrk – increase. Knit 1 stitch without dropping it, yarn over, knit into the same stitch again. 2 sts added
• BrLsl dec – brioche left slant decrease. Slip the first brioche stitch (the stitch and its yarn over) to the right-hand needle knitwise, knit together the next two stitches (with its yarn over). Pass the slipped stitch over. 
• Brp – brioche purl.
• BrRsl dec – brioche right slant decrease. Slip the first brioche stitch (the stitch and its yarn over) to the right-hand needle knitwise, knit the next brioche stitch. Pass the slipped stitch over. Slip the stitch to the left-hand needle and pass over the next brioche stitch (with the yarn over). 
• CC – contrast color
• k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
• m – marker 
• m1L – make 1 left increase. Pick up the strand between 2 stitches, place on the left-hand needle from front to back, and knit through the back loop.
• m1R – make 1 right increase. Pick up the strand between 2 stitches, place on the left-hand needle from back to front, and knit through the front loop.
• MC – main color 
• pm – place marker 
• R and r(s) – row(s)/round(s) 
• RS – right side 
• sl1yo – slip 1 stitch with yarn over 
• ssk – slip 1 stitch, slip another stitch, knit both together by inserting the left-hand needle through the front loop.
• WS – wrong side

Sleeve 

Cast on 48 sts using MC. 

Work 2×2 rib for 54 rounds. 

From now on, every r has 2 passes, 1 in each color. 

R0-MC: K19, pm to mark beginning of brioche, **k1, sl1yo* 3 times, k1, m1L, *k1, sl1yo* 3 times, k1, pm to mark end of brioche, k to end of r. 

R0-CC: P to m, *sl1yo, brp* 7 times, sl1yo, p to end of r. 

R1-MC: K to m, work chart A, sl1yo, work chart B, k to end of r. 

R1-CC: P to m, work chart A, brp, work chart B, p to end of r. 

R2-MC: Rep R1-MC. 

R2-CC: Rep R1-CC. 

R3-MC (inc): K1, M1L, k to m, work chart A, sl1yo, work chart B, k to last st, m1R, k1. 

R3-CC: Rep R1-CC. 

Rep R1-MC to R3-CC 10 times in total. [69 sts] Cut CC. 

Body 

Now work flat. Work 2 passes on each side; at the end of the first, slip the stitches to the other needle without turning the work. 

Cast on body sts

R0-MC (RS): K to m, work chart A, sl1yo, work chart B, k to end of r, cast on 47 sts. Turn the work. 

R0-CC (WS): K to m, work chart B, brk, work chart A, k to end of r, cast on 47 sts. Don’t turn the work. 

Shoulder 

R1-MC (WS): P to m, work chart B, sl1yo, work chart A, p to end of r. Turn. 

R1-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, brp, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R2-MC (RS): K to m, work chart A, sl1yo, work chart B, k to end of r. Turn. 

R2-CC (WS): K to m, work chart B, brk, work chart A, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep these 2 rs until the body measures 2’’ (5 cm). 

R3-MC (WS): P to m, work chart B, p1, m1L, work chart A, p to end of r. Turn. 

R3-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, p2, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R4-MC (RS): K to m, work chart A, k2, work chart B, k to end of r. Turn. 

R4-CC (WS): K to m, work chart B, k2, work chart A, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R5-MC (WS): P to m, work chart B, p2, work chart A, p to end of r. Turn. 

R5-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, p2, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R4 and R5 until the body measures 4’’ (10 cm). 

End on R5-MC to have both colors on the same side. 

Front 

Separate front and back and continue working the front. 

R0-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, p1. Leave the rest of the sts for the back on hold. Slip, don’t turn. 

R1-MC (RS): K to 3 sts before m, k2tog, k1, work chart A, k1. Turn. 

R1-CC (WS): K1, work chart A, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R2-MC (WS): P1, work chart A, p to end of r. Turn. 

R2-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, p1. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R1 and R2 8 times in total. 

R3-MC (RS): K to m, work chart A, k1. Turn. 

R3-CC (WS): K1, work chart A, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R4-MC (WS): P1, work chart A, p to end of r. Turn. 

R4-CC (RS): P to m, work chart A, p1. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R3 and R4 for 4’’ (10 cm). 

R5-MC (RS): K to m, work chart B, k1. Turn. 

R5-CC (WS): K1, work chart B, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R6-MC (WS): P1, work chart B, p to end of r. Turn. 

R6-CC (RS): P to m, work chart B, p1. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R5 and R6 for 4’’ (10 cm). 

R7-MC (RS): K to 1 st before m, m1L, k1, work chart B, k1. Turn. 

R7-CC (WS): K1, work chart B, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R8-MC (WS): P1, work chart B, p to end of r. Turn. 

R8-CC (RS): P to m, work chart B, p1. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R7 and R8 7 times in total. 

Rep R7-MC once more. Cut yarns.

Back 

Start to work the back from the neckline on the RS. 

R0-CC (RS): P1, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R1-MC (RS): K1, work chart B, k1, ssk, k to end of r. Turn. 

R1-CC (WS): K to m, work chart B, k1. Slip, don’t turn. 

R2-MC (WS): P to m, work chart B, p1. Turn. 

R2-CC (RS): P1, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R1 and R2 8 times in total.

R3-MC (RS): K1, work chart B, k to end of r. Turn. 

R3-CC (WS): K to m, work chart B, k1. Slip, don’t turn. 

R4-MC (WS): P to m, work chart B, p1. Turn. 

R4-CC (RS): P1, work chart B, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R3 and R4 for 4’’ (10 cm). 

R5-MC (RS): K1, work chart A, k to end of r. Turn. 

R5-CC (WS): K to m, work chart A, k1. Slip, don’t turn. 

R6-MC (WS): P to m, work chart A, p1. Turn. 

R6-CC (RS): P1, work chart A, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R5 and R6 for 4’’ (10 cm). 

R7-MC (RS): K1, work chart A, k1, m1R, k to end of r. Turn. 

R7-CC (WS): K to m, work chart A, k1. Slip, don’t turn. 

R8-MC (WS): P to m, work chart A, p1. Turn. 

R8-CC (RS): P1, work chart A, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R7 and R8 7 times in total. 

Rep R7-MC once more. Yarn will be on the hem side. 

Join front and back to work both pieces together. 

R1-CC (WS): K to m, work chart A, k2, work chart B, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R1-MC (WS): P to m, work chart A, p2, work chart B, p to end of r. Turn. 

R2-CC (RS): P to m, work chart B, p2, work chart A, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R2-MC (RS): K to m, work chart B, k2, work chart A, k to end of r. Turn. 

Rep R1 and R2 for 2’’ (5 cm). 

End on R1-CC. 

R3-MC (WS): P to m, work chart A, k2tog, work chart B, p to end of r. Turn. 

R3-CC (RS): P to m, work chart B, p1, work chart A, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R4-MC (RS): K to m, work chart B, sl1yo, work chart A, k to end of r. Turn. 

R4-CC (WS): K to m, work chart A, brk, work chart B, k to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

R5-MC (WS): P to m, work chart A, sl1yo, work chart B, p to end of r. Turn. 

R5-CC (RS): P to m, work chart B, brp, work chart A, p to end of r. Slip, don’t turn. 

Rep R4 and R5 for 2’’ (5 cm). 

End on R5-MC. 

R6-CC (RS): Bind off 47 sts, p to m, work chart B, brp, work chart A, p to last 47 sts, bind off 47 sts. Cut yarns.

Sleeve 

Go back to working the remaining stitches in the round. 

R1-MC (dec): K1, ssk, k to m, work chart B, sl1yo, work chart A, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 

R1-CC: P to m, work chart B, brp, work chart A, p to end of r. 

R2-MC: K to m, work chart B, sl1yo, work chart A, k to end of r. 

R2-CC: Rep R1-CC. 

R3-MC: Rep R2-MC. 

R3-CC: Rep R1-CC. 

Rep R1-MC to R3-CC 10 times in total. 

Rep R3-MC once more. Cut CC. 

Work 54 rs in 2×2 rib. 

Sew the sides of the body. 

Neckline 

Pick up 64 sts from the back for the neckline, pm, pick up 64 sts from the front for the neckline, place BOR m. Work in the round. 

R1 and R2: (k3, *p2, k2*, rep ** to 3 sts before m, k3), rep () once more. 

R3 (dec): (k1, k2tog, *p2, k2*, rep ** to 3 sts before m, ssk, k1), rep () once more. 

R4: (k2, *p2, k2*, rep ** to 2 sts before m, k2), rep () once more. 

R5 (dec): (k2tog, *p2, k2*, rep ** to 2 sts before m, ssk, k1), rep () once more. 

R6 and R7: k1, *p2, k2*, rep ** to last st, k1. 

Bind off all stitches. 

Hem 

Pick up 184 sts from the back and front. Work in the round. 

Work 2×2 rib for 14 rs. 

Bind off sts. 

Weave in ends. 

Irati named her sweater after the sea and chose her colors accordingly. We want to know: what color combination will you choose for your Itsaso sweater?

And don’t forget to take a look at our other patterns and free Tutorials.