Knitted multi-coloured blouse

The blouse is knitted in stocking stitch using 2 strands of yarn. One strand is Col 1 (off-white) throughout.

Using circular knitting needle size 4.5 mm and 1 strand each of Col 1 and 2, cast on 128 stitches (sts). Work 2 rounds (rds).

Proceed in stripe pattern: 4 rds with Col 3, 2 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 5, 2 rds with Col 6, 4 rds with Col 7, 2 rds with Col 2, 2 rds with Col 8, 4 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 6, 2 rds with Col 3, 4 rds with Col 9, 2 rds with Col 5, 2 rds with Col 10, 2 rds with Col 11, 4 rds with Col 2, 2 rds with Col 7, 2 rds with Col 3, 6 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 8, 2 rds with Col 5, 4 rds with Col 7, 4 rds with Col 9, 2 rds with Col 2, 2 rds with Col 3, 2 rds with Col 11, 4 rds with Col 6, 2 rds with Col 10.

Then work 4 rds with Col 4. In the last of these 4 rds, cast off 4 sts on each side for the armhole. Now work the back and front separately.

Using the circular knitting needle, work back and forth. Proceed in a stripe pattern as follows: 2 rows (rs) with Col 5, 2 rs with Col 11, 2 rs with Col 7, 4 rs with Col 8, 2 rs with Col 2, 6 rs with Col 9, 4 rs with Col 3, 2 rs with Col 6, 4 rs with Col 7.

Switch to Col 11 and work 2 rs. On the second of these 2 rows, cast off the middle 10 sts for the neck and then work each side separately. Proceed in a stripe pattern as follows: 2 rs with Col 10, 2 rs with Col 5, 4 rs with Col 4, 2 rs with Col 2.

At the same time, to shape the neck edge, cast off on alternate rows 5 sts, 3 sts, 2 sts and 1 st (14 sts remain on needle). Cast off. Work the other side in the same way but reverse the shaping.

Using the circular knitting needle, work back and forth. Proceed in a stripe pattern as follows: 2 rs with Col 5, 2 rs with Col 11, 2 rs with Col 7, 2 rs with Col 8, 2 rs with Col 2, 6 rs with Col 9, 4 rs with Col 3, 2 rs with Col 6, 2 rs with Col 7.

Work 2 more rs with Col 7. On the second of these 2 rows, cast off the middle 10 sts for the neck and then work each side separately. Proceed in a stripe pattern as follows: 2 rs with Col 11, 2 rs with Col 10, 2 rs with Col 5, 4 rs with Col 4, 2 rs with Col 2.

At the same time, to shape the neck edge, cast off on alternate rows 5 sts, 3 sts, 2 sts and 1 st (14 sts remain on needle). Cast off. Work the other side in the same way but reverse the shaping.

Sew the shoulder seams. Using double-pointed knitting needles size 4.5 mm, pick up 60 sts around the armhole, starting at the armpit. Set a stitch marker at start of rd. Proceed in a stripe pattern (see below). At the same time, in every 8th rd, decrease (dec) at the beginning and end of the rd with 2 sts between decs (= 1 st on each side of the stitch marker). To dec at beginning of rd = knit 2 together (k2tog). To dec at end of rd = knit 2 together through the back loops (k2tog tbl). Cast off when 34 sts remain. Work the second sleeve in the same way.

4 rds with Col 2, 4 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 5, 2 rds with Col 10, 2 rds with Col 11, 4 rds with Col 7, 2 rds with Col 6, 2 rds with Col 3, 6rds with Col 9, 2 rds with Col 2, 4 rds with Col 8, 2 rds with Col 7, 2 rds with Col 11, 2 rds with Col 5, 4 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 10, 4 rds with Col 6, 2 rds with Col 11, 2 rds with Col 3, 2 rds with Col 2, 4 rds with Col 9, 4 rds with Col 7, 2 rds with Col 5, 2 rds with Col 8, 6 rds with Col 4, 4 rds with Col 3, 2 rds with Col 7, 4 rds with Col 2, 2 rds with Col 11, 2 rds with Col 10, 2 rds with Col 5, 4 rds with Col 9, 2 rds with Col 3, 2 rds with Col 6, 4 rds with Col 4, 2 rds with Col 8, 4 rds with Col 2.

Using double-pointed knitting needles size 4.5 mm, pick up 80 sts at the neckline. Work 5 rds in stocking stitch with Col 1 and 2. Cast off.

Weave in ends.