Damedame Sweater

**Pattern Details** Difficulty: Intermediate The Damedame (da-may-da-may) Sweater is inspired by Ghanaian Kente Cloth, in particular the Checkboard Motif - Damedame. The Damedame motif is a symbol of wisdom,strategy and intelligence. The Damedame Sweater is an all over colourwork raglan designed with 10cm of positive ease, to give a slightly relaxed fit. The pattern begins at the neckline with ribbing and a folded collar. Optional German short rows are worked into the ribbing to add some additional length to the back of your sweater. The colourwork chart and raglan increases are worked until you have finished the yoke of your sweater. Next the sleeves are put on hold and the body is worked using the same pattern repeat. You can then work the remainder of the body of your sweater, finishing with a 1x1 ribbed tubular off. You will then pick up the sleeve stitches and work the sleeves in pattern until wrist length. Then you will do a rapid decrease round to create a balloon sleeve with 1x1 ribbing, finishing your sleeves with a 1x1 tubular bind off. **Ease** This pattern has been graded with 10cm - 15cm of positive ease. I would recommend picking the finished size which is as close as possible to 15cm larger than your bust size Sample 1 (Green) is a Size 3, with 11cm Positive ease Sample 2 (Brown) is a Size 4 with 18cm Positive ease **Finished Bust sizes in cm & inches** Sizes: 1(2,3,4,5)**[6,7,8,9]** 84.5cm (93.5cm, 102cm, 111cm, 124.5cm)**[138cm, 146cm, 155.5cm, 169cm]** 33in (37in, 41in, 46in, 50in)**[53in, 57in, 62in, 66]** Finished Upper Arm Circumference 29cm (31cm ,33.5cm ,38cm ,40cm)**[44.5cm, 46.5cm, 51cm, 53.5cm]** 11.5in (12.5in ,13.25in ,15in ,16in)**[17.75in ,18.75in , 20.5in ,21.25in]** Finished Yoke Depth 23.5cm (24.5cm, 24.5cm ,25.5cm ,26.5cm)**[26.5cm ,28cm, 28.5cm, 28.5cm]** 9.25in (9.75in, 9.75in, 10.25in ,10.5in)**[10.5in ,11in, 11.5in, 11.5in]** Full Garment Length 56cm (57.5cm ,57.5cm ,58cm, 58cm)**[58cm ,59.5,cm, 60cm, 60cm]** 22.5in (23in ,23in ,23.25in ,23.25in)**[23.25in ,23.75in , 24in ,24in]** See also the schematic in the pictures for full measurements **Yarn requirements in meters and yards** All quantities below are approximate and based on: meeting gauge, doing a swatch and a small margin for different knitting styles. Therefore if your size just tips over to requiring another skein of yarn you might want to consider if you can reuse your swatch yarn. Sample Yarn Weku Yarn Merino Sock base - 100% NSW Merino, 400m per 100g. You will need a fingering weight yarn, 400m per 100g – or similar yarn to get the correct gauge. Approximate Yardage: MC 782 (854, 918, 1010, 1103)**[1219, 1307, 1404, 1488] m** 855 (934, 1004, 1105, 1206)**[1333, 1429, 1535, 1627] yds** 2 (3, 3, 3, 3)**[3, 4, 4, 4] balls** CC1 273 (298, 320, 351, 383)**[422, 452, 486, 514] m** 299 (326, 350, 384, 419)**[462, 494, 531, 562] yds** 1 (1, 1, 1, 1)**[2, 2, 2, 2] balls** CC2 213 (232, 249, 273, 297)**[327, 350, 376, 397] m** 233 (254, 272, 299, 325)**[358, 383, 411, 434] yds** 1 (1, 1, 1, 1)**[1, 1, 1, 1] balls** CC3 196 (213, 228, 250, 272)**[300, 320, 343, 363]** m 214 (233, 249, 273, 297)[**328, 350, 375, 397]** yds 1 (1, 1, 1, 1)**[1, 1, 1, 1] balls** **Needles** * 2.75mm (US 2 ) circular Needles for ribbing and cuffs * 3.5mm (US 4) circular Needles for the main body and sleeves Length of circular needles, 24cm, 40cm, 60cm, 80cm ( 9”, 16”, 24”, 32”). For the neckline, sleeves and cuffs, if you don’t have a 24cm short circular needle, you can either use the magic loop method or you will need DPNs in 2.75mm (US ) and 3.5mm (US 4) **Notions** * 8 Stitch markers * Tapestry Needle * Tape measure * Blocking mats and pins * Scrap yarn/spare cable wire to hold your sleeve stitches **Special Techniques** * German Short rows * Stranded Colourwork * Tubular bind off * Increasing in established pattern Many thanks to [Faye Perriam-Reed][1] for tech editing this pattern and thank you to all the wonderful Damedame testers! [1]: https://fayeperriamreed.com/