LION BRAND® WOOL-EASE^® CHUNKY

Knitted American Flag Sweater

5 (6, 6, 6, 7) balls of #099 Fisherman (MC)
1 ball #112 Red (A)
1 ball #109 Royal Blue (B) or colors of your choice

• Size 10.5 (6.5 mm) knitting needles or size to obtain gauge
• 18 - 7/8" white fabric appliqué stars or white star buttons (available at your local fabric store).  Note:  Stars may also be executed in duplicate stitch

GAUGE
14 sts + 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette st (knit on RS rows, p on WS rows). BE SURE TO CHECK GAUGE.

NOTE
When changing colors, twist yarn on WS to prevent holes.

FRONT
With MC, cast on 70 (78, 84, 90, 98) sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2". Work stockinette stitch until piece measures 5" from beginning.

Begin flag
Next row K 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC, join A and k 56 sts, k 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC.
Next row P 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC, p 56 A, p 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC. Repeat last
2 rows once - a 4-row A stripe. Work 4 rows in MC. [Work 4-row A stripe. Work 4 rows MC] twice - 3 red stripes. Next row K 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC, join A and k 32 sts, join B and k 24, k 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC. Next row P 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC, p 24 B, p 32 A, p 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC. Repeat last 2 rows once. Next row K 39 (43, 46, 49, 53) MC, k24 B, k 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC. Next row P 7 (11, 14, 17, 21) MC, p24 B, p39 (43, 46, 49, 53) MC. Repeat last 2 rows once. Repeat 8-row stripe sequence twice. Complete flag with 4-row sequence using A and B. Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 20 1/2 (21 1/2, 22 1/2, 22 1/2, 23 1/2)" from beginning, ending with a WS row.

Shape neck
Next row K 30 (34, 37, 40, 44) sts, join 2nd ball of yarn and bind off center 10 sts, k to end. Working both sides at once, bind off from each neck edge 3 sts once, 2 sts twice and 1 st 1 (2, 2, 3) times. When piece measures 23 (24, 25, 25, 26)", bind off 22 (25, 28, 30, 34) sts each side for shoulders.

BACK
Work as for front in MC only until piece measures 22 (23, 24, 24, 25)", ending with a WS row. Next row K 22 (25, 28, 30, 34), join a 2nd ball of yarn and bind off 26 (28, 28, 30, 30), work to end. Working both sides at the same time, work even until piece measures same length as front. Bind off shoulder stitches on each side.

SLEEVES
Cast on 36 (36, 38, 38, 42) sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2". Change to stockinette stitch, AT SAME TIME, inc 1 st each side of every 4th row 14 (15, 16, 18, 18) times 64 (66, 70, 74, 78) sts. Work even until piece measures 17 (17, 18, 18, 18 1/2)" from beginning. Bind off all sts.

FINISHING
Sew right shoulder seam.
Neckband
With RS facing, pick up and k 64 (66, 66, 68, 68) sts evenly around neck edge. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2". Bind off loosely in rib. Sew left shoulder and neckband seam. Place markers on front and back down 9 (9 1/2, 10, 10 1/2, 11)" from shoulders. Sew sleeves between markers. Sew sleeve and side seams. Tack down fabric stars or sew on buttons in rows of 4 then 3, ending with 4 across. Note To make flag stand out, you may wish to embroider the outline in blanket stitch or stem stitch.

Wool-Ease Chunky (Article # 630) comes in 5oz/153 yd balls