Three County Highway

Three County Highway Sweater by Kate Heppell

What is Being Made

Three County Highway is a chunky knit sweater designed by Kate Heppell as a downloadable PDF pattern. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a pullover garment available in ten sizes ranging from XS to 6X, with the pattern shown in size XL. The design features a mesh pattern as a central design element and is constructed using the front-and-back method, where the front and back pieces are worked identically before being seamed together.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques suitable for knitters with some experience. The sweater begins with a ribbed cuff worked on smaller needles to create a fitted edge, then transitions to the larger needles for the main body. The construction involves picking up stitches and seaming pieces together using a tapestry needle. The pattern incorporates shaping through various decrease methods to achieve proper fit across the multiple size options.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The Three County Highway pattern uses standard knitting abbreviations and stitch techniques including:

• K (Knit) – the fundamental knit stitch
• P (Purl) – the reverse of the knit stitch
• K2tog (Knit 2 together) – a right-leaning decrease
• K3tog (Knit 3 together) – a double decrease
• P2tog (Purl 2 together) – a purl-side decrease
• Ppso (Pass previous stitch over) – a left-leaning decrease method
• Yo (Yarn over) – creates decorative eyelets in the mesh pattern
• Sl (Slip) – moving stitches without working them
• Pu (Pick up) – collecting stitches along finished edges
• Tbl (Through back loop) – working into the back of stitches for twisted effects
• Rep (Repeat) – indicates pattern sections that repeat across rows

The pattern features a mesh pattern as the primary stitch pattern, which is created using yarn overs and decreases to form an open, textured fabric.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Three County Highway is designed to be worked in Artesano British Wool Chunky, a 100% British wool yarn in chunky weight (4-ply equivalent). Each skein contains 105 meters per 100 grams. The pattern requires between 4 and 9 skeins depending on size, with the XL size shown using 6 skeins in natural white. The designer notes that this is a very dense yarn, making it important to use the specified yarn or carefully consider substitutions that maintain similar density and yardage.

The pattern calls for two needle sizes: 7mm straight needles (with no US equivalent listed) for the main body work, and 6.5mm (US 10½) straight needles for the ribbed cuff and edges. Additional supplies include a tapestry needle for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends.

Tension and Sizing

The working tension for Three County Highway is 8.5 stitches by 14 rows over 10 centimeters, measured over the mesh pattern using the larger 7mm needles. Achieving proper tension is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The pattern accommodates a wide range of body sizes from XS through 6X, with the sample garment shown in size XL featuring 20 centimeters of positive ease for a comfortable, relaxed fit.