Inner City Blues

Inner City Blues Knitted Sweater

What is Being Made

Inner City Blues is an elegantly shaped dolman sleeve sweater designed by Jo Sharp. This knitted garment features a sophisticated silhouette with dolman sleeves, offering a contemporary and flattering fit. The sweater is constructed using a combination of stocking stitch and garter stitch to create visual texture and interest throughout the design.

Yarn and Materials

This pattern utilizes premium luxury yarns in a 3-ply weight. The primary yarn is Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre in colorway Verona, with quantities of 6 balls for size A and 7 balls for size B (50g balls). The pattern incorporates two distinct yarn types worked in alternating rows to develop a sophisticated textured fabric. The combination of materials creates an ultra-lightweight, soft fabric ideal for elegant knitwear.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires 4.00mm needles for the initial cast-on and ribbed sections of the garment. The use of alternating needle sizes throughout the pattern, combined with varying yarn types, allows the knitter to achieve the desired fabric texture and drape characteristic of this design.

Stitches and Techniques

• Knit (K) - fundamental stitch used throughout the garment construction
• Purl (P) - used in combination with knit stitches
• K2, P2 Rib - ribbed pattern worked at the beginning for elasticity and structure
• Stocking Stitch - primary stitch pattern creating a smooth, classic fabric surface
• Garter Stitch - textured stitch alternated with stocking stitch for visual interest
• Make 1 (M1) - increase technique executed by picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back of it
• Stripe Pattern - created through alternating rows of the two yarn types and varying needle sizes
• Cast On - initial foundation stitches (80 or 92 stitches depending on size)
• Increases - strategic shaping increases worked on right-side rows, with additional stitches cast on to create the dolman sleeve silhouette

Pattern Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as a beginner-level pattern, Inner City Blues is accessible to knitters new to garment construction. The straightforward stitch combinations and clear shaping instructions make this an excellent introduction to knitting a fitted sweater. The alternating yarn and needle technique, while creating a sophisticated result, follows a logical and repeatable pattern structure.

Design Features

The sweater showcases elegant shaping through strategic increases worked on alternating rows. The dolman sleeve construction is achieved through cast-on increases that gradually expand the fabric width. The combination of stocking and garter stitch creates textural contrast, while the two-yarn alternating row technique adds depth and visual complexity to the finished garment. Available in two sizes (A and B), the pattern provides options for different body measurements.