Barbarella

By Just call me Ruby

Design Story

This design was inspired by the silver and gunmetal greys of these two beautiful silk yarns from Knitshop, which conjured up images of the 'space age' fashions of the 1960's by designers such as Pierre Cardin, Courreges and Paco Rabanne. This led me to Jane Fonda's tunic style metallic dresses that she wore in the 1968 sci-fi film, Barbarella. So I decided to knit my own Barbarella tunic sweater, using the yarns reflective qualities and stitch patterns to emphasise the 'metallic' element of the design.

These stitch choices also fulfil a practical purpose; the pure silk yarn used is extremely soft and 'drapey'. To counter this I have added a slipped stitch welt with a knitted hem to help the hang of the garment. In addition the yoke area of the tunic has a firming mock rib to give shape and to support the flowing fabric.

Materials

Knitshop Silk (100% Mulberry Silk)
(100gm - 180 metres approx)
5(5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) x 100gm balls in Silver grey (10CS120) - A
2(2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3) x 100gm balls in Grey-silver (10CS122) - B

1 pair 4.5mm (US #7) straight needles
1 pair 5mm (US #8) straight needles + one extra needle
5mm (US #8) circular needle
4mm (US #6) crochet hook
Stitch holders
Stitch markers

Tension

18 sts x 24 rows = 4 inches (10cm) using 5mm (US #8) needles over stocking stitch.

Size shown in photos 34 - 36 inch (86 - 92cm) chest. This garment is designed to be worn loosely over the body, sitting on the shoulders and falling over the body so not clinging to any bumps or lumps.

To fit chest sizes 30 - 32 34 - 36 38 - 40 42 - 44 46 - 48 50 - 52 54 - 56 inches

76 - 82 86 - 92 96 - 102 106 - 112 116 - 122 127 - 132 137 - 142 cm

Garment measurements

Finished Chest size 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 inches

92 102 112 122 132 142 152 cm

Hip measurement 35 39 43 47 51 55 59 inches

89 99 110 119 129 140 150 cm

Waist 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 inches

76 86 98 107 117 127 137 cm

Body length 25 26 27 27 28 29 29 inches

63.5 66 68.5 68.5 71 73.5 73.5 cm

Length to waist
from above border 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 9.5 10.5 10.5 inches

21.5 21.5 21.5 21.5 24.5 27 27 cm

Abbreviations

SL1 - Slip next stitch, purlwise
SKPO - Slip next stitch, knit one, pass slip stitch over
SM - Slip marker
LH - Left hand
K2tog - Knit two together
UK: DC - Double Crochet (US: SC - Single Crochet - shown in red on pattern)

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked from the bottom up. The hem and border are knitted in rows then joined together and the body is then worked in the round until dividing for the neck.

Border Pattern Instructions (4 stitch repeat + 2)

Row 1 (WS): With B P1, *with A P1 winding yarn round needle twice, with B P3, rep from * to last st., P1B.
Row 2: With B, K4, *SL1 purlwise, dropping the extra wrap (this makes a long, loose stitch), K3, rep from * to last 2 sts., SL1, K1.
Row 3: With B, P1, *SL1, P3, rep from * to last st., P1.
Row 4: With B, K1, *miss next 3 sts, K into front of long slip st but leave st on LH needle, K the first 2sts of the 3 missed sts., then K the 3 rd st., winding yarn round needle twice, then slip the long slip st. off LH needle, rep from * to last st., K1.
AT THIS POINT ONLY YARN A IS AT THE WRONG END OF THE ROW. CUT AND REJOIN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT ROW.

Row 5: With A, P1 (SL1, P3) to last st., P1.
Row 6: With A, K4, (SL1, K3) to last 2sts, SL1, K1.
Row 7: As 5 th row.
Row 8: As 4 th row, but with yarn A.
Row 9: As 3 rd row, but with yarn B.
Row 10: As 6 th row, but with yarn B.
Row 11: As 5 th row, but with yarn B.

Repeat rows 4 to 11 inclusive.

Mock Rib Pattern

Row 1(RS): *K1A, P1B, rep from * to end.
Row 2: *P1B, P1A, rep from * to end.
Repeat these two rows.

Pattern

Start at hem.

Using 4.5mm (US #7) needles and yarn B, cast on 82 (90, 102, 110, 118, 130, 138) sts.
Commencing with a knit row, work 20 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row(RS): Purl.
Change to 5mm (US #8) needles and work 11 rows of border pattern once, then rows 4 to 11 only, once.
Next Row: As row 4, but DO NOT wrap yarn round needle twice. Leave on a spare needle.

Work a second border.

Using a 5mm (US #8) circular needle and with RS Facing, purl across stitches on spare needle, PM, then work across stitches on main needle, PM. 164 (180, 204, 220, 236, 260, 276 sts).

Change to yarn A, and starting round from first st after marker, work every round knit, AT THE SAME TIME, working decs on every 8 th row, 6 times, as follows:

K1, SKPO, work to 3sts before next marker, K2tog, K1, SM, * rep once more.

When all decreases worked you will have 140 (156, 180, 196, 212, 236, 252) sts remaining.
Work 2 (3, 4, 4, 10, 16, 16) rounds without shaping.

PLEASE READ THROUGH THE REMAINING INSTRUCTION FULLY BEFORE CONTINUING TO KNIT

Divide for Neck (Work in rows from this point)
You are now going to work increases at both sides of markers as follows:

Work increases on every 8 th row 6 times, then every 6th row 6 times by working a M1 on each side of markers. (4 increased sts per increase row).
and AT THE SAME TIME work decreases for neck shaping as follows:
Dec 1 st at neck edge (working decs as previously) on every 4 th row 3 times, then on every 5th row 12 times.
After the 6th (6th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 5th, 5th) set of increases has been worked, divide for armholes: -
Work across back sts between markers, and leave on a stitch holder.
Continue working increases for side shaping and decreases for neck shaping as already set working on LEFT FRONT ONLY until 10 rows have been worked, ending with a WS row.
Purl 1 row on RS of work.

Join in yarn B, and work 20 rows of mock rib pattern, working increases and decreases into pattern.
Work 4 more rows of mock rib pattern, working an increase on both RS rows at armhole edge and ending with a WS row. Leave sts on holder.

Rejoin yarn A to right front and work to match left front, reversing shapings.

Upper Back

Return sts from holder back onto needle and rejoin yarn A with WS facing.
Continue in stocking stitch working increases as already set but at each end of rows. Continue until work measures the same as front to immediately below purl ridge row. Work 1 purl row on RS of work.
Join in yarn B, and continuing to work increases work 20 rows in mock ridge pattern.
Work 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 8, 8) more rows of mock rib pattern, working an increase on all RS rows at armhole edge and ending with a WS row.

Join front and back shoulders together using three needle bind off and yarn B WITH WRONG SIDES TOGETHER, so cast off ridge is visible on shoulder seams. Cast off centre back sts.

Front Panel

Cast on 30 (30, 30, 30, 30, 34, 38) sts using 5mm (US #8) needles and yarn B.
Starting with row 1 of border pattern, work in pattern until panel measures approximately 27 (27, 27, 27, 27, 30, 30) cm ( inches) ending with row 4 or row 8, BUT NOT WRAPPING YARN TWICE ROUND NEEDLE on this last row.
Next row (WS): Knit.
Cast off.

Making up

Pin hem into place along purl ridge stitches on the inside of work. Slip stitch into place.
Using 4mm (US #6) crochet hook and yarn B, work one row of DC (SC) through both layers of each border side split.
Work same round armholes.
Pin panel into place on inside of front V. Sew into place using yarn a close to edge of shaping.
Starting at top of panel work 1 row DC (SC) in yarn B up right front neck, across back neck, down left front neck and across the top of the panel. Darn in all ends.
Block lightly, using a damp cloth to protect fabric.