Petra Polo | Petite Knit patterns

The Petra Polo is worked from the top down. First, the top part of the back yoke is worked with increases. Then the shoulders are worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the back yoke. Stitches are then picked up and knitted along the sides of the shoulders so that all of the stitches for the yoke are now sitting on the circular needle together and can be worked back and forth, first with increases for the sleeves and then with raglan increases. The front plackets are worked in double knitting from stitches that are picked up and knitted before the body is worked in the round on the circular needle. The sleeves are worked in the round on either double-pointed needles or on a circular needle using the Magic Loop technique, and they can either be made short or long. At the end, the collar is worked in tightly knit rib. The Petra Polo is closed with three buttons.

Knit a swatch to determine which needle size gives you the correct gauge. Make sure to wash your swatch before taking the gauge measurements.

Size guide

The Petra Polo is designed to have approx. 2 cm [¾ inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 2 cm [¾ inches] larger in circumference than your bust measurement. The sizes XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL) are designed to fit a bust circumference of 75-80 (80-85) 85-90 (90-95) 95-100 (100-110) 110-120 (120-130) 130-140 (140-150) cm [29½-31½ (31½-33½) 33½-35½ (35½-37½) 37½-39½ (39½-43¼) 43¼-47¼ (47¼-51¼) 51¼-55 (55-59) inches]. The measurements for the finished polo can be found on the front page of the pattern. Please note: These measurements only apply if the correct gauge is maintained throughout the work. Measure yourself before beginning your project to determine which size will fit you best. For example, if you measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust (or around the widest part of your upper body), you should knit a size S. A size S polo has a bust circumference of 92 cm [36¼ inches] which in the given example would give you 2 cm [¾ inches] of positive ease.

If you, for example, have broad shoulders, but a small bust circumference, you can choose to go up a size. Use the size you would normally buy in a blouse as a guide for choosing which size to knit. You can also measure a well-fitting blouse in your wardrobe and choose the size in the pattern that is closest to this. Schematics can be found here.

Sizes: XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)

Bust circumference: 82 (87) 92 (97) 102 (112) 122 (132) 142 (152) cm [32¼ (34¼) 36¼ (38¼) 40¼ (44) 48 (52) 56 (59¾) inches]

Shoulder width back: 35 (35) 36.5 (37.5) 37.5 (40) 40 (40) 41.5 (43.5) cm [13¾ (13¾) 14¼ (14¾) 14¾ (15¾) 15¾ (15¾) 16¼ (17) inches]

Length: 50 (52) 53 (54) 56 (57) 58 (59) 62 (63) cm [19¾ (20½) 20¾ (21¼) 22 (22½) 22¾ (23¼) 24½ (24¾) inches] (measured mid back excl. collar)

Gauge: 24 sts x 38 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in stockinette stitch on a 3 mm [US2½] needle

Needles: Circular needles: 3 mm [US2½] / 60, 80 and/or 100 cm [24, 32 and/or 40 inches] and 2 mm [US0] / 40, 60, 80 and/or 100 cm [16, 24, 32 and/or 40 inches]; Double-pointed needles: 3 mm [US2½] and 2 mm [US0] (unless using the Magic Loop technique)

Materials: 250-275 (275) 275 (300) 300 (325) 325 (350) 350 (375) g Cashmere Classic by Cardiff Cashmere (25 g = 112 m [122 yds]) or an equivalent yarn with the same gauge (sport weight) and meterage 

3 buttons (Ø = 15 mm)

Difficulty: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (5 out of 5)