Diamond Chicken Sweater

This little sweater was made with the unique shape of a chicken in mind. It fastens with two buttons on the sides. This sample was made with Isaac’s Colorways Merino Blend.

Size: This was designed for a medium sized hen. It measures 8 ½ inches across the breast at the widest point.

Gauge: 21 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Materials:
120 yards (110 meters), 1.6 oz (46 grams) DK weight yarn (Light #3)
Size 6 (4 mm) needles (can be straight or circular)
Stitch holders or short circular needle (to hold neckline stitches)
Yarn needle
4 buttons ½” shank

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
m1 = make one: With left needle pick up thread between last and next stitch inserting front to back. With right needle knit back loop.
mp1 = make one purl-wise: Move yarn to front. With left needle pick up thread between last and next stitch inserting front to back. With right needle purl back loop.
k2tog = knit two together
p2tog = purl two together
ssk = slip one knitwise, slip one knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit.

Neckline notes:

This pattern was designed to knit both shoulders at once after the neckline split. This will require attaching yarn and working with two sources a yarn while finishing the shoulders. Since it is a small number of rows this can be accomplished with the same skein of yarn as the body by attaching the other end of it when the neckline split begins.

When working with the two sources of yarn, at the neck in the center of the row, always switch sources of yarn so that the yarn never crosses the neckline.

You will be moving stitches to a holder on both sides of the neck on each row. If you use holders that can only be loaded from one direction, you will need two. You can use a short circular needle or equal or lesser size to hold the neck stitches to be able to move stitches from either side.

Front:

Cast on 43.
Row 1: (p1, k1) across to last stitch, p1. (43 stitches)
Row 2: (k1, p1) across to last stitch, k1. (43 stitches)
Row 3: p1, k1, yo, k2tog, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k2tog, yo, k1, p1. (43 stitches)
Row 4: (k1, p1) across to last stitch, k1. (43 stitches)
Row 5: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, k1, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 6: k4, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 7: k4, (p1, k1) eight times, k3, (k1, p1) eight times, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 8: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, p5, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 9: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 10: k4, (p1, k1) seven times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) seven times, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 11: k4, (p1, k1) seven times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) seven times, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 12: k5, (p1, k1) six times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) six times, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 13: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) five times, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k3, (p1, k1) five times, p2tog, k4. (41 stitches)
Row 14: k5, (p1, k1) five times, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, (k1, p1) five times, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 15: k5, (p1, k1) six times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) six times, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 16: k4, (p1, k1) six times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) six times, k4. (41 stitches)
Row 17: k4, (p1, k1) seven times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) seven times, k4. (41 stitches)
Row 18: k5, (p1, k1) six times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) six times, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 19: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, k3, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 20: k4, (p1, k1) seven times, p5, (k1, p1) seven times, k4. (41 stitches)
Row 21: k2, yo, k2tog, (p1, k1) eight times, k1, (k1, p1) eight times, k2tog, yo, k2. (41 stitches)
Row 22: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, p3, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 23: k4, mp1, (k1, p1) to last 5 stitches, k1, mp1, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 24: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 25: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 26: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 27: k4, m1, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, m1, k5. (45 stitches)
Row 28: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (45 stitches)
Row 29: k4, (p1, k1) nine times, k1, (k1, p1) nine times, k4. (45 stitches)
Row 30: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (45 stitches)
Row 31: k4, mp1, (k1, p1) eight times, k5, (p1, k1) eight times, mp1, k4. (47 stitches)
Row 32: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p5, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (47 stitches)
Row 33: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (47 stitches)
Row 34: k4, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k4. (47 stitches)
Row 35: k4, (p1, k1) eight times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) eight times, k4. (47 stitches)
Row 36: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (47 stitches)
Row 37: k4, mp1, (k1, p1) seven times, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k3, (p1, k1) seven times, mp1, k4. (49 stitches)
Row 38: k5, (p1, k1) seven times, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, (k1, p1) seven times, k5. (49 stitches)
Row 39: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (49 stitches)
Row 40: k4, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k4. (49 stitches)
Row 41: k4, (p1, k1) nine times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) nine times, k4. (49 stitches)
Row 42: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (49 stitches)
Row 43: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) eight times, k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p2tog, k4. (47 stitches)
Row 44: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p5, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (47 stitches)
Row 45: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) eight times, k3, (p1, k1) eight times, p2tog, k4. (45 stitches)
Row 46: k5, (p1, k1) eight times, p3, (k1, p1) eight times, k5. (45 stitches)
Row 47: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) to last 7 stitches, k1, p2tog, k4. (43 stitches)
Row 48: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (43 stitches)
Row 49: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) to last 7 stitches, k1, p2tog, k4. (41 stitches)
Row 50: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (41 stitches)
Row 51: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) to last 7 stitches, k1, p2tog, k4. (39 stitches)
Row 52: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (39 stitches)
Row 53: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) six times, k3, (p1, k1) six times, p2tog, k4. (37 stitches)
Row 54: k5, (p1, k1) six times, p3, (k1, p1) six times, k5. (37 stitches)
Row 55: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) five times, k5, (p1, k1) five times, p2tog, k4. (35 stitches)
Row 56: k5, (p1, k1) five times, p5, (k1, p1) five times, k5. (35 stitches)
Row 57: k5, (p1, k1) five times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) five times, k5. (35 stitches)
Row 58: k4, (p1, k1) five times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) five times, k4. (35 stitches)
Row 59: k4, (p1, k1) five times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) five times, k4. (35 stitches)
Row 60: k5, (p1, k1) four times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (35 stitches)
Row 61: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) three times, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k3, (p1, k1) three times, p2tog, k4. (33 stitches)
Row 62: k5, (p1, k1) three times, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (33 stitches)
Row 63: k5, (p1, k1) four times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (33 stitches)
Row 64: k4, (p1, k1) four times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) four times, k4. (33 stitches)
Row 65: k4, (p1, k1) five times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) five times, k4. (33 stitches)
Row 66: k5, (p1, k1) four times, p2, move 3 stitches to holder, p2, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (3 neck stitches, 15 stitches each shoulder)
Row 67: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) four times, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, (p1, k1) four times, p2tog, k4. (5 neck stitches, 13 stitches each shoulder)
Row 68: k5, (p1, k1) three times, p1, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, p1, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (7 neck stitches, 12 stitches each shoulder)
Row 69: k5, (p1, k1) three times, move a stitch of either side of neck onto holder, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (9 neck stitches, 11 stitches each shoulder)
Row 70: k4, (p1, k1) three times, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (11 neck stitches, 10 stitches each shoulder)
Row 71: k4, ssk, p1, k1, p1, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, k4. (13 neck stitches, 8 stitches each shoulder)
Row 72: k4, p1, k1, purl in back and front, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, purl in back and front, k1, p1, k4. (15 neck stitches, 8 stitches each shoulder)
Row 73: k4, ssk, purl in back and front, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, purl in back and front, k2tog, k4. (17 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 74: k4, p1, knit in front and back, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, knit in front and back, p1, k4. (19 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 75: Cast off while knitting 7 stitches, move last loop to holder, move a stitch from other side to holder, knit in front and back of next stitch, cast off, knit to end of row casting off and finish off. Leave enough yarn to stitch the shoulder and neck. (21 neck stitches)
Do Not Turn. Move the collar stitches from the holders to the needle.
Working through the back loop of the stitches, k1, (p1, k1) across.
Row 76: p1, (k1, p1) across.
Row 77: k1, (p1, k1) across.
Repeat rows 76 and 77 to complete 14 more rows. On the last row, use a stretchy cast off technique to cast off (an example is http://slipslipknit.com/?page_id=92)

Back:

Cast on 29.
Row 1: (k1, p1) across to last stitch, k1. (29 stitches)
Row 2: (p1, k1) across to last stitch, p1. (29 stitches)
Row 3: (k1, p1) across to last stitch, k1. (29 stitches)
Row 4: (p1, k1) across to last stitch, p1. (29 stitches)
Row 5: k4, (p1, k1) five times, k1, (k1, p1) five times, k4. (29 stitches)
Row 6: k5, (p1, k1) four times, p3, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (29 stitches)
Row 7: k5, (p1, k1) four times, k3, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (29 stitches)
Row 8: k4, (p1, k1) four times, p5, (k1, p1) four times, k4. (29 stitches)
Row 9: k4, (p1, k1) four times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) four times, k4. (29 stitches)
Row 10: k5, (p1, k1) three times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (29 stitches)
Row 11: k5, (p1, k1) three times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (29 stitches)
Row 12: k4, (p1, k1) three times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (29 stitches)
Row 13: k4, ssk, (p1, k1) two times, k2, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k2, (p1, k1) two times, k2tog, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 14: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 15: k4, (p1, k1) three times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 16: k5, (p1, k1) two times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (27 stitches)
Row 17: k5, (p1, k1) three times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (27 stitches)
Row 18: k4, (p1, k1) three times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 19: k4, (p1, k1) four times, k3, (k1, p1) four times, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 20: k5, (p1, k1) three times, p5, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (27 stitches)
Row 21: k5, (p1, k1) four times, k1, (k1, p1) four times, k5. (27 stitches)
Row 22: k4, (p1, k1) four times, p3, (k1, p1) four times, k4. (27 stitches)
Row 23: k4, ssk, (p1, k1) to last 7 stitches, p1, k2tog, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 24: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 25: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 26: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (25 stitches)
Row 27: k4, p2tog, (k1, p1) to last 7 stitches, k1,p2tog, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 28: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 29: k5, (p1, k1) three times, k1, (k1, p1) three times, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 30: k4, (p1, k1) three times, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 31: k4, ssk, p1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 32: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p5, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 33: k4, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 34: k5, p1, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p1, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 35: k4, p2tog, k3, p1, k1, p1, k3, p2tog, k4. (19 stitches)
Row 36: k5, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, k5. (19 stitches)
Row 37: k7, p1, k1) twice, p1, k7. (19 stitches)
Row 38: k4, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, k4. (19 stitches)
Row 39: k4, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k4. (19 stitches)
Row 40: k5, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, k5. (19 stitches)
Row 41: k5, p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k5. (19 stitches)
Row 42: k4, p1, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p1, k4. (19 stitches)
Row 43: k5, mp1, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, mp1, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 44: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p5, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 45: k4, p1, (k1, p1) two times, k3, (p1, k1) two times, p1, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 46: k5, (p1, k1) two times, p3, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 47: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 48: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 49: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 50: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 51: k5, (p1, k1) to last 6 stitches, p1, k5. (21 stitches)
Row 52: k4, (p1, k1) to last 5 stitches, p1, k4. (21 stitches)
Row 53: k5, mp1, (k1, p1) two times, k3, (p1, k1) two times, mp1, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 54: k4, (p1, k1) three times, p3, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 55: k4, p1, (k1, p1) two times, k5, (p1, k1) two times, p1, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 56: k5, (p1, k1) two times, p5, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 57: k5, (p1, k1) two times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 58: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p3, k1, p3, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 59: k4, (p1, k1) two times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (23 stitches)
Row 60: k5, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k5. (23 stitches)
Row 61: k4, mp1, k1, p1, k3, (p1, k1) twice, p1, k3, p1, k1, mp1, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 62: k5, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) twice, k1, p3, k1, p1, k5. (25 stitches)
Row 63: k5, (p1, k1) two times, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (25 stitches)
Row 64: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p3, k1, p1, k1, p3, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 65: k4, (p1, k1) three times, k2, p1, k2, (k1, p1) three times, k4. (25 stitches)
Row 66: k5, (p1, k1) two times, p2, move 3 stitches to holder, p2, (k1, p1) two times, k5. (3 neck stitches, 11 stitches each shoulder)
Row 67: k4, (k1, p1) three times, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, (p1, k1) three times, k4. (5 neck stitches, 10 stitches each shoulder)
Row 68: k4, (p1, k1) two times, p1, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, p1, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (7 neck stitches, 9 stitches each shoulder)
Row 69: k5, mp1, k1, p1, k1, move a stitch of either side of neck onto holder, k1, p1, k1, mp1, k5. (9 neck stitches, 9 stitches each shoulder)
Row 70: k4, (p1, k1) two times, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, (k1, p1) two times, k4. (11 neck stitches, 8 stitches each shoulder)
Row 71: k4, p1, k1, p1, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, p1, k1, p1, k4. (13 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 72: k5, purl in back and front, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, purl in back and front, k5. (15 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 73: k5, purl in back and front, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, purl in back and front, k5. (17 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 74: k4, p1, knit in front and back, move a stitch on either side of neck onto holder, knit in front and back, p1, k4. (19 neck stitches, 7 stitches each shoulder)
Row 75: Cast off while knitting 7 stitches, move last loop to holder, move a stitch from other side to holder, knit in front and back of next stitch, cast off, knit to end of row casting off and finish off. Leave enough yarn to stitch the shoulder and neck. (21 neck stitches)
Do Not Turn. Move the collar stitches from the holders to the needle.
Working through the back loop of the stitches, k1, (p1, k1) across.
Row 76: p1, (k1, p1) across.
Row 77: k1, (p1, k1) across.
Repeat rows 76 and 77 to complete 14 more rows. On the last row, use a stretchy cast off technique to cast off (an example is http://slipslipknit.com/?page_id=92)

Finishing:

With yarn tail left after shoulder cast offs, stitch front and back shoulders together and up side of neck on both sides. Weave in ends. Attach buttons on sides of back corresponding to button holes on front.