Type
Knitting
Difficulty
beginner
Category
pullover
AI Thinking Process
Planning
1. **Analysis**:
* **Object**: Polo Ralph Lauren Team USA Closing Ceremony style sweater.
* **Type**: Turtleneck Pullover with Intarsia and Embroidery.
* **Fit**: Relaxed/Oversized (approx. 10-15cm / 4-6" positive ease).
* **Yarn**: Worsted/Aran weight wool (specified by template/prompt combo).
* **Key Design Elements**: Intarsia "Historical" Flag (Centre Front), Embroidered Stars & Olympic Rings, Tri-colour Turtleneck (Red base, Cream middle, Navy top).
* **Construction**: Worked flat in pieces (Back, Front, Sleeves) to accommodate Intarsia, then seamed. Neck worked in the round.
2. **Reference Classes**:
* *Classic Drop-Shoulder Graphic Pullover*: For the relaxed fit and flat construction.
* *Vintage "Flag" Sweater*: For the intarsia logic and proportion of the flag on the chest.
* *Standard Turtleneck Construction*: Modified for the specific colour-blocking requested.
3. **Edge Cases**:
* *Intarsia Tension*: Intarsia worked flat often results in loose stitches at colour changes. *Mitigation*: Specific instructions on twisting yarns on WS.
* *Neckline Elasticity*: A colour-blocked turtleneck has two join points which can reduce stretch. *Mitigation*: Instructions to use a "Russian Join" or loose yarn change to maintain stretchiness.
* *Vertical Gauge vs. Length*: The user specified exact lengths for Size M. *Mitigation*: I will calculate rows based on standard worsted tension but advise measuring lengths rather than relying solely on row counts.
4. **Plan**:
* **Tension**: 18 sts x 24 rows = 10cm (Stocking Stitch).
* **Sizes**: S (91cm), M (102cm), L (112cm), XL (122cm), 2XL (132cm) Finished Chest.
* **Colours**: Navy (MC), Cream (CC1), Red (CC2).
* **Chart**: 45 sts wide x 40 rows high for the flag.
* **Math Check (Size M)**: 102cm / 10 * 18 = 183.6 (round to 184 or 185).
Verification
[PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS]
1. **Completeness**: Charts included? Yes. 5 Sizes? Yes. Inline math? Yes.
2. **Consistency**: Tension of 18 sts is standard for Worsted. Size M body length 60cm matches user request (23.75"). Sleeve length 51.5cm matches user request (20.25").
3. **Constraints**: UK Terminology used? Yes. Red/White/Blue palette? Yes. Tri-colour turtleneck? Yes.
4. **Safety**: Neckline shaping needs to happen *before* the shoulders are bound off. Flag placement needs to be centred.
Pattern
# Team USA Closing Ceremony Inspired Sweater
**Pattern Type:** Intarsia Knit Pullover
**Difficulty Level:** Intermediate
**Sizes:** S, M, L, XL, 2XL
## DESCRIPTION
A relaxed-fit, spirited pullover knitted in thick-gauge worsted wool. It features a bold intarsia historical American flag on the centre front, a tri-colour rib-knit turtleneck, and space for embroidered details. The body and sleeves are worked flat and seamed for structure and ease of colourwork.
## SIZING & MEASUREMENTS
**To Fit Chest:** 81-86 (91-97, 102-107, 112-117, 122-127) cm / 32-34 (36-38, 40-42, 44-46, 48-50) inches
**Finished Chest Circumference:** 102 (112, 122, 132, 142) cm / 40 (44, 48, 52, 56) inches
**Body Length:** 58 (60.5, 63, 65, 67) cm / 22.75 (23.75, 24.75, 25.5, 26.5) inches
**Sleeve Length:** 50 (51.5, 52, 53, 54) cm / 19.75 (20.25, 20.5, 20.75, 21.25) inches
*Note: Designed with approx. 15-20 cm (6-8") positive ease for a relaxed fit.*
## MATERIALS
* **Yarn:** Worsted / Aran weight wool (approx. 180m/100g)
* **MC (Navy):** 5 (6, 6, 7, 8) balls
* **CC1 (Cream):** 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) balls
* **CC2 (Red):** 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) balls
* *Small amount of gold/green/black yarn for Olympic Rings embroidery (optional)*
* **Needles:**
* 4.5 mm (US 7) straight needles (for ribbing)
* 5.0 mm (US 8) straight needles (for main body)
* 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle, 40cm length (for turtleneck)
* **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, stitch holders, bobbins for intarsia.
## TENSION (GAUGE)
18 stitches and 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm in Stocking Stitch on 5.0 mm needles.
*Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct tension.*
---
## CHARTS
**Chart A: Historical Flag Motif**
* **Placement:** Centre Front
* **Technique:** Intarsia. Use separate bobbins for each block of colour. Twist yarns on WS to prevent holes.
* **Embroidery:** After knitting, use MC (Navy) to Swiss Darning (duplicate stitch) or satin stitch the stars on the Blue field.
**Key:**
□ = CC1 (Cream)
■ = CC2 (Red)
▧ = MC (Navy - Blue Field)
**Grid (45 stitches wide x 40 rows high):**
*Read RS rows (odd) Right to Left, WS rows (even) Left to Right.*
```
Row 40 (WS): □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 39 (RS): ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 38: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 37: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 36: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 35: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 34: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 33: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 32: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 31: ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 30: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 29: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 28: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 27: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 26: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 25: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 24: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 23: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 22: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 21: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 20: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 19: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 18: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 17: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 16: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 15: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 14: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 13: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 12: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 11: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 10: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 9: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 8: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 7: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 6: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 5: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 4: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 3: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Row 2: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 1: ▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧▧■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
```
---
## INSTRUCTIONS
### 1. BACK
Using **4.5 mm** needles and **MC**, cast on 94 (102, 110, 118, 126) sts.
**Rib Row 1 (RS):** K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
**Rib Row 2 (WS):** P2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
Work in k2, p2 rib until piece measures 6 cm (2.5 inches), ending on a WS row.
Change to **5.0 mm** needles.
**Start Stocking Stitch:**
Work in Stocking Stitch (k on RS, p on WS) until piece measures 38 (39, 40, 41, 41) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
**Shape Armholes:**
Cast off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
`[Stitch Count Check: 94 - 8 = 86 sts (Size S)]`
`[Stitch Count Check: 102 - 10 = 92 sts (Size M)]`
Remaining sts: 86 (92, 98, 104, 110).
Continue straight in Stocking Stitch until armhole measures 20 (21.5, 23, 24, 26) cm.
End with a WS row.
**Shape Shoulders:**
Cast off 6 (7, 7, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 4 rows.
Cast off 7 (7, 8, 8, 8) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Leave remaining 48 (50, 54, 56, 58) sts on a holder for the back neck.
### 2. FRONT
Work as for **BACK** until ribbing is complete and piece measures 6 cm.
Change to **5.0 mm** needles.
Work in Stocking Stitch (MC) until piece measures approx 25 cm (10 inches) from cast on, ending with a WS row. This places the flag in the centre of the torso.
**Begin Chart A (Intarsia):**
*Note: The chart is 45 sts wide. We must centre this.*
**Side calculation (Size M):** 102 sts total. (102 - 45) / 2 = 28.5.
Work 28 (28, 32, 36, 40) sts in MC, Work Row 1 of Chart A (45 sts), Work 29 (29, 33, 37, 41) sts in MC.
`[Check Size M: 28 + 45 + 29 = 102 sts. Correct.]`
Continue working Chart A until all 40 rows are complete.
Then, continue in MC Stocking Stitch until piece matches Back to armhole shaping.
**Shape Armholes:**
Cast off 4 (5, 6, 7, 8) sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Remaining sts: 86 (92, 98, 104, 110).
Continue straight until armhole measures 13 (14.5, 16, 17, 19) cm, ending with a WS row. *Approximately 7-8 cm before shoulder finished height.*
**Shape Front Neck:**
**Next Row (RS):** K33 (36, 38, 41, 43), turn. Leave remaining sts on holder (do not work them).
Work on this side only.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge on every row 4 times, then every alternate row 3 times.
Work straight until armhole matches Back length to shoulder shaping.
**Shape Shoulder:**
Cast off 6 (7, 7, 8, 9) sts at armhole edge twice.
Cast off remaining 7 (7, 8, 8, 8) sts.
Return to held sts. Slip centre 20 (20, 22, 22, 24) sts onto a holder for neck. Join yarn to remaining sts.
Work as for first side, reversing shaping.
### 3. SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using **4.5 mm** needles and **MC**, cast on 42 (46, 46, 50, 50) sts.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 6 cm.
Change to **5.0 mm** needles.
Work in Stocking Stitch.
**Inc Row:** K2, m1, k to last 2 sts, m1, k2.
Repeat Inc Row every 6th row 10 (11, 13, 14, 15) times.
`[Check Size M: 46 + (11*2) = 68 sts.]`
Total sts: 62 (68, 72, 78, 80).
Continue straight until sleeve measures 50 (51.5, 52, 53, 54) cm.
Place markers at each end of the last row (to mark underarm seam placement).
Work 6 rows straight (for square set-in/drop shoulder ease).
Cast off loosely.
### 4. ASSEMBLY & EMBROIDERY
1. **Block** all pieces to measurements. This is critical for the Intarsia panel to lie flat.
2. **Embroidery:**
* **Stars:** Using White or Navy yarn (contrasting with the blue field), embroider 13 stars in a circle on the flag's blue field using satin stitch or lazy daisy stitch.
* **Olympic Rings:** Position approx 3cm above the flag. Embroider the interlocking rings (Blue, Yellow, Black, Green, Red) using stem stitch.
3. **Seams:** Join right shoulder seam using mattress stitch.
### 5. TRI-COLOUR TURTLENECK
With RS facing, using **4.5 mm circular needle** and **CC2 (Red)**:
Pick up and knit 18 sts down left front neck, k across 20 (20, 22, 22, 24) front holder sts, pick up 18 sts up right front neck, k across 48 (50, 54, 56, 58) back neck sts.
Total: Approx 104-118 sts (Ensure divisible by 4).
Join in the round. Place marker for BOR.
**Section 1 (Red):** Work in k2, p2 rib for 6 cm.
**Section 2 (Cream):** Change to CC1. Work in k2, p2 rib for 6 cm.
**Section 3 (Navy):** Change to MC. Work in k2, p2 rib for 6 cm.
Cast off loosely in rib pattern.
### 6. FINAL FINISHING
1. Join left shoulder seam and neckband seam.
2. Sew sleeves into armholes between the markers and the bind-off edge of body.
3. Sew side and sleeve seams.
4. Weave in all ends.
Disclaimer: This pattern was generated by AI and should be reviewed for accuracy before use. While we strive for quality, AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify measurements, stitch counts, and instructions before beginning your project. Generated by purlJam.uk
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