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# THE NEMEAN PULLOVER (HERCULES)

An advanced knitting pattern for a heavily textured, cabled sweater designed for strength and longevity.

**DIFFICULTY**: Advanced
**SIZES**: S (M, L, XL, 2XL)
**TO FIT CHEST**: 91-97 (102-107, 112-117, 122-127, 132-137) cm / [36-38 (40-42, 44-46, 48-50, 52-54) in]

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### MATERIALS
*   **Yarn**: Worsted weight wool (approx. 200 m per 100 g). 
    *   7 (8, 9, 10, 11) hanks of 100 g.
    *   *Note: Sample shown in "Lion's Pelt Grey".*
*   **Needles**: 
    *   4.0 mm (UK 8) knitting needles.
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7) knitting needles.
    *   4.0 mm circular needle (80 cm) for shawl collar.
*   **Extras**: Cable needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle for seaming.

### TENSION (GAUGE)
20 sts and 26 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch using 4.5 mm needles.
The central cable panel (42 sts) measures 16 cm (6.3 in) in width.
*(Note: Always knit a tension square. If you have too many stitches, use a larger needle; if too few, use a smaller needle.)*

### ABBREVIATIONS
*   **alt**: alternate
*   **C4F**: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
*   **C4B**: Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
*   **cm**: centimetres
*   **cont**: continue
*   **dec**: decrease
*   **foll**: following
*   **inc**: increase
*   **k**: knit
*   **p**: purl
*   **p2tog**: purl 2 stitches together
*   **RS/WS**: Right Side / Wrong Side
*   **st(s)**: stitch(es)
*   **T2F (Twist 2 Front)**: Slip next st to cable needle at front, p1, k1 from cable needle.
*   **T2B (Twist 2 Back)**: Slip next st to cable needle at back, k1, p1 from cable needle.

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### SPECIAL STITCH PATTERNS

**Double Moss Stitch (Over an even number of sts)**
*   Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
*   Row 2: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
*   Row 3: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.
*   Row 4: *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

**Lion’s Mane Cable (42 sts)**
*   Row 1 (RS): P6, k4, p4, C4B, k8, C4F, p4, k4, p6.
*   Row 2 and all WS rows: K the purl sts and p the knit sts as they appear.
*   Row 3: P6, C4F, p4, k16, p4, C4B, p6.
*   Row 5: P6, k4, p4, k4, C4B, C4F, k4, p4, k4, p6.
*   Row 6: As Row 2.

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### BACK
Using 4.0 mm needles, cast on 107 (117, 127, 137, 147) sts.
**Rib**: *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Work in rib for 7 cm, ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5 mm needles.
Work in Double Moss Stitch until Back measures 42 (43, 43, 44, 44) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes**
Cast off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows. [97 (105, 113, 121, 129) sts]
Dec 1 st at each end of next 5 (7, 9, 11, 13) rows, then on every alt row 3 times. [81 (85, 89, 93, 97) sts]
*(Math: 97 - (2 * 5) - (2 * 3) = 81 sts)*.
Cont until armhole measures 23 (24, 25, 26, 27) cm, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Shoulders and Neck**
Cast off 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Next row (RS): Cast off 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts, work until there are 18 (18, 19, 19, 20) sts on needle, turn and leave remaining sts on a holder.
Work each side of neck separately. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 4 rows while casting off 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts at shoulder edge on alt row.
Repeat for second side.

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### FRONT
Using 4.0 mm needles, cast on 107 (117, 127, 137, 147) sts.
Work in Rib for 7 cm as for Back, but on the last row (WS), increase 26 sts evenly across the row to account for cable tension. [133 (143, 153, 163, 173) sts].

Change to 4.5 mm needles.
**Set Pattern**:
Row 1 (RS): Work 45 (50, 55, 60, 65) sts in Double Moss Stitch, work Row 1 of Lion’s Mane Cable (42 sts), work 45 (50, 55, 60, 65) sts in Double Moss Stitch.
Cont in pattern as set until Front measures same as Back to armholes.

**Shape Armholes**
Cast off 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of next 7 (9, 11, 13, 15) rows.
Cont in pattern until armhole measures 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) cm, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Front Neck**
Work 48 (51, 54, 57, 60) sts, turn, leave rem sts on holder.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on every row until 21 (24, 24, 27, 27) sts remain.
Cont until armhole matches Back to shoulder shaping.
**Shape Shoulder**: Cast off 7 (8, 8, 9, 9) sts at shoulder edge 3 times.

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### SLEEVES (Knit 2 alike)
Using 4.0 mm needles, cast on 48 (50, 52, 54, 56) sts.
Work in Rib for 6 cm.
Change to 4.5 mm needles.
Work in Double Moss Stitch, inc 1 st at each end of 5th and every foll 6th row until there are 82 (86, 90, 94, 98) sts.
Cont until sleeve measures 48 (49, 50, 50, 51) cm from cast-on.

**Shape Cap**
Cast off 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of next 10 rows, then on every alt row until 30 sts remain.
Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 4 rows. Cast off rem 14 sts.

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### FINISHING
1.  **Block**: Pin pieces to measurements and steam lightly or wet block to open the Double Moss Stitch.
2.  **Seams**: Join right shoulder seam using mattress stitch.
3.  **Shawl Collar**: With RS facing and 4.0 mm circular needle, pick up and k 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts down left neck, 1 st from centre, 40 (42, 44, 46, 48) sts up right neck, and 38 (40, 40, 42, 42) sts from back neck. 
    *   Work in Rib (k1, p1) for 12 cm. 
    *   Use short rows to increase depth at the back of the neck if desired. 
    *   Cast off very loosely in rib.
4.  **Assembly**: Join left shoulder and collar seam. Sew in sleeves. Join side and sleeve seams. 
5.  **Lion's Mane**: Weave in all ends securely. The central cable should stand out in relief against the moss stitch "armour."