♫ The Music ♫
The Mary Ellen Carter is one of Stan Rogers’ classic salvage ballads. Although it tells the story of the ship’s sinking and rescue efforts by its former crew, the lyrics’ broader message of triumph over adversity is what makes it a perennial favourite.

Mary Ellen Carter is a saddle shoulder pullover worked from the top down, with an elegant cable that runs from the saddles all the way down the sleeves to the cuffs; the body is worked in Stockinette stitch.

Construction

• A top-down, saddle-shoulder pullover that begins by knitting the two cabled saddles.
• Stitches are picked up along the long edges of the saddles and, after shaping the shoulders, the back is worked to the bottom of the armholes.
• Stitches are picked up along the opposite long edge of the saddles and, after shaping each front separately to create the neckline, the front is worked to the bottom of the armholes.
• Work is then joined in the round to complete the lower body which ends in a 1x1 ribbed band.
• Sleeves are worked top down, in the round (except for the sleeve cap shaping which is worked using short rows). Sleeves are shaped using decreases at the underarm and sleeve cuffs are worked in 1x1 rib.
• Neckline is finished in a 1x1 ribbed crew neck.
• All ribbings are finished with a tubular bind off (picture tutorial included).

Right and left are referenced as the garment is worn.

The pattern is written for intermediate knitters who can follow ‘continue in pattern’ directions with ease.

Both charts and written directions for charts are provided.

Size
Finished Chest Circumference: 36 (38, 40, 42) {44, 46, 48} (50, 52, 54)” / 91.5 (96.5, 101.5, 106.5) {112, 117, 122} (127, 132, 137)cm.

Back Length: 21.25 (21.5, 22.25, 23.25) {24.25, 24.75, 25.25} (25.75, 26.25, 26.75)“ / 54 (54.5, 56.5, 59) {61.5, 63, 64} (65.5, 66.5, 68)cm.

Top Sleeve (beginning of sleeve cap to end of cuff): 20.25 (20.75, 21.25, 21.75) {22.25, 22.5, 23.25} (23.75, 24, 24)“ / 51.5 (52.5, 54, 55) {56.5, 57, 59} (60.5, 61, 61)cm.

Yarn
1440 (1560, 1710, 1850) {1970, 2100, 2190} (2280, 2380, 2470)yds / 1317 (1426, 1564, 1692) {1801, 1920, 2003} (2085, 2176, 2259)m sport-weight yarn.

Sample shown in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 137yds per 50g) in Haze Heather 25657.

Needle Notes
For knitting in the round, a variety of methods may be used:
• set of 4 or 5 DPN or
• two circulars 16” / 40cm or longer for Two Circulars Method or
• one circular 32” / 80cm or longer for Travelling or Single Loop
• one circular 32” / 80cm or longer for Magic Loop

Needles Required
3.5mm / US4 or size required to obtain gauge:
• 24” / 60cm circular for first 4 sizes OR 32” / 80cm circular for remaining sizes, for body.
• For all sizes: Needles for small circumference knitting – set of 5 DPN, OR 2 circulars 24” / 60cm or longer for Two Circular Needle Method, OR 1 circular 32” / 80cm or longer for Magic Loop Method, for sleeves.
• 3.5mm / US4 or smaller circular needle 32” / 80cm long or longer (spare needle for transferring Back sts as work is joined in the round for the lower body).

3mm / US3 or two sizes smaller than gauge needle (for ribbing, cuffs and neckband):
• 24” / 60cm circular for first 4 sizes OR 32” / 80cm circular for remaining sizes, for bottom ribbing.
• Needles for small circumference knitting: set of 5 DPN, OR 2 circulars 24” / 60cm or longer for Two Circular Needle Method, OR 1 circular 32” / 80cm or longer for Magic Loop Method, for cuffs;
• Needles for small circumference knitting: 16” / 40cm circular needle, OR set of 5 DPN, OR 2 circulars 24” / 60cm or longer for Two Circular Needle Method, OR 1 circular 32” / 80cm or longer for Magic Loop Method, for neckband.

Notions
Cable needle, stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle.

Credits
Tech Editing: RedSquirrel; FirSprite.
Charting Software: Stitchmastery.
Test knit by: Ravellers susu2u, knit3hearts, Koky7618, RaghadKhalaf, Safiahesham, fam6i and houndsmum.