The Q. stands for Queneau, Raymond Queneau, the french ingenious writer whose most intriguing work is definitely Exercises de Style, the narration of a banal fact in ninety-nine different ways, all significant and different from each other, to tell, and thus interpret, an episode that we are invited to see from different points of view.

While developing this pattern I thought that it would be the perfect basic story for a similar creativity pushing exercise, and the further testing, where knitters were invited to come up with their own version, proved that knitting with its infinite repertoire of variations and permutations was the best non-linguistic field for a similar storytelling.

The garment is basically a multi-directional sweater, knitted both top down and sideways, with a standard raglan side and an oversized one with a dolman sleeve; an overall asymmetrical shape, a rather short length and subtle finishing details keep it in a safe fitting zone for all sizes.

For my two sample projects I choose textured stripes (different yarn colors, texture and weight) because I wanted to check all the possible knitting traps involved in its unusual construction, but Q. is meant to be a blank pattern fully customizable by the knitter, in every sense; for this purpose, and just as a suggestion, a series of layouts are provided but any other choice is feasible and open to the knitter’s fancy.

yarn:
Sport weight yarn is recommended, but any yarn from heavy fingering to light DK, and different fiber content can be used if producing the desired fabric at the given gauge - swatching is obviously mandatory!

Due to all the possible versions the following quantities refer just to a sport weight, monochrome, stocking stitch version:
710, (790, 930, 1055, 1160, 1265, 1390) m / 776, (864, 1017, 1154, 1269, 1384, 1520) yd.

gauge:
21 sts and 30 rows to 10 cm / 4 in measured over st st pattern using 3.5 mm / US 4 needles.

sizes:
XS - S - M - L - XL - 2XL - 3XL.
the sweater is designed to be worn with a 4cm/1.5in ease on the raglan side - detailed schematic and a virtual bust size finished dimension are given to choose the proper size.

skill level:
intermediate

NOTE: due to the unconventional construction of the garment please read carefully through all the sections of the pattern and the schematics to have a clear overview before you begin knitting.