Wash Zimmerman
Wash's Sweater
Generic (Zimmerman) Version
Last updated: 27 June 2010
by Don Yarman
In 2008, I recreated a sweater worn by the character Wash in two episodes of the TV series Firefly, and then worked out patterns so that other knitters could make their own. I made my prototype out of a bulky handspun yarn, so the patterns called for a similar heavy worsted wool. But yarn like that is not easy to find, and I noticed many knitters were using a finer yarn, like Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool, to make their sweaters. I was inspired to try that myself, and post some technique and pattern adaptations that others might find useful. Here then, is a version of the pattern for a light worsted yarns.
SIZE
Pattern is written to fit men's size 42 long loosely. For alternate sizes, add or subtract stitches from the sweater's Double Moss Stitch panels. Body and sleeves can be knit longer or shorter as desired.
Chest: 41-43 in.
Body length: 27 in.
Sleeve length: 24.5 in.
MATERIALS
4 skeins Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool.
1 24 in or longer US #8 (5 mm) circular needle
1 set of US #8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
1 16 in US #8 (5 mm) circular needle
1 16 in US #6 (4 mm) circular needle
GAUGE
19 sts/22 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch on larger needles
18 sts/25 rows = 4" in double moss stitch on larger needles
PATTERN NOTES
Legend & Techniques:
Charts for Double Moss Stitch and Rope Cable are on the last page. Serenity Cable (Chart B) is published separately at http://www.yarmando.com/serenity_cable.pdf.
Double Moss Stitch (Worked over an even number of sts)
Rows 1-2: [k2, p2] to end of section.
Rows 3-4: [p2, k2] to end of section.
Rep rows 1-4.
Rope Cable (see also Chart A below)
Rows 1-2 (RS): p2, k6, p2
Row 3: p2, c3 over 3 right, p2
Rows 4-8: p2, k6, p2
Serenity Cable (see Chart B, http://www.yarmando.com/serenity_cable.pdf)
Except on those even numbered rows highlighted below where there are cable crossings, work stitches of all even rows as they present themselves, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches.
Row 1 (RS): p11, k6, p11
Row 2 (WS): p11, c3 over 3 right, p11
Row 3: p11, k6, p11
Row 5: p10, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p10
Row 7: p9, c3 over 1 right p, p2, c3 over 1 left p, p9
Row 9: p8, c3 over 1 right p, p4, c3 over 1 left p, p8
Row 11: p7, c3 over 1 right p, p6, c3 over 1 left p, p7
Row 13: p6, c3 over 1 right p, p8, c3 over 1 left p, p6
Row 15: p5, c3 over 1 right p, p10, c3 over 1 left p, p5
Row 17: p4, c3 over 1 right p, p12, c3 over 1 left p, p4
Row 19: p3, c3 over 1 right p, p14, c3 over 1 left p, p3
Row 21: p3, k3, p16, k3, p3
Row 23: p3, k3, p16, k3, p3
Row 25: p3, c3 over 1 left p, p14, c3 over 1 right p, p3
Row 27: p4, c3 over 1 left p, p2, k3, p2, k3, p2, c3 over 1 right p, p4
Row 29: p5, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p2, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p5
Row 31: p6, k6, p4, k6, p6
Row 32: p6, c3 over 3 left, p4, c3 over 3 right, p6
Row 33: p6, k6, p4, k6, p6
Row 35: p5, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p2, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p5
Row 37: p4, c3 over 1 right p, p2, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p2, c3 over 1 left p, p4
Row 39: p4, k3, p4, k6, p4, k3, p4
Row 40: p4, k3, p4, c3 over 3 right, p4, k3, p4
Row 41: p4, k3, p4, k6, p4, k3, p4
Row 43: p4, c3 over 1 left p, p2, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p2, c3 over 1 right p, p4
Row 45: p5, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p2, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p5
Row 47: p6, k6, p4, k6, p6
Row 48: p6, c3 over 3 right, p4, c3 over 3 left, p6
Row 49: p6, k6, p4, k6, p6
Row 51: p5, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p2, c3 over 1 right p, c3 over 1 left p, p5
Row 53: p4, c3 over 1 right p, p12, c3 over 1 left p, p4
Row 55: p3, c3 over 1 right p, p14, c3 over 1 left p, p3
Row 57: p3, k3, p16, k3, p3
Row 59: p3, k3, p16, k3, p3
Row 61: p3, c3 over 1 left p, p14, c3 over 1 right p, p3
Row 63: p4, c3 over 1 left p, p12, c3 over 1 right p, p4
Row 65: p5, c3 over 1 left p, p10, c3 over 1 right p, p5
Row 67: p6, c3 over 1 left p, p8, c3 over 1 right p, p6
Row 69: p7, c3 over 1 left p, p6, c3 over 1 right p, p7
Row 71: p8, c3 over 1 left p, p4, c3 over 1 right p, p8
Row 73: p9, c3 over 1 left p, p2, c3 over 1 right p, p9
Row 75: p10, c3 over 1 left p, c3 over 1 right p, p10
DIRECTIONS
Body
With 5.75 mm (US 10) circular needles at least 24 in long, CO 164 sts. Join in the round, place marker for beginning of round, and knit Twisted Rib (*k1tbl, p1; rep from *) for 3 inches. In last round of rib, increase 20 sts evenly around (184 sts).
In the round, all rows are RS, and the charts are read right to left.
Establish pattern as follows: *Work Double Moss Stitch over 44 sts; work Rope Cable (Chart A) over the next 10 sts; work Serenity Cable (Chart B) over the next 28 sts; repeat Rope Cable over the next 10 sts. Repeat from * to complete round.
Continue in pattern as set until body reaches the desired length to the underarm, or about 9 inches shy of the total desired length of your finished sweater (about 18 inches on a 42-long sweater). End after an even round.
You will now begin to work the front and back sections of the sweater separately. Break your yarn, leaving enough tail to weave in later. Put the front half of your sweater on a string holder. (Note: to this point, our rounds began before the double moss stitch panel, but the sleeves should be centered within the double moss sections. So your string should be holding 22 sts of double moss pattern, one Rope Cable, the Serenity Cable, a second Rope Cable, and another 22 sts of double moss.)
Back
Beginning at right side of back, join yarn and continue in pattern as set, but you will now turn at the end of the back and work the even numbered rows on the WS. Work for 9 inches; the original sweater appears to end after row 66 of the second repeat of the Serenity Cable (Chart B). Slip all back stitches to a string holder.
Front
Return front stitches to your needles, and work as you did the back, stopping 12 rows short of the length of the back; on the original sweater, that appears to be after the second repeat of row 54 on the Serenity Cable (Chart B).
Shape Front Neck
Keeping continuity, work 41 sts; place the next 14 sts on a holder; turn, leaving the remaining sts on a spare needle. Continue with the pattern as far as possible while shaping left side of neck as follows--
Cast off 1 stitch of the neck's edge at beginning of the next and following alternating rows. Continue until 35 stitches remain (12 rows). Put these left shoulder stitches on a holder.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to sts of right side of neck. Keeping continuity, work 2 rows in patt without shaping, then complete as left side, casting off 1 st of the neck's edge on alternate rows until 35 sts remain.
Turn your work inside out. Join the 35 front shoulder sts with 35 corresponding sts on the back by casting them off together in three-needle bind-off. Repeat for other shoulder. 26 back sts should remain on a holder, as well as the 14 sts at the front of the neck.
Sleeves
With US #10 double pointed needles, CO 44 sts. Join into round, place marker, and work twisted rib pattern as body until cuff measures 3 inches. In last round of ribbing, increase 4 sts evenly in round (48 sts total).
Establish pattern as follows: work Rope Cable (Chart A) over the next 10 sts; work Serenity Cable (Chart B) over the next 28 sts; repeat Rope Cable over the next 10 sts.
Continue in patt as set, rep all rows of each chart, and inc 1 st at beginning and end of 6th and every foll 6th rounds, working all inc sts into Double Moss Stitch, until there are 76 sts (less for a tighter sleeve, more for a fuller sleeve). When sleeve is big enough, change to 16” circular needle.
Continue in patt without shaping until sleeve is desired length.
Pattern Note: on the original sweater, the cables appear to end after the second repeat of row 40 on the Serenity Cable (Chart B). This is followed by 2-3 inches of reverse stockinette instead of the cables to lengthen the sleeve.
Turn sleeve inside out and set it aside for a moment. With a separate ball of yarn, pick up 76 stitches around the sleeve opening on the body, starting at the lowest point of the underarm. Turn body inside out, and join the sleeve stitches to these armhole stitches with 3-needle bind-off. Watch tension carefully so that your sleeve seam isn't too tight or too loose.
Repeat for second sleeve.
Neckband
With RS facing and US #8 circular or double pointed needles, beg at back neck holder. Join yarn and knit 26 sts from holder; pick up and knit 17 sts from left neck edge; knit 14 stitches from front neck holder; pick up and knit 17 sts from right neck edge (74 sts total). Work twisted rib (k1tbl, p1) for 3 inches. Fold neckband in half to WS and sew in place.
SOURCES
Whedon, Joss, and Minear, Tim (Executive Producers). 2002. Firefly [Television series]. Beverly Hills: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
Kailhofer, Margaret. 2008. "Big Damn Sweater Pattern." Maggs Creations. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://www.maggscreations.com/bigdamnsweater.html.
Wilson-Martos, Laura. 2008. "Washburne." Dizzy Blonde Designs. Retrieved September 4, 2008, fromhttp://lauramartos.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/cable-guy/.
Starmore, Alice. 1996. Aran Knitting. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, Inc.
Zimmerman, Elizabeth. 1981. Knitting Workshop. Pittsville, WI: Schoolhouse Press.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Don Yarman lives in Columbus, OH, where he mostly knits socks while watching too much TV. His partner wishes he spent more time giving foot massages and less time knitting. Email comments to yarmando [at] gmail [dot] com.
Don licenses this work under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Feel free to use for non-commercial purposes, and if you adapt it, please give credit and share with others.
The Serenity Cable (Chart B) is published as a separate document available from the websitehttp://www.yarmando.com.