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Materials: Worsted Weight Cotton yarn, approximately 12½ ozs  (10¼ozs for body and sleeves, 1½ozs for ribbing, ¾oz for collar (includes keyhole bands)).  Circular needles/dpn Size 6US (UK8, 4mm),  4US (UK10, 3.5mm). 4 buttons for neck band and 2 buttons optional for pockets.

GAUGE: 20sts/24rows=4ins with larger needles in st st.

Notes:  Read shaping instructions thoroughly there are sections where two shapings have to be worked at the same time.  

SLEEVES:
Cast on 51 sts on size 4 needles.  Work in K1P1 ribbing for 1ins. 
Change to size 6 needles and work in Stockinet Stitch (Stocking Stitch).  
Increase 5 sts evenly across the row to 56 sts total. 
Increase 1 st at each end of every 6th row 3 times to 62 sts (18 rows total, excluding hem). 
Work even until sleeve measures 3.9 ins (24 rows), excluding hem. 

Shape cap.  Bind (Cast) off 3 sts at the begining of the next two rows (56 sts remain). 
Decrease 1 st at each end of every row 3 times,
Decrease 1 st at each end of every 2nd row 13 times,
Decrease 1 st at each end of every row 3 times. 
Bind (Cast) off remaining 18 sts loosely (or place on a holder to graft).

BODY:
Cast on 164 sts on size 4 needles.  Join into a circle, taking care not to twist the stitches.  Mark the side 'seams' at the beginning and at the halfway point (82 sts). 
Work in K1P1 ribbing for 2½” ins. 
Change to size 6 needles and work in Stockinet Stitch (Stocking Stitch). 
Increase 8 sts evenly across the round to 172 sts total. 
Work even until piece measures 11ins (66 rounds), excluding hem. 

Divide for amhole.  Transfer the last 86 sts between seam markers to a holder for the front.  You can now switch to straight needles if you wish.  From this point on, work on back section only, with right side facing to start. 

Armhole shaping.  Bind (Cast) off 3 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows. 
Decrease 1 st at each end of every alternate row for 12 rows until 68 sts remaining. 
Work even until armhole measures 9 ins (54 rows).

Shoulder shaping.  Bind (Cast) off 9 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows. 
Bind (Cast) off 10 sts at the beginning of the following 2 rows (or place on a holder to graft). 
Total 118 rows (excluding hem) with 30 sts remaining for back of neck.  Place sts on holder.

FRONT(LEFT):Transfer 38 sts from holder to needle, with right side facing.  Join yarn. 

Dec for armhole at both ends, as for back. 
Continue until armhole measures 1.7 ins (10 rows), with 70 sts remaining. 
*(Optional Pocket – I positioned the top of the pocket here).

Shape neck. Work 32 sts. 

Button Band: Place a pin in the “loops” of the next 6 sts and work in K1,P1 rib (the pin is now making the “loops/stitches” to be picked up for the Buttonhole Band on the Right Front).  Continue working these 6 sts in rib to create Button Band.

Continue armhole shaping.  Work 36 rows (5.8 ins) even at center for keyhole opening. 
Next row:  for bottom of neckline, continue to work the 6 sts for band in K1,P1 rib.
Decrease 1 st at neck edge every row 6 times, until 19 sts remain. 
Work even until armhole measures 9 ins (54 rows). 

Shoulder shaping.  Bind (Cast) off the 6 “Band stitches” then continue to Bind (Cast) off as for back (or place on a holder to graft).

FRONT(RIGHT): With the right side facing pick up the 6 “loops/stitches”  from the pin marking the bottom of the Button band then transfer 32 sts from holder to needle.  Join yarn. 
Follow instructions for Front Left reversing shapings and working buttonholes to correspond with the marked positions on the Button Band. 

SHOULDER SEAMS: Sew or graft fronts to back along shoulder seams. 

NOTES FOR SHIRT COLLAR: The Shirt Collar instructions below are for a small standup section which will hug the neck, then the collar will fold over and spread flat against the top of the sweater.  If you would like a fuller collar, increase the number of sts 10-20% when you change to the looser gauge. For a flatter collar, increase the number of sts immediately after pick-up. 
Work shirt collar in stitch pattern of choice; it should be reversible and also loose enough to lay flat on the shoulders.  Some suggestions are: K1P1 rib, seed/moss st, garter st. 
The instructions below are for working on a circular needle or dps. If you prefer to work on straight ndls, work the collar separately (by casting on 68 sts and following steps 2-3 below) then sew/graft the collar into the neckline.

SHIRT COLLAR: With right side of work facing using size 4 needles, pick up and work 6 sts from right front neck holder, 13 sts from right front neck edge, 30 sts from back neck holder, 13 sts from left front neck edge and 6 sts from left front neck holder.  Total 68 sts. 
Work 3 ins in pattern stitch of choice, working back and forth in rows, keeping the centre front opening.  Work first ½” using  size 4 needles then change to size 6 needles or larger to work remainder of collar at a looser gauge. 
Bind (Cast) off very loosely. 

FINISHING: Sew/graft sleeve top to armhole, easing to fit.  Sew pocket top to front at both sides.  Sew any remaining seams.  Darn/weave/sew in all loose ends.  Sew buttons at marked positions on the button band, being careful to align buttons with buttonholes.

Pocket “Bags”: make two (3” x 5”)
Using Size 6 US (UK 8, 4mm) cast on 15sts
Knit into the back and front of each stitch increasing to 30sts
If you are familiar with the “Hooray for Me Gloves” technique for fingers work until “bag” measures 5” then separate stitches onto one holder and one needle (15sts on each), (you should have a 3” x 5” “bag” or “tube”). If you have not tried this technique this would be the perfect project to try it on.  Work an additional 4 rows on set of stitches on the needle, place on a holder.
Otherwise continue as follows: slip every other stitch between two needles (15sts on each), then divide between three needles (10sts on each) to work in the round.  Work in the round until “bag” measures 5”.  Knit 15sts, Place the next 15sts onto a holder, (you should have a 3” x 5” “bag” or “tube”).  Work an additional 4 rows on set of stitches on the needle, place on a holder.