Craft Enabled, Domestically Disabled:

Once upon a time, someone did a pattern called "Mermaid." It was beautiful, but (a) required tiny needles, (b) could not be bought without the kit, and (c) had to be ordered internationally. So I did not do it. Then I bought this sweater and got into the idea again.

Turns out that Drops Design did a free knockoff of the same pattern. But....I still hate tiny needles, I wanted instant gratification, and I wanted to use up a lot of worsted yarn around the house. So I did a lot of math using this converstion page. going from DK/fingering-weight yarn to worsted, size M (36 inches). I switched colors every few inches, or when I ran out of yarn, or was doing the pleats in separate coloration, so I ignored the color changes in the pattern except for pleats. Here’s what I did:

Pleats:
Work 75 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 68 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 62 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 55 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 49 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 42 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 36 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 29 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 23 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 16 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work all sts on row, turn piece and work return row
Work all sts on row, turn piece and work return row
Work 16 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 23 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 29 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 36 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 42 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 49 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 55 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 62 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 68 sts, turn piece and work return row
Work 75 sts, turn piece and work return row

Back piece: Cast on 104 sts on circular needle with size 7 needles. Work 11 rows (first row = RS).
At the end of next row (from WS) inc 3 sts for armhole and inc at the end of every 6 row (from WS): 3 sts 0 times =107 sts.
At the end of next row from WS cast on 41 sts = 148 sts.
Continue in garter st on all sts until piece measures 4” (adjust so that next row is from RS).
Work 1 row and now work 1 pleat – see explanation above. After pleat work 1 row on all sts (from WS).
Continue until piece measures 7½.”
Now bind off 5 sts at beg of row (from RS) for neck = 143 sts. Continue until piece measures 10.6” and now cast on 5 sts at the end of row (from WS) = 148 sts. Continue on all sts until piece measures 13.7” (adjust so that next row is from RS).
Continue, work 1 row on all sts and then work 1 pleat. After the pleat work 1 row on all sts and then continue.
When piece measures approx 17”-- bind off 41 sts at the beg of row (from RS) for armhole = 107 sts.
At the beg of next row (from RS) bind off 3 sts and dec at the beg of every 6 row (from RS): 3 sts 0 times = 104 sts. Continue until piece measures 18” and bind off loosely.

Left front piece: Knitted back and forth on needle from side towards mid front. Cast on 104 sts on needle size 7. Continue and inc for armhole as described for back piece = 148 sts.
When piece measures 2.7” (adjust so that next row is from RS), Work 1 row and now work 1 pleat. After pleat work 1 row on all sts (from WS). Continue in light Color B until piece measures 6”– see Measurement tip - (adjust so that next row is from RS), work 1 row and then work 1 pleat. After pleat work 1 row on all sts (from WS). Now continue until piece measures 1.1” from the last pleat (piece measures approx 7½”.
Now dec for neck at the beg of every row (from RS): 9 sts 1 time, 5 sts 7 times and 2 sts 1 time = 102 sts. Work 11 rows back and forth on all sts. Bind off loosely.

Right front piece: Knitted back and forth on needle from mid front towards the side. Loosely cast on 102 sts on needle size 7 Work 11 rows (first row = RS) and now inc for neck at the end of every row from WS: 2 sts 1 time, 5 sts 7 times and 9 sts 1 time = 148 sts.
Continue until piece measures approx 4” (adjust so that next row is from RS). Work 1 row and now work 1 pleat. After pleat work 1 row on all sts (from WS). Continue until piece measures approx 7” (adjust so that next row is from RS). Work 1 row and then work 1 pleat.
After pleat work 1 row on all sts (from WS).
Now continue on, at the same time when piece measures 1½” from the last pleat bind off the first 41 sts (from RS) for armhole. On next row (from RS) bind off 3 sts at beg of row and dec at the beg of every 6 row: 3 sts 0- times = 104 sts. Continue until piece measures 2.7” from the last pleat. Bind off loosely.

Sleeve: Knitted back and forth on pointed needles in garter st. Loosely cast on 45 sts (includes 1 edge st each side) on needle size 7. Work garter st until piece measures 2”, inc 1 st each side on every 1½” a total of 11 times = 67 sts.
When piece measures 19” (less on the larger sizes because of larger sleeve cap) bind off 3 sts each side for armhole and dec to shape the sleeve cap each side on every other row: 2 sts 2 times (4 sts total decreased for row) until piece measures 21.6”, dec 3 sts 1 time each side and bind off. Sleeve measures approx 22”.