Blum is the second design in my Organics Collection – a series of designs that take inspiration from shapes found in the natural world and from other artists whose own work is inspired by nature. The stranded colourwork patterns of Blum are inspired by the work a French tattoo artist of the same name, who creates beautifully delicate designs based on shapes, patterns and symbols found in nature.

CONSTRUCTION
This garment is worked top-down, in the round. After the neckband, short row shaping is incorporated to optimise fit. After this, stranded colourwork is worked into the remainder of the garment until waistband and cuffs are reached. Contiguous shoulder shaping is worked into the start of the yoke, then front, back and shoulders are increased at regular intervals until the yoke is separated into body and sleeves. Body and sleeves are each worked in the round, continuing the colourwork pattern, until waistband and cuffs are reached.

SAMPLE
The wearer is 5’10” with a 37” chest circumference. The sample has been worked in size L, giving the wearer 11” / 27.5cm of positive ease at the chest. To accommodate the wearer’s height, an extra 1” of body and sleeve length has been added by working an extra 10 rnds at the waistband and Option 2 for Sleeve Decrease Chart 4. The loose fit option was worked at the cuffs.

SIZING GUIDE
This garment is graded into sizes XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). Recommended positive ease is 3-12” / 7.5-30cm at the chest circumference.
Finished Garment Chest Circumference: 33.25 (38.25, 43, 48, 53) (57.75, 62.75, 67.75, 72.5)“ / 83 (95.5, 107.5, 120, 132.5) (144.5, 157, 169, 181.5) cm.

GAUGE
Using 3.25mm / US size 3 needles, or needle size required to meet gauge, 26 stitches over 36 rounds in stranded colourwork, blocked, creates a 4x4”/10x10cm square.
Neckband, waistband and cuff circumferences assume you are working 8 sts per 1” / 2.5 cm.

YARN
The sample has been worked using Feliz Y Punto fingering weight yarn (100% Superwash Merino; 400m / 438yds per 100g) in colourways Raven as the main colour and Haze as the contrast colour.
I recommend high contrast yarn colours for this design to ensure the delicate colourwork pattern is visible.

YARDAGE (includes ~10% excess)
(Yardage assumes longest length options for body and sleeves have been worked.)
Main Colour: 924 (999, 1127, 1187, 1288) (1435, 1473, 1591, 1690) metres / 1010 (1093, 1233, 1298, 1409) (1570, 1612, 1740, 1848) yards / 231 (250, 282, 297, 322) (359, 368, 398, 422) grams.
Contrast Colour: 457 (493, 557, 557, 634) (709, 722, 779, 816) metres / 500 (540, 609, 609, 694) (775, 790, 853, 892) yards / 114 (123, 139, 139, 159) (177, 181, 195, 204) grams.

TOOLS & NOTIONS
2.75mm / US size 2 circular needles (to work neckband, cuffs and waistband; varying cable lengths would be helpful)
3.25mm / US size 3 circular needles (to work yoke, body and sleeves; varying cable lengths would be helpful)
Sizes 2XL-5XL only: 2.5mm / US size 1.5 circular needles (to work neckband)
4 markers recommended minimum
scrap yarn
tapestry needle to weave in ends

SKILLS REQUIRED
-long tail cast on
-joining and working in the round
-half-twisted ribbing
-German short row shaping
-reading colourwork charts
-working stranded colourwork with two colours
-working a regular pattern of increases
-working make 1 left and right increases
-separating yoke into body and sleeves
-working knit 2 together and slip slip knit decreases
-standard bind off