Serotonin is the second in a series of sweaters that explore the brain chemicals produced when we knit stripes. And pockets!

Stripes make us happy. Who doesn’t want to keep going through to the next stripe? How many times do we stay up late because we want to get to THAT colour?

And pockets. Who doesn’t need pockets in your sweater? For keeping hands warm, carrying rocks and sticks and perhaps even a baby dragon.

In addition to being fun and slightly addictive to knit, stripes are also a useful tool in looking at how we can use colour in our knitting to create shape. To move the eye up and down, towards the face, or even to a specific place on our arms. The 4th “renegade” stripe colour emphasizes that effect, bouncing the eye from waist to shoulder to face and back.

In Serotonin, the stripes get gradually narrower towards the waist, and then become wider again. Highlighting the narrowest part of your torso. Place the stripes on the arms in a way that makes sense for you. In this sample, the stripes give the illusion of a 3/4 and elbow length sleeve, again drawing attention to the narrowest part of the body.

Finished Size
81.5 (86.5, 91.5, 96.5, 101.5, 106.5, 112, 117, 122, 132, 142, 152.5) cm/ 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 56, 60)’’
Sample version is worn with 2.5 cm/1” positive ease in upper torso.

Yarn Amounts
Indigodragonfly CaribouBaa 100% superwash merino; 398 m/435 yds per 100 g; MC: 4 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins; CC1: 1 skein; CC2: 1 skein; CC3: 1 skein; RC: 1 skein

Sample colourways
MC: Hand of the Herzog
CC 1: Tapenodd
CC 2: Venezuelan Beaver Cheese
CC 3: In Pocketses
RC (renegade colour): A Yarn Has No Name

Needles and Notions:
Needles of your choice (size needed to get gauge. See gauge notes for guidelines for choosing a needle size). 80 cm/32” minimum circular needle is recommended for working the collar
Needles in one size smaller than main needle (your preferred needle for working a small circumference in the round: DPNs, magic loop or two short circulars) for working pockets
stitch markers: both stationary and removable
Stitch holder, spare needle or scrap yarn for holding sts (optional)
tapestry/yarn needle

#sizeinclusive