Solitaire is a beautiful bottom-up sweater with a folded neckband, details on the upper arm and a simple but fascinating stitch pattern on the split hem. The designer, Rachel Brockman, named the pattern after the diamond stitch pattern and to cherish those solo knitting moments she so much loves.

SIZES
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Recommended ease: 4–6″ / 10–15 cm of positive ease.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Bust Circumference: 34.75 (39.5, 44.25, 49, 53.75) (58.25, 63, 67.75, 72.5)″ / 87 (99, 110.5, 122.5, 134) (146, 157.5, 169.5, 181) cm.

Length from Shoulder to Hem: 21.75 (22.25, 22.75, 23.25, 23.75) (24.25, 24.75, 25.5, 26.25)″ / 55 (56.5, 57.5, 59, 60) (61.5, 62.5, 64.5, 66.5) cm.

Body Length from Hem to Underarm: 15.25″ / 38.5 cm.

Armhole Depth: 6.5 (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5) (9, 9.5, 10.25, 11)″ / 16.5 (18, 19, 20.5, 21.5) (23, 24, 26, 28) cm.

Neck Width: 7 (7, 7, 7.5, 7.5) (7.5, 8, 8, 8)″ / 17.5 (17.5, 17.5, 19, 19) (19, 20, 20, 20) cm.

Front Neck Drop: 3.75″ / 10 cm.

Back Neck Drop: 2.25″ / 6 cm.

Upper Arm Circumference: 13 (14, 15.25, 16.5, 17.75) (18.75, 20, 21.25, 22.25)″ / 32.5 (35.5, 38, 41, 44) (47, 50, 53, 56) cm

Cuff Circumference: 9.5 (9.5, 10.5, 10.5, 11.75) (11.75, 13, 13, 14)″ / 23.5 (23.5, 26.5, 26.5, 29.5) (29.5, 32.5, 32.5, 35.5) cm.

Sleeve Length: 15.25 (15.25, 15.25, 15, 14) (13.75, 13.5, 13.25, 12)″ / 38.5 (38.5, 38.5, 38, 35.5) (34.5, 34, 33.5, 30.5) cm.

MATERIALS
Yarn: 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) (8, 9, 9, 10) skeins of Seadale by Flying Fibers Yarn Company (50% Manx Loaghtan, 50% Wensleydale, 198 yds / 181 m – 100 g), colourway Ragwort Bloom. Or approx. 800 (925, 1055, 1190, 1328) (1470, 1618, 1769, 1925) yds / 732 (846, 965, 1088, 1214) (1344, 1479, 1618, 1760) m of worsted-weight yarn.

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm 32–40″ / 80–100 cm circular needles (for body) and your preferred needles for knitting small circumferences in the rnd (for sleeves), US 6 / 4 mm (for neckband) and US 4 / 3.5 mm 16″ / 40 cm circular needles (for neckband).

Notions: Stitch markers, cable needle, spare 16″ / 40 cm circular needles (size US 6 / 4 mm or smaller, for neckband).

GAUGE
17 sts x 28 rnds to 4″ / 10 cm on US 7 / 4.5 mm needles in St St, after blocking.

CONSTRUCTION
This sweater is worked seamlessly from the bottom up. The front and back hems are knitted flat. The work is then joined in the round and knitted to the underarms. The front and back are separated again at the underarms and worked flat, separately. Short rows are used to shape the shoulders. The shoulders are joined using the 3-Needle Bind-Off. Stitches for the sleeves are picked up around the armholes and worked in the round from the top down. Stitches for the neckband are picked up and worked in the round.