I have been fascinated with the Napoleon Bee design ever since I did not buy the Napoleon Hermes scarf over 20 years ago when I had the chance. It was my mother-in-law’s motto that you only regret the things you don’t buy, and that certainly is true for that scarf. The all-over bee pattern is a tribute to the scarf I do not own. It is also a tribute to my home state of Utah whose state symbol is the beehive. The old Mormon name for Utah is Deseret (supposedly an ancient Egyptian word for Bee Crown).
 
I’d like to thank Tommy Steele, an apiarist, who, through his wife, Mary Cherrey, looked at the many iterations of the bee to ensure that it was correct.
 
The fronts and back are worked flat in one piece. I prefer to knit stranded designs flat, but of course, you can work it in the round and steek it. The pattern does not provide details on steeking. Due to the complexity of the repeated motif, shaping is minimal. The armholes are very deep. They are the same for all sizes.
 
The fit of the jacket is oversized so it can be worn over a shirt or turtleneck.