In 1858, the Breton, or mariniere, became part of the uniform for French sailors. By the 1960s, it had morphed into an indispensable piece of cool for icons like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot courtesy of Coco Chanel and the birth of nautical chic.

It’s those Better Bretons I pay homage to with this simple, yet timeless, top-down sweater, featuring waist shaping and top-down, set-in sleeves. The back is worked flat, beginning with each shoulder worked separately and then joined; when the bottom of the armholes is reached, the back is put on hold and the stitches for the front are picked up at the shoulder seams. After the front has been knit to the armholes, the front and back are joined, underarm stitches are cast on, and the rest of the body is knit in the round. Choose traditional colors, choose crazy colors, the Better Breton is what’s better to you!

Sizes
31 (34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52)- designed to fit with at least 1” negative ease.
Sample is shown in size 34 on a model (me) with a 36“ full bust and 35” upper bust.
Finished bust measurement: 30 (33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51)“.

Yarn
Wollmeise Merino DK (100% merino wool) used for sample.
2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins Natur - Main Color (MC).
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skein Admiral - Contrast Color (CC).
Or the dk/sport-weight yarn of your choosing:
900(1000, 1100, 1200, 1265, 1350, 1440, 1530) yards MC.
200( 220, 240, 260, 280, 300, 320, 340) yards CC.
Other suggested yarns: madelinetosh sport, The Plucky Knitter primo sport, madelinetosh dk twist.

Needles and Notions
Two 24” size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles.
Two 24” size 2 1/2 (3.0mm) circular needles.
Two stitch markers, preferably in different colors.
Darning needle for weaving in ends.
Stitch holders or waste yarn.

Gauge
24 stitches and 32 rows = 4” (10cm) square in stockinette stitch on larger needles.

Better Breton has been tech-edited and test-knit prior to publication.