Brioche Del Mar is an ode to the many shorelines I’ve strolled over the years and the wonderful Café del Mar chill-out albums I listened to endlessly in the late ‘90’s.

Now with instructions for long and short sleeves, with lots of cuff options (see below) Brioche Del Mar is the perfect combination of knitting to keep you engaged at the start, watch T.V. knitting the body, and then re-engage you for a two colour Brioche finish (the hem)! 

This oversized top, lots of positive airy ease, is worked seamlessly from the top down. It starts out with a separate back worked in the flat, and then the front to the arm holes. The fronts and backs are joined to work down in the round to the Brioche hem after the armholes are complete. Two colour brioche ends the sweater with a scalloped shell edge.

The sleeves! You have lots of options:
Short Sleeves with 2 cuff finishes – eyelet mesh and twisted rib
Long Sleeves with 3 cuff finishes – eyelet mesh, twisted rib, and 2-colour brioche. have two cuff options – either a mesh eyelet or a simple twisted rib – you decide!

There are lost of Video tutorials for the all the brioche stitches involved.

SIZES:
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7, 8)
Finished chest circumference: 86.25 (93, 106.25, 120) (133, 146.25, 160, 173)cm / 34.5 (37.25, 42.5, 48) (53.25, 58.5, 64, 69.25)”

Suggested fit approx. 10 - 20cm (4 - 8”) positive ease. Sample shown in size 4 with 17.5cm (7”) ease.
Finished garment measurements are taken with relaxed fabric after blocking, so please knit a gauge swatch. See Tips on measurements below for size selection.

YARN:
Koigu, KPPPM 50g (160m/ 175yds, 100% Merino). Fingering weight.
Sample shown in MC P701 (Ivory), CC 5523 (Blue).

Yarn required for Short Sleeves:
MC: 4 (5, 5, 6) 7, 9 10, 11 Skeins
CC: 1 (1, 1, 1) 2, 2, 2, 2 Skeins

Main Colour:
181 (212, 250, 300) 347, 418, 478, 539 grams
578 (680, 800, 960 ) 1110, 1338, 1528, 1725 metres
632 (744, 875, 1050) 1214, 1463, 1672, 1887 yards

Contrast Colour:
35 (38, 43, 50) 54, 59, 65, 70 grams
111 (120, 137, 160) 172, 189, 207, 223 metres
122 (131, 150, 175) 188, 206, 226, 244 yards

Yarn required for Long Sleeves:
MC: 5 (6, 7, 8) 9, 11, 12, 14 Skeins
CC: 1 (1, 1, 2) 2, 2, 2, 2 Skeins

Main Colour:
244 (283, 326, 387) 434, 516, 586, 658 grams
780 (905, 1043, 1237) 1389, 1652, 1876, 2105 metres
853 (989, 1141, 1352) 1520, 1807, 2052, 2303 yards

Contrast Colour:
41 (45, 50, 58) 63, 69, 75, 81 grams
132 (144, 161, 185) 200, 219, 241, 260 metres
145 (157, 176, 203) 219, 239, 263, 284 yards

NEEDLES and NOTIONS

• Size 3.75mm / US 5 circular needle, 80cm / 32” length (or size needed to obtain gauge) to knit the garment, and sleeves. If not using magic loop for sleeves, then a set of double pointed needles will be required.
• Size 3.5mm / US 4 circular needle, 80cm / 32” length (or 0.25mm / 1 US size smaller than gauge-size needle) to knit the brioche hem and neck band. If not using magic loop for sleeves, then a set of double pointed needles will be required.
• Size 3.25mm / US 3 circular needle, 40cm / 16” length (or 0.5mm / 2 US sizes smaller than gauge-size needle), or a set of double pointed needles to knit sleeve cuffs and final rounds of neck band. Spare needle or smooth waste yarn for holding live sts. Tapestry/Darning needle Stitch markers 13 (14, 16, 18) 20, 22, 24, 26. 1 unique and 2 removable.

GAUGE
24 sts x 36 rnds = 10cm x 10cm (4”x 4”) in stocking stitch worked in the round after blocking on largest needle. Tip: Block and pin swatch, and leave to dry.

CONSTRUCTION NOTES:
Brioche del Mar is worked in one piece, from the top down. Commencing with the back and then front neck, worked in the flat back and forth until arm holes are created. It is then joined in the round and knit down to the Brioche hem. You can shorten/ lengthen this garment by knitting less/ more body length before commencing the brioche hem. Try on as you go and adjust accordingly. Please note that extra yarn will be required if you knit the body length longer.
The neck band is worked by picking up neckline sts. Sleeves in similar fashion.

TIPS FOR SIZES AND MEASURING BUST
I find the best way measure your bust is to take a measuring tape and measure over your bra and around the back shoulder blades, at widest point. Don’t pull the tape tight. This is your bust circumference measurement, not bra size.
Choose your size based on your own bust measurement. For example, if your bust measures 102.5cm (41”) (at widest point) and you want 17.5cm (7”) of inches of looseness (positive ease), then knit
size 4.