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I have always liked the easy construction of a drop shoulder garment, but I’m always quite wary of making one. The thing is, my upper arms are quite large, and it’s a part of my body that’s difficult to fit. If the garment comes out too small around the bicep, having a seam there is at best uncomfortable, and at worst unwearable.

Roseability is a jumper that solves this problem. Its construction method and versatile options allows you to mix and match body and sleeve sizing for a custom fit that suits YOUR proportions and preferences.

More than that, it’s beautiful. Worked in DK for warmth and speed, the lace front allows the air to circulate a little on those in-between days and creates a delicate, dainty motif.

It’s an easy to fit, easy to wear garment that’s equally at home over a dress, jeans and a tee, or paired with smart bottoms at the office.

Materials

• approx. 377 yards (345 metres) to 1317+ yards (1204+) metres DK weight yarn
• 4mm needles (or size needed for gauge) suitable for working both flat and small circumferences in the round
• stitch marker (optional, to note the beginning of the round when working sleeves)
• tapestry needle, to weave in ends and work seams
• spare yarn, cable, stitch holder, or other tool for putting stitches on hold
• pins, locking stitch markers, or other notions for holding pieces together while seaming
• your preferred blocking equipment

Yarn Requirements

Roseability comes in 12 body sizes, 12 sleeve sizes, and 2 sleeve lengths, plus it includes instructions to adjust the length of both the body and sleeves. Because of this, a little addition is required to calculate the yardage required for your chosen sizes and options.

To calculate your sizes and yardage, please download the free preview document. The preview document includes the schematic, all measurements, yardage breakdowns, and a swatch guide. It should be everything you need to work out which sizes will work for you, how much yarn you’ll need, and which needles to use.

You can download the preview document here:

Preview Document

Sizing

Roseability is #SizeInclusive and #ShapeInclusive.

Roseability comes in 12 body sizes and 12 sleeve sizes. You can mix and match any body size with any sleeve size for a custom fit.

Roseability is designed as a cropped jumper, but includes instructions to adjust the length to make it as short or as long as you’d like.

Body Sizing

Roseability’s body section comes in 12 sizes, 1-12.

Measurements are given as follows: (1, 2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7, 8] (9, 10, 11, 12).

Recommended body ease is around 6” / 15cm.

All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.

A - Bust / Waist Circumference
(36, 39, 42, 45) [48, 51, 54, 57] (60, 63, 66, 69)“
(90, 97.5, 105, 112.5) [120, 127.5, 135, 142.5] (150, 157.5, 165, 172.5) cm

B - Neck Opening
(7.5, 8, 8, 8.5) [8.5, 8.5, 9, 9] (9, 9.5, 9.5, 9.5)“
(19, 20, 20, 21.5) [21.5, 21.5, 22.5, 22.5] (22.5, 24, 24, 24) cm

C - Neck to Shoulder Seam
(4.25, 4.75, 5.5, 6) [6.75, 7.5, 8, 8.75] (9.5, 10, 10.75, 11.5)“
(10.5, 12, 14, 15) [17, 19, 20, 22] (24, 25, 27, 29) cm

D - Length, Shoulder to Hem
(17, 17, 17, 17) [17, 17, 19, 19] (19, 19, 19, 19)“
(42.5, 42.5, 42.5, 42.5) [42.5, 42.5, 47.5, 47.5] (47.5, 47.5, 47.5, 47.5) cm

Reminder: the pattern includes instructions to adjust the length. This can be done in multiples of 2” / 5cm.

E - Front Neck Drop
(1.5, 1.5, 1.5, 1.5) [1.5, 1.5, 2.5, 2.5] (2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5)“
(4, 4, 4, 4) [4, 4, 6, 6] (6, 6, 6, 6)cm

Sleeve Sizing

Roseability’s sleeves come in 12 sizes, A-L.

Measurements are given as follows: (A, B, C, D) [E, F, G, H] (I J, K, L).

Recommended sleeve ease is around 2” / 5cm.

All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.

All sleeves are 20” / 50cm long as written; the pattern includes instructions on adjusting the sleeve length.

Armscye Depth
(5, 6, 7, 8) [9, 10, 11, 12] (13, 14, 15, 16)“
(12.5, 15, 17.5, 20) [22.5, 25, 27.5, 30] (32.5, 35, 37.5, 40) cm

Bicep Circumference
(10, 12, 14, 16) [18, 20, 22, 24] (26, 28, 30, 32)“
(25, 30, 35, 40) [45, 50, 55, 60] (65, 70, 75, 80) cm

Wrist Circumference
(6, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5) [9, 9, 9, 10.5] (10.5, 10.5, 12, 12)“
(15, 19, 19, 19) [22.5, 22.5, 22.5, 26.5] (26.5, 26.5, 30, 30) cm

Construction

Roseability is a drop shoulder garment. The back is knit first, then stitches are picked up at the shoulders to work the front. After blocking the sides are seamed, which is what allows the sizing to be mix and match; you can choose to seam more to create a smaller armscye and accommodate a narrower sleeve, or less to create a deeper armscye and accommodate a wider sleeve. Stitches are then picked up to work each sleeve and the neckband.

You can watch a video explaining this construction method here:

Construction Video

Stitches

knit
purl
knit 2 together
knit front and back
left lifted increase
right lifted increase
slip slip knit
yarn over

Other Techniques

knitting flat
knitting in the round
long tail cast on
picking up stitches
backwards loop cast on
mattress stitch
binding off
double yarn over

Sample Details

Yarn: Giddy Aunt Yarns Merino DK in Ruby Slippers (100% superwash merino)
Size: 8H (long sleeve)
Yardage: 1,054y / 963m
Model: Victoria
Bust Ease: 5” / 12.5cm
Bicep Ease: 2” / 5cm

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK in Pale Rose (100% acrylic)
Size: 5D (short sleeve)
Yardage: 508y / 495m
Model: Hawkins (tailor’s dummy)
Bust Ease: 7” / 17.5cm
Bicep Ease: approx. 3.5” / 9cm

You can view more details of the samples and fit models used for Roseability in the Sample and Fit Model Galleries.

Sample Gallery

Fit Models

You can also view swatches for Roseability in a variety of yarns and colours in the Swatch Gallery.

Swatch Gallery

Accessibility

Roseability includes two versions of the pattern: the main version, and a second version designed for low vision and screen reader users.

Both versions of the pattern are colour blind friendly.

The accessible version of the pattern has:

• 24 point sans-serif font (Arial) throughout
• Fully saturated black text on white background
• Single column layout
• Left-aligned text
• No italics
• No header or footer – just page numbers (bottom left)
• Consistent use of heading tags for easy navigation
• Internal links to aid navigation
• All instructions written out in text without reliance on diagrams or charts
• All words written out in full (i.e. no abbreviations)
• No bulleted lists
• No tables
• Tested with screen readers

You can read full details here: Accessible Patterns