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With their vibrant colors and juicy leaves, succulents can be one of the most rewarding types of plants to grow. It’s often stated that succulents are easy to care for and thus the best plants for beginners, but in my experience they can be tricky. If you’re interested in taking a succulent into your home but don’t know where to start, here is my advice: choose a healthy jade or aloe that is not too small (baby plants have smaller root systems and can be quite finicky), and ensure the pot has a drainage hole. Find a sunny window, and plop your new friend right by the sill. Most succulents prefer some direct sunlight, so a south-facing window for Northern hemisphere folks or a north-facing window for Southern hemisphere folks is best. If your succulent is getting lots of direct sun, water it weekly--particularly if your pot is clay, as these tend to dry out the soil faster. If your succulent is getting little to no direct sun, water every two weeks. In the winter, add another week to the time between waterings.

As with many of my designs, Succulent Garden attempts to pay tribute (albeit abstractly) to the plants for which it is named. Its construction is top down, and it is worked in the round. Both a chart and written instructions are included for the colorwork of the yoke, and waist shaping and cropped length options are available. Full length option is intended to end at the upper region of the main hip; cropped option is intended to end just above the high hip. Seed rib stitch is used for the neckband, hem and cuffs.

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

SKILLS REQUIRED

Knitting in the round, stranded colorwork, knitting in small circumferences

SIZING

All of my patterns are #sizeinclusive.

1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8, 9, 10) (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) (16, 17, 18, 19)

Intended to fit with 2.75-3 in / 7-7.5 cm of positive ease in the chest. Sleeves intended to fit with 1.75-2.25 in / 4.5-5.5 cm of positive ease in the bicep. See more sizing details in the Schematic at left.

BLOCKED GAUGE

Seed rib: 25 sts and 42 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm

Stockinette stitch: 25 stitches and 36 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm

Colorwork: 25 stitches and 34 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm

NOTIONS

3 markers, including one unique BOR; scrap yarn for holding sleeve stitches; and darning needle for weaving ends

YARN

Any fingering weight yarn that achieves gauge.

Purple and green sample pictured uses Miss Babs Yummy 2-ply fingering yarn, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 400 yds / 110 grams / 365 meters per skein. Shown in colorways Cordovan (MC) and Makrut Lime (CC). Blue and pink sample uses the same yarn, only in colorways Franklin and Embellish. Gray and brown sample uses Birch Hollow Fibers Sylvia Sock in the colorway A Cloak of Mist and Less Traveled Yarn 757 Sock in the colorway Forest Floor.

NEEDLES

The needle sizes below are a suggestion. Use the needle size that achieves gauge for you. It is recommended to swatch in the round.

Ribbing: Size US 2 / 2.75 mm circulars, 16 in / 40 cm for neckband and 32 in / 80 cm or longer for hem and cuffs; DPNs or small circumference circulars if not using magic loop for cuffs

Stockinette: Size US 3 / 3.25 mm circulars, 24 in / 60 cm for the upper yoke and 32 in / 80 cm or longer for the yoke, body and sleeves; DPNs or small circumference circulars if not using magic loop for sleeves

Colorwork: Size US 4 / 3.5 mm circulars, 32 in / 80 cm or longer to maintain gauge

YARDAGE

Yardage includes a 10% buffer. See table at left for yardage info.