I always enjoy the challenge of coming up with a sweater pattern that’s “plain” enough for a man to wear, yet not so plain that the knitter loses interest before it’s completed.

Tarquin, a top-down saddle-shoulder sweater, fits the bill with a casual Henley silhouette, simple seeded rib patterns along the saddles, sleeves, and side panels, and a “neutral” shade of DK yarn. However, I think it looks great on women, too!

The sweater begins with the two ribbed shoulder saddles, from which stitches are picked up for the back, which is worked primarily in stockinette stitch in rows to the armholes. Stitches are then picked up along the other side of the saddles for the front, which is also worked in rows to the armholes, with the front neck and button placket shaped along the way. The front and back are then joined and the body is worked in rounds to the lower edge. The sleeve caps are shaped with short-rows from stitches picked up around the armholes, then the sleeves worked in rounds to cuffs.

Six sizes are provided: 36 1/2 (40 1/2, 44 1/2, 48 1/2, 52 1/2, 55 3/4)“ (92.5 -103, 113, 123, 133.5, 141.5] cm) chest circumference, requiring 6 (7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins of Emma’s Yarn Simply Spectacular DK (75% superwash Merino, 25% nylon; shown in Nailed It).
Four 5/8” (1.5 cm) buttons are required.