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For first-time brioche knitters: I designed a small accessory pattern that teaches the techniques you need for this sweater! The Water Born Headwrap is available on Ravelry here.

 
 
DESCRIPTION
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WATER BEARER is a sweater inspired by and designed for the creative, justice-minded, free spirit of the Aquarian zodiac. With seamless top-down construction and a dramatic brioche shawl collar, this cardigan provides for an elegant and absorbing knit. The pattern includes 12 sizes, two length options, written and charted instructions for the brioche waves, and 5 video tutorials that cover everything from choosing the correct size to picking up stitches and working the i-cord bind off along the edges of the collar.
 
 
YARN
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This sweater is designed for a DK weight wool/wool blend. I used Ritual Dyes Priestess DK (250 yds/115g) in Aquarius (larger sample) and Iron (smaller sample). Priestess is a 100% fine superwash merino with a 4-ply twist.

CROPPED Yarn requirements in Priestess DK: (4, 4, 4, 4) [5, 5, 6, 6] {6, 7, 7, 8}
CROPPED Yarn requirements by yardage: (850, 900, 950, 1000) [1075, 1250, 1325, 1400] {1475, 1575, 1675, 1775}
CROPPED Yarn requirements by meter: (778, 823, 869, 915) [983, 1143, 1212, 1280] {1349, 1441, 1532, 1624}
FULL LENGTH Yarn requirements in Priestess DK: (4, 5, 5, 5) [5, 6, 6, 6] {7, 7, 8, 8}
FULL LENGTH Yarn requirements by yardage: (1000, 1050, 1100, 1150) [1225, 1300, 1375, 1475] {1575, 1675, 1775, 1875}
FULL LENGTH Yarn requirements by meter: (915, 960, 1006, 1052) [1120, 1189, 1258, 1349] {1440, 1532, 1623, 1715}

⭐️ Ritual Dyes has kits available on her website for the yarns I used for the samples in the pattern photos!

Other suitable yarns:

$
Knit Picks City Tweed DK
Lion Brand Hand Dyed Heaven
Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine Silky Soft 120

$$
DK Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) Superwash
Brooklyn Tweed Arbor
Malabrigo Rios – this is actually a worsted weight but a test knitter got gauge with it

$$$
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio DK
La Bien Aimée Merino DK
Magpie Fibers Swanky DK
 
 
GAUGE, NEEDLES, NOTIONS
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Gauge: 19 sts and 28 rows over 4”/10cm in brioche after blocking

Recommended needles:

• Main needles: US 6 (4 mm) 32”/80 cm OR 40”/100 cm circular; DPNs for sleeves if not using magic loop
• Larger needles: US 8 (5 mm) 24”/60 cm — used only for i-cord on the back of the neck when starting project

Notions: stitch markers, locking stitch markers, stitch holders or scrap yarn, darning needle
 
 
SIZING
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All of my garment patterns are #sizeinclusive up to at least a 60” full bust circumference.

⭐️ Tutorial on sizing & construction: bit.ly/wb-sizing

⭐️ To get a sense of how this sweater might fit you, check out the test-knitting round-up on my blog.

READ THIS BEFORE CHOOSING YOUR SIZE:
Most sweater patterns are sized based on FULL bust circumference, but Water Bearer is sized based on UPPER bust circumference. I have sized the pattern this way because the most critical fit is in the shoulders, and the pattern includes bust darts to accommodate a range of bust differences at each size.

Sizes by UPPER bust circumference in inches/cm: (30, 32.5, 35.25, 37.75) [40.25, 42.75, 45.25, 47.75] {50.25, 52.75, 55.25, 57.75} “ / (76.5, 83, 89, 95.5) [102, 108.5, 115, 121.5] {127.5, 134, 140.5, 147} cm

To choose your size, measure the circumference at your upper bust (your chest at your underarms) and select the closest exact size. If you are between sizes, I recommend sizing down.

In the pattern photos, Jacqui (Aquarius) is wearing a cropped size 47.75” /121.5 cm with B bust darts, and Wendy (Iron) is wearing a full length size 32.5” / 83 cm with no bust darts.

Details for sizing to add optional vertical bust darts are included in the pattern.

NOTE: The method I use for the top-down set-in sleeve construction in this pattern is adapted from Elizabeth Doherty’s book, Top Down: Reimagining Set-In Sleeve Design, published by Quince & Co. I highly recommend this book for guidance modifying this pattern to address fit issues (such as making a larger or smaller bicep). Recommendation included here with the author’s permission.

 
 
VIDEO TUTORIALS
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The following original video tutorials were created to accompany this pattern and are linked throughout the pattern:

1. Water Bearer Sizing & Construction
2. Provisional crochet cast-on
3. Brioche 101: sl1yo and brk
4. Brioche 102: decreasing & increasing
5. Picking up stitches  rd bind-off      

SHARING
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⭐️ See pictures of other Water Bearer sweaters and share pictures of your own progress on Instagram with the hashtag #WaterBearerSweater. Be sure to tag @jacquelinecieslak too!

#sizeinclusive