For the Bees

The little lace motif in the center of this sweater is called “Variation Honeybee” from one of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries. I have always loved it so I combined it with my favorite “Honeycomb” brioche stitch for this cute little sweater. A split hem and bracelet length sleeves have made this a go-to piece in my handmade wardrobe. 

Yarn

Sugarplum Circus BFL 4 ply Fingering Weight Yarn, 438 yards/100g  (100% Bluefaced Leicester) 464 yards/100g approximately 740 (800, 920, 1020) (1120, 1210, 1300) 1490 yards

Sugar Plum Circus Mohair Lace 459 yards/50g, approximately 740 (800, 920, 1020) (1120, 1210, 1300) 1490 yards

Materials

US Size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles, minimum 30” cord. 

US Size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles, minimum 30” cord. 

Finished Measurements

Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) 8

Body Circumference: 36.7 (39.5, 45.2, 49.4) (52.2, 56.5, 60.7) 64.9"

Neck Width: 8.9 (9.9, 9.9, 9.9) (9.9, 9.9, 9.9) 10.8“

Body Height to underarm: 14 (14, 14, 14) (14.5, 14.5, 14.5) 14.5”

Sleeve length to underarm: 16.4”

Upper arm circumference: 12.2 (13.2, 14.1, 15.5) (16.5, 17.9, 19.3) 20.2”

Sleeve circumference at wrist: 9.9 (10.8, 11.3, 12.7) (14.1, 15.1, 16.5) 17.4”

Intended to be worn with -2 to +6”, -5 to 15 cm. Shown in Size 2, with approximately 4” positive ease.

Gauge

17 stitches x  27 rounds = 4 x 4 /10 x 10 cm in stockinette with one strand of each yarn held together, using larger needles. 

Notes

This sweater is worked from the bottom up, the hems for the front and back are knit flat, separately, then joined in the round for the body.  The front and back are then separated again at the underarm, and worked flat, separately, to be seamed at the shoulders with three needle bind off. Stitches are bound off knit wise and then picked up again between the bottom hem and the body of the sweater, and again between the body of the sweater and the honeycomb brioche stitch at the shoulders, to create a fun detail. This is also done between the sleeve and the cuff. The sleeves are picked up and knit in the round. The collar is picked up and finished with an i-cord bind off. The back hem and honeycomb brioche section is taller in the back than in the front.

Pattern includes schematic.