Bonfire Sweater - Knitting Pattern

This adventurous beginner-friendly, top-down, drop-shoulder sweater includes a loose fit, with a balloon sleeve and brioche detail. The cozy fit of this top and the fun pops of color on the sleeves will have you reaching for this sweater regularly - for a bonfire at the beach, or layered with a cozy shawl for a winter day. This pattern is perfect for any body, any yarn, and any skill level. This is the perfect pattern for learning brioche since you're only working one inch at a time!

Sizes
This pattern is written to meet the finished measurements in the chart provided below, with finished bust sizes: 32, 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)[56, 60, 64, 68]"/81.5, 91.5 (102, 112, 122, 132)[142.5, 152.5, 162.5, 173]cm.

The sample was knit to about 7"/18cm of positive ease (larger than my body measurements) throughout. The sweater would look wonderfully with anywhere between 4 and 10"/10 and 25.5cm of positive ease.

Materials
You will need one BOR marker, and four additional markers, darning needle, waste yarn or spare needle, scissors, measuring tape, and your super amazing body.

Techniques
You will need to know how to cast on with an Italian cast on, knit in the round, purl, increase, cast-on mid-row, two-color brioche in the round, decrease, sewn bind-off, block, weave in ends, and have fun.

Suggested Yarn
Sunfish from thelittlewolfknits: 75/25 superwash merino/nylon, fingering weight 4-ply, 463yd/424m per 100g held with Buoy from thelittlewolfknits: 74% baby suri alpaca/26% silk, lace weight, 328yd/300m per 50g.

The sample used three skeins of Glazed on Sunfish, held with three skeins of Glazed on Buoy for the main color, and one skein of Old Fashioned on Sunfish (held double) for the contrast color.

Any DK weight (or fingering and lace weight held together) yarn should work – just make sure to adjust to get gauge. Alternatives include: Knit Picks Swish, Knit Picks Stroll and Aloft.

Suggested Needles
Main Needle: US 7 (4.5mm) circular needle
Brioche Needle: US 6 (4mm) circular needle
Ribbing Needle: US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle
But use whatever needle you need to achieve gauge!
(Or just do the math and do your own thing)

Gauge
20sts x 27rows = 4”/10cm stockinette knit in the round and blocked with your main needle. When swatching, remember to cast on more stitches than you’re intending to measure so that you can get an accurate measurement (the end and beginning stitches tend to be looser). I recommend using this tutorial to start and finish the swatch for the most accurate measurements.

Color Suggestions
Like I said, this pattern is perfect for any yarn, and can be made with a tonal or variegated AND it would make amazing scrappy project. Have random odds and ends lying around? Use them for a fun stripey version!

Yardage:
The yardage is based off a top with a total length of 19, 19.5 (21, 21.5, 22, 24)[24.5, 25, 26.5, 27]"/48, 50 (53.5, 54, 56, 61)[61.5, 63, 67.5, 68]cm. In order to calculate yardage for the full length of your top, each additional 1"/2.5cm of length will require approximately an additional 21, 23.5 (24, 29, 31.5, 34)[36.5, 39, 41.5, 44]yd/19, 21.5 (22, 26, 28.5, 31)[33.5, 36, 38, 40.5]m of Sunfish and 13.5, 15 (15.5, 18.5, 20, 21.5)[23.5, 25, 26.5, 28.5]yd/12.5, 14 (14, 17, 18.5, 20)[21.5, 23, 24.5, 26]m of Buoy to the yardage listed below.

768, 857 (961, 1033, 1163, 1286)[1364, 1456, 1600, 1688]yd/702, 784 (879, 945, 1063, 1175)[1247, 1331, 1462, 1543]m or 2, 2 (3, 3, 3, 3)[3, 4, 4, 4] skeins each of Sunfish.

AND 699, 781 (875, 941, 1060, 1171)[1243, 1326, 1457, 1538]yd/639, 714 (800, 860, 969, 1071)[1136, 1212, 1332, 1406]m or 3, 3 (3, 3, 4, 4)[4, 5, 5, 5] skeins of Buoy yarn to be held with the Sunfish.

AND 26, 28 (30, 31, 36, 37)[38, 40, 43, 44] yd/24, 26 (28, 28, 33, 34)[35, 37, 39, 40]m of DK weight yarn or double the above numbers of a fingering weight yarn to hold double for the CC.