Heads up! Coming next month, the Raglan Drop: a bottom-up, drop-shoulder alternative to the Islet Raglan. Islet Drop will be releasing on May 30. You have the option to purchase Islet Raglan as a single pattern, or as part of the ebook Islets: Two Sweaters. The Islet Raglan PDF will be available to download immediately. At the Islet Drop release, the ebook files will be updated to include the Islet Drop pattern. Purchasers of the ebook will receive an update to download the second pattern on its release day, May 30.

The Islet Raglan: An easy, weightless top-down raglan worked in the round, with striped mesh created by alternating rows of eyelets and thin, fuzzy stripes. Using mohair-silk gives a subtle contrast, while the longer length of brushed alpaca blurs the lines further with an extra fuzzy effect. La Bien Aimée’s Kumo is an especially lush choice with gorgeous pops of color against Silk Tweed’s matte, crisp stitches.

I couldn’t resist working up an additional version in my favorite summer yarn -- black linen. Paired with soft hand-dyed black mohair-silk, the linen version has an altogether different personality in the resulting fabric. Experiment with your favorite light fingering weight yarns and different fiber types for both the main color and fuzzy contrast stripes -- the possibilities are infinite with the abundance of yarn choices available in this weight.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest circumference:
33 (37.25, 41.75, 46.25, 50.75, 55, 59.5, 64, 68.5, 73)“
{84 (94.5, 106, 117.5, 129, 139.5, 151, 162.5, 174, 185.5) cm}
Intended ease: 3-6” {7.5-15 cm} positive ease

YARN
MC - light-fingering weight silk, linen, cotton or blend:
640 (700, 815, 910, 1005, 1160, 1220, 1390, 1560, 1710) yds
{585 (640, 745, 832, 919, 1061, 1116, 1271, 1426, 1564) m}
CC - laceweight mohair- or brushed alpaca-silk blend:
95 (105, 125, 140, 155, 175, 185, 210, 235, 260) yds
{87 (96, 114, 128, 142, 160, 169, 192, 215, 238) m}
Listed yardage is for a long sleeve, worked to schematic measurements. Pattern contains detailed notes on calculating yardage for modifications to body and/or sleeve length.

Version 1 (Black/white, size 55”, 3/4 sleeve):
MC: La Bien Aimée Silk Tweed (100% silk noil; 250 m 273yds per 50g) in Noir
CC: La Bien Aimée Kumo (74% Suri alpaca, 26% mulberry silk; 300 m 328yds per 50g) in Street Art

Version 2 (Gray/silver, size 37.25”, long sleeve):
MC: La Bien Aimée Silk Tweed (100% silk noil; 250 m (273yds) per 50g) in Stone
CC: Stacy Charles Luna (71% mohair, 20% silk, 9% metallic thread; 232 yds {212 m} per 25g) in Silver

Version 3 (Black/black, size 37.25”, long sleeve):
MC: BC Garn Lino (100% linen; 164 yds {150 m} per 50g) in Black
CC: The Periwinkle Sheep Wolke (72% mohair, 28% silk; 459 yds per 50g) in The Witch’s Cauldron

NEEDLES
Circular needle in size US 6 (4mm) for main body
Circular needle and/or DPNs in size US 3 (3.25mm) for ribbing
or size to obtain gauge

GAUGE
18 sts x 28 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in stitch pattern, after blocking