I’ve always felt that knitting is very much like painting or coloring with yarn! One of my favorite things about making - you can create an item that is so uniquely you…

Brush Strokes was inspired by my old love of oil painting and my now love of knitting.

Brush Strokes is a DK weight, circular yoke construction, top-down pullover, worked seamlessly from the top down in the round. Brush Strokes features a beginner-friendly two color stranded colorwork yoke and a delicate lace hem. German short rows are worked after the twisted rib collar and before the hem, to raise the back of the neck slightly and lengthen the back, for a comfortable fit. With exception for the short rows, this sweater is worked entirely in the round.

This sweater is designed at a cropped length, perfect for layering, but can be easily adjusted for a longer length.

Brush Strokes is offered in two sleeve options: elbow length (short) or a full-length sleeve with a long cuff.

There are written instructions (only) for the colorwork portion of this knit. The lace hem is both charted and includes written instructions.

Suggested Needles & Notions
• US 6 / 4 mm, 16 – 24” / 41 – 61 cm circulars or two sizes smaller than main (collar & cuffs)
• US 8 / 5 mm, 24” & 32” / 61 & 81 cm (or longer) circulars or size needed for stockinette gauge (main needles)
• US 9 / 5.5 mm, 24” & 32” / 61 & 81 cm (or longer) circulars or size needed for colorwork stockinette stitch gauge (suggested is one size larger than main) (colorwork & hem)
• DPNs or circulars in all sizes for working small circumferences (sleeves)
• Distinct BOR marker + 4 additional markers
• Darning needle, scissors, waste yarn

Gauge Information (measured post blocking)
• 1x1 Twisted Rib: 20 sts per 4” worked on US 6 / 4 mm needles in the round

• Stockinette stitch: 18 sts / 25 rnds per 4” worked on US 8 / 5 mm needles in the round

• Colorwork Stockinette stitch: 18 sts / 26 rnds per 4” worked on US 9 / 5.5 mm needles in the round

Sizing
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)
Designed to fit with 2–5” / 5 – 12.5 cm of positive ease. Select a size that is 2–5” / 5–12.5 cm larger than your actual bust measurement.

Finished Bust Circumference
32 (36, 39.5, 44, 48) (52, 56, 60.5, 64)“ / 80 (90, 99, 110, 120) (130, 140, 151.5, 160) cm

Total length ADJUSTABLE
(measured in center front) 17.5 (18, 19, 20, 21) (21.5, 22.5, 23, 24)“ / 44 (45, 47.5, 50, 52.5) (54, 56, 57.5, 60) cm

Suggested Yarn & Requirements
Heidi & Lana: Meadow DK 2-ply non-SW 50% Merino / 50% Alpaca, 290 yards / 265 meters per 100 grams
Colors shown in sample: Main Color “Fairytale” with Contrast Color “Basil”

• Main Color (Speckle): 672 (756, 830, 925, 1009) (1093, 1177, 1271, 1345) yards / 615 (691, 759, 845, 922) (999, 1076, 1162, 1229) meters

• Contrast Color (Solid/Tonal) 300 (338, 380, 423, 462) (500, 539, 582, 615) yards / 274 (308, 347, 387, 422) (457, 492, 532, 562) meters

Special Techniques
Lateral Braid in the round
Two-color stranded colorwork
German short rows

If this is your first time working a Lateral Braid in the round, you may find this tutorial video helpful: Lateral Braid Tutorial