Earth and Air by James N Watts

Earth and Air

Knitting
February 2021
both are used in this pattern
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
10 stitches and 15 rows = 4 inches
in Two Color Brioche
US 10½ - 6.5 mm
524 - 1031 yards (479 - 943 m)
XS (S, M, L, XL) (XXL, 3X, 4X, 5X)
English
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Earth and Air is a drapey, roomy brioche sweater. Its name is a play on the texture of the fabric created by knitting two color brioche with one worsted weight yarn and one lace weight mohair yarn. This mixture of yarns along with the large needle size create an extremely lightweight sweater that is quick to knit and easy to wear.

Sizing
Earth and Air has no shaping and is meant to be worn with 8-12” of positive ease.

XS (S, M, L, XL) (XXL, 3X, 4X, 5X) to fit a bust measurement of
28 (32, 36, 40,44) (48, 52, 56, 60) inches
71 (81, 91, 102, 112) (121, 132, 142, 152)cm

Bust measurement of the finished garment is
38 (42, 46, 50, 54) (58, 62, 66, 70) inches
97 (107, 117, 127, 137) (147, 157, 168, 178)cm

Yarn
This sweater uses yarns of two different weights in a brioche stitch. Color A uses a worsted weight yarn, and Color B requires a lace weight mohair yarn. Though they are referred to as “Color A” and “Color B” a worsted weight yarn knit with a lace weight mohair in the same color works beautifully, as do contrasting colors. I recommend a wool yarn for your Color A. Color B works best with a fuzzy mohair silk yarn, but alpaca also works if you are sensitive to mohair, any fuzzy yarn that is around 200-300 yards per 25g or 400-500 yards for 50 grams will work. If you find all “fuzzy” yarns uncomfortable, experiment with other lightweight yarns. If you get gauge and like the fabric, go for it.

Color A (worsted) Yarn Ideas:

  • Harrisville Designs Highland
  • Malabrigo Washted
  • Plymouth Encore
  • Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
  • Noro Silk Garden Solo
  • Berroco Vintage
  • Berroco Ultra Wool
  • Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted
  • Valley Yarns Valley Superwash

Color B (laceweight) Yarn Ideas:

  • You Knit I Dye Kid Mohair Silk Lace
  • La Bien Aimée Mohair Silk
  • Knit Picks Aloft
  • Rowan Kidsilk Haze
  • Valley Yarns Southhampton
  • Berroco Aerial
  • Lana Grossa Silkhair

Yardage
One of the perks of this pattern is the low yardage requirement. Yardage is as follows:

Color A (worsted weight) -
268 (290, 334, 360, 386) (434, 468, 506, 528) yards
245 (265, 305, 329, 353) (397, 428, 463, 483) meters

Color B (laceweight) -
256 (276, 318, 342, 367) (413, 446, 483, 503) yards
234 (252, 291, 313, 336) (378, 408, 442, 450) meters

Needles and Notions

  • US 10.5 circular needle in whatever cable lengths are comfortable for knitting the body and the sleeves in the round.
  • Stitch marker
  • Darning needle for weaving in ends
  • Locking stitch marker/progress keeper