Soffio ~ Italian for “breath”

The Soffio Blouse is designed to be worn as a light transitional piece; a breath of fresh air for your spring wardrobe. It can be worked using a single strand of lace-weight yarn resulting in a sheer fabric, or with a thicker yarn for more coverage.

Construction
The Soffio Blouse is worked seamlessly from the top down with contiguous set-in sleeves. The shoulders are shaped while working German short rows to raise the back and sculpt the neckline. The yoke is then continued in the round by shaping the sleeve caps while simultaneously working the body (a yoke tick sheet is provided to keep track of the increases). Raglan-like increases then shape the armholes before separating the sleeve stitches from the body. The body is finished in the round with the option to work either a scalloped hem or an I-cord hem. The sleeves are then worked in the round and finished with rapid decreases to create a slightly puffed look before working either a scalloped or I-cord cuff. The scalloped neckline is worked before the shoulder shaping, while the I-cord neckline is applied after working the body.

Sizing
Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4) 5, 6, 7 (8, 9, 10) are designed to fit a range of bust circumferences from 69-79 (80-90, 90-100, 99-109) 110-120, 120-130, 130-140 (140-150, 150-160, 160-170) cm / 27.5-31.5 (32-36, 36-40, 39.5-43.5) 44-48, 48-52, 52-56 (56-60, 60-64, 64-68)“.

Recommended ease: 15-25 cm / 6-10” of positive ease at the bust.

See finished measurements table and schematics at the end of the pattern pictures for more information.

Samples
The samples are both shown in size 2 with 19 cm / 7.5” of positive ease on a full bust of 86 cm / 34.5”. The powder pink sample features the scalloped neckline and the I-cord hem and cuffs. The red sample features the I-cord neckline and the scalloped hem and cuffs.

Yarn
The pink sample is worked in one strand of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair (70% mohair, 30% mulberry silk; 225 m / 246 yds – 25 g) in the Powder colorway.

You will need 4 (4, 4, 5) 5, 5, 6 (6, 6, 7) balls of Knitting for Olive Soft Silk Mohair or approx. 710 (785, 870, 955) 1020, 1075, 1150 (1210, 1310, 1380) m / 775 (860, 950, 1045) 1115, 1180, 1260 (1325, 1435, 1505) yds of lace-weight yarn.

The red sample is worked in Lise Tailor Silk Merinos (70% Merino, 30% mulberry silk; 200 m / 219 yds – 50 g) and Lise Tailor Silk Mohair (72% kid mohair, 28% mulberry silk; 210 m / 230 yds – 25 g), both in the Terracotta colorway.

You will need 5 (5, 6, 7) 7, 7, 8 (8, 9, 9) balls of Lise Tailor Silk Merinos and 5 (5, 6, 6) 7, 7, 7 (8, 8, 9) balls of Lise Tailor Silk Mohair, or approx. 895 (990, 1100, 1210) 1290, 1360, 1450 (1530, 1655, 1740) m / 975 (1085, 1200, 1320) 1410, 1485, 1590 (1675, 1810, 1900) yds of a fingering-weight and a lace-weight yarn each (held together).

Gauge
21 stitches x 31 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” on 4 mm / US 6 needles in stockinette stitch in the round after blocking.

Needles
• 4 mm / US 6 circular needles of at least 80 cm / 32” for the body and of 40 cm / 16” for the sleeves. Or needle size needed to reach gauge.
• 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needles of at least 80 cm / 32” for the hem and of 40 cm / 16” for the neckline and cuffs. Or needles two sizes smaller than the needles used for the main fabric.

Notions
• 5 stitch markers (including a distinct beginning of round stitch marker) and 1 removable stitch marker
• Try-it-on tubing or waste yarn to place stitches on hold
• A long piece of fingering-weight yarn in a contrasting color to use as a lifeline (for the scalloped hem and cuffs)
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Techniques
• Long tail cast-on
• Backwards loop cast-on
• Increases (M1R, M1Rp, M1L, M1Lp)
• Decreases (k2tog, ssk)
• German short rows
• Scalloped edges (video tutorial available)
• Applied I-cord and I-cord bind-off (video tutorial available)

This pattern has been tech edited by Agnes Kroner and test knitted by a wonderful group of testers!

Happy knitting :)