Hello, my sweet sunbeam! This week, I have a wonderful pattern that I want to share with you, Bordeaux Nights. This delicate, feminine, and adjustable short-sleeve sweater was designed by Monica Wesley, and I hope you’ll read on to learn more about it!

Monica says, “Imagine a balmy evening in a far-flung city. You savor a glass of wine as you linger over dessert and dream about the unknown possibilities that await you. This is the romance of Bordeaux Nights. Splendid, delicate, and very feminine, Bordeaux Nights is a short-sleeve sweater that includes both fingering- and lace-weight yarns to create a contrast in opacity. A ruffled hem and collar are complemented by an elegant keyhole closure in the back. It’s the small details that make this sweater stand out from the rest.”

“Using a fingering-weight yarn, you’ll begin at the hip with a provisional cast on, which is knitted in the round. You’ll knit even in Stockinette stitch until you split for the front and back at the underarms. You’ll knit flat with the fingering-weight yarn for a portion of the upper bodice and yoke, until you switch to the lace-weight yarn, which creates a contrast between the heavier fingering-weight yarn and the more translucent lace-weight yarn. The same method is used on the back until you’re ready to construct the keyhole opening.”

“Once the front and back are finished, the shoulders are then joined using a three-needle bind off. Lace-weight sleeves are created by first picking up stitches and then knitting in the round before finishing them with a thin, Garter stitch border that’s knitted with the fingering-weight yarn. You’ll then add the finishing touches. Your provisional cast-on stitches are placed back on your needles, and you’ll knit a Garter stitch ruffle. A Garter stitch ruffle also adorns the neckline.”

“Finally, you’ll use a small crochet hook to complete a single chain crochet edging around the keyhole closure before sewing on your button. Instructions for the provisional cast on, three-needle bind off, and the crochet chain edging are all included in this pattern, as well as alternative directions for omitting the neckline ruffle and/or hip ruffle and adding a Garter stitch border at the hip.”

Bordeaux Nights is an Intermediate level pattern. This pattern is for those who feel comfortable with knitting and have made a few projects, using various skills and techniques. Skills and concepts include: provisional cast on, picking up stitches, garment shaping construction, seaming, and crocheting a single-chain edging.

This pattern was made with our lovely Alpaca Silk Lace and Oasis Camel Silk Fingering yarns. Our Alpaca Silk Lace yarn is a heavenly, dreamy yarn that is ultra-soft with a shimmering glow from the silk. It is a 50/50 blend of baby alpaca and mulberry silk.

Our Oasis Fingering yarn is an exotic and sultry camel fiber blended with shimmering mulberry silk. When you’re ready to treat yourself, this is the way to go! It is a 50/50 blend of camel and mulberry silk.

Bordeaux Nights comes in a generous range of sizes based on your finished/natural bust size.

SIZES: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL

Bust Sizes: 28-30”, 32-34”, 36-38”, 40-42”, 44-46”, 48-50”, 52-54”, 56-58”, 60-62”
[71-76, 81-86, 91.5-96.5, 101.5-106.5, 111.5-117, 122-127, 132-137, 142-147, 152.5-157.5 cm]

Positive ease included: 3.5-4” (9-10 cm) at the bust, 10-11” (25-28 cm) at the waist, and 4-5” (10-12.5 cm) at the upper arm. The large amount of positive ease at the waist is due to knitting even from the hip, which results in a relaxed fit at the waist.

1 skein of Alpaca Silk Lace is sufficient for all sizes and based on your selected size, you will need 2 (2, 2, 2, 2*, 3, 3, 3, 3*) skeins of Oasis Camel Silk Fingering. *[Sizes XL and 5XL use the entire skeins of yarn. You may wish to purchase an additional skein to ensure you have enough.]

We have filmed a fun video about this pattern and Expression Fiber Arts. Take a look:

 

This pattern contains written instructions.

Download Bordeaux Nights here today!

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Talk to ya soon.

XOXOXO  Chandi