Description

Overview of the sweater:

Lou Lou is a chunky brioche sweater knitted from the bottom up in one piece using large needles. The sweater has a generous oversized fit, dropped shoulders, and slightly balloon-shaped sleeves that are gathered with snug ribbed cuffs.

The hem features a short ribbed section that pulls the hem together before transitioning into the brioche stitch for the body. The body is knitted in the round up to the underarms, after which the work is split into front and back sections, which are worked separately. The neckline shaping on the front is done with brioche decreases. Once the body is finished, the shoulder seams are joined, and stitches are picked up around the neckline to knit the ribbed collar. The sleeves are knitted directly onto the body in the round. The sleeves have a nice volume, which is finally gathered and finished with snug double ribbed cuffs.

Difficulty level: Lou Lou is perfect for a knitter who knows basic knitting techniques and wants a little extra challenge with brioche knitting. 

Sizes: 1(2)3(4)5(6)7(8)9(10) – see measurements below

Recommended ease: 20–30 cm / 7–12” of positive ease

Measurements for the finished sweater:

Bust circumference: approx. 100(108)116(124)132(140)148(156)162(170) cm / 40(42.5)45.5(49)52(55)58.25(61.5)64(67)“

Length from shoulder to hem: approx. 59(59)60(60)62(62)62(64)64(64) cm / 23.25(23.25)23.5(23.5)24.5(24.5)24.5(25.25)25.25(25.25)“

Armhole circumference: approx. 36(38)40(42)44(47)49(51)53(53) cm / 14(15)15.75(16.5)17.25(18.5)19.25(19.75)21(21)“

Yarn: 
Example 1: Isager Soft (125 m/ 136 yds / 50 g, 56 % baby alpaca, 44 % organic pima cotton) 5(6)6(7)7(7)8(9)10(11) balls

Example 2: Drops Air (150 m / 165 yds / 50 g, 70% Alpaca, 23% Polyamid, 7% wool) 5(5)5(6)6(6)7(8)9(10) balls 

Example 3: Sandnes Garn Kos (150 m / 165 yds / 50 g, 62% alpaca, 9% wool, 29% nylon) 5(5)5(6)6(6)7(8)9(10) balls

Example 4: CaMaRose Snefnug (110 m / 120 yds / 50 g, Alpaca 55 %, cotton 35 % ja merino 10 %) 6(7)7(8)8(8)9(10)11(12) balls

Sample knitted with: Isager Soft in colorway E0 Natural white. Sample knit is knitted in size 5 and it has 30 cm of positive ease.

Needles:

• 5 mm / US 8: 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles and double pointed needles
• 8 mm / US 11: 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles

Other materials: Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle

Gauge:

9 sts x 11 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4″ in brioche knit with 8 mm / US 11 needles (after blocking). 

Note! Brioche stitch is very thick and stretchy and a bit tricky to measure accurately, so make sure not to stretch it when checking your gauge. Adjust your needle size if necessary to achieve the correct gauge.