Design Story

Beatrice was loved by Dante and was the theme for Dante Gabriel Rossetti's major work, Beata Beatrix, painted by Rossetti after the death of his own idealised love, Elizabeth Siddell. Elizabeth also had the same 'other worldliness' possessed by Beatrice and a serenity when posing for the pre raphaelite brotherhood of the victorian era. This sweater seems to capture both a medieval and victorian feel, combining the ethereal qualities of medieval costume with the corsetry of victorian undergarments suggested by the vertical 'whalebone' pattern and delicate lace and ribbon trim.

Beata Beatrix, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1864) is held at Tate Britain, London

Materials

Rowan Fine Milk Cotton 70% Cotton, 30% milk protein (150 metres (164 yards) per 50g ball)
6 (7, 7, 8, 9) balls shade 481 (barley sugar)
3 mm (US #3) needles
3 mm crochet hook
2.5 m (2.75 yds) of narrow contrasting ribbon

Measurements

Garment shown in photographs is to fit size 32-34 inches (81-86 cm)

To fit size	32-34	36-38	40-42	44-46	48-50	inches
	81-86	91-96	102-107	112-117	122-127	cm
Actual size	38	42	46	50	54	inches
	96	107	117	127	137	cm
Finished length	16.5	18.5	21.5	22.5	23.5	inches
	42	47	54.5	57	60	cm
Sleeve length	9.5	9.5	9.5	10	10	inches
	24	24	24	25.5	25.5	cm

Tension

26 sts & 42 rows = 10 cm (4 inches) using 3 mm (US #3) needles over garter stitch (every row knit).

Abbreviations

st st - stocking stitch
st(s) - stitch(es)
CO - cast on
BO - bind off
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
K - knit
P - purl
YO - yarn over (yarn forward)
Sl1 - slip one stitch (purlwise)
K2tog - knit two sts together
K3tog - knit three sts together
P3tog - purl three sts together
SSK - slip two sts knitwise, knit together
psso - pass slip stitch over

Crochet abbreviations

(US crochet terms are shown in brackets, in red)

ss - slip stitch
ch - chain
dc (sc) - double crochet (single crochet)

Pattern notes

The main part of the garment is knitted in one piece - starting at the back hem, increasing and then decreasing for the sleeves and ending with the front hem. The edging is worked separately and then sewn on. The garment is knitted in garter stitch (every row knit) with 7 st wide pattern bands worked vertically up the piece (described below as Whalebone Pattern). This pattern is also incorporated into the sleeves.

Whalebone Pattern

Row 1 (RS): K1, YO, K1, Sl1, K2tog, psso, K1, YO, K1.
Row 2: K.

Pattern

Using 3 mm (US #3) needles CO 125 (139, 153, 167, 181) sts.

Work set up row as follows:
(RS): K28 (35,42, 49, 56), * K1, YO, K1, Sl1, K2tog, psso, K1, YO, K1 ** K24, rep from * to ** K24, rep from * to **, K28 (35,42, 49, 56).
Next row: Knit.

Repeat these two rows until work measures 19 (20, 21.5, 23, 25.5) cm (7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 9.5, 10 inches) or desired length, ending with a WS row.

Sleeve and neck shaping

PLEASE READ ALL SLEEVE SHAPING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMMENCING

CO 2 sts at beg of next 30 rows (185, 199, 213, 227, 241 sts), then CO 8 (8, 8, 6, 6) sts at beg of foll 6 (6, 6, 8, 8) rows (233, 247, 261, 275, 289 sts) AND AT SAME TIME as you increase, keep pattern as set and incorporate Whalebone pattern into sleeve as folls:

from cuff to cuff: K20, patt 7, K20, patt 7, K28 (35, 42, 49, 56), patt 7, K24, patt 7, K24, patt 7, K28 (35, 42, 49, 56), patt 7, K20, patt 7, K20.

Neck shaping

Next row: Patt 91 (98, 105, 112, 119) sts, turn, leave rem sts on holder. Continue on these sts for 30.5 (30.5, 35.5, 38, 40.5) cm (12, 12, 14, 15, 16) inches, ending with a RS row. Leave on spare needle or waste yarn. Return rem sts to needle, BO next 51 sts (back neck), pattern for 30.5 (30.5, 35.5, 38, 40.5) cm (12, 12, 14, 15, 16) inches on rem 91 (98, 105, 112, 119) sts, ending with a WS row. At the end of this row, turn work and CO 51 sts for front neck, turn again, and patt across rem 91 (98, 105, 112, 119) sts on spare needle (233, 247, 261, 275, 289 sts).

Sleeve shaping

BO 8 (8, 8, 6, 6) sts at beg of next 6 (6, 6, 8, 8) rows, then BO 2 sts at beg of foll 30 rows (125, (139, 153, 167, 181) sts). Work without shaping until front measures same as back to cast on edge. BO all sts.

Making up

Sew side and sleeve seams.

Buttercup edging

Using 3 mm (US #3) needles, CO 14 sts.
Next row: Purl.

Row 1 (RS): * Sl1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, * yo, k1, yo, (k1, yo, k1) in next st, (yo, k1) twice, (yo) twice, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: K3, p1, k1, p9, k1, p5, k1.
Row 3: Sl1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, (yo, k3) 3 times, yo, [k1, (yo) twice] twice, k2tog, k1.
Row 4: K3, p1, k2, p1, k1, p5, p3tog, (p5, k1) twice.
Row 5: Sl1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1) twice, [(yo) twice, k2tog] 3 times, k1.
Row 6: K3, p1, (k2, p1) twice, k1, (p2tog, p1) three times, p2tog, k1, p5, k1.
Row 7: Sl1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, yo, k3tog, k1, k3tog, yo, k11.
Row 8: BO 7, k4, p3tog, k2, p5, k1.

Rep rows 1 to 8 until edging is long enough to go around bottom edge of garment. Work another piece for each of sleeve ends. Sew on and thread ribbon through as shown on photographs.

Neck edging

Row 1: Using 3 mm crochet hook and starting at Back right neck, work a row of dc (sc) around neck.
Row 2: * 1 dc (sc), 3 ch, 1 ss into base ch, 1 dc (sc), miss 1 dc (sc), rep from * around neck. Fasten off.

Darn in all ends.

This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold.
Original design Copyright © Jennie Atkinson 2009    Multi-sized pattern Copyright © knitonthenet 2009