Knitting • £10
How do you feel about being alone? For me, it’s a vital act of self-care. The luxury of having only my own needs to tend to is a rare thing these days, and I deeply appreciate being able to watch or listen to whatever I want, whether that’s blaring grunge or nothing but the birds.
Solitary is a cardigan inspired by the restorative power of alone time. With options to customise the length and shaping placement, it’s up to you how you wear it. Whether it’s loose and long with leggings or short and snug with swirling skirts, Solitary is here for you – and only you.
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Photos
Materials
Yarn Requirements
Sizing – body sizing, sleeve sizing
Construction
Stitches
Techniques
Accessibility & Inclusion
Photos
Materials
• approx. 931 yards (852 metres) to 2091+ yards (1912+) metres DK weight yarn
• 4mm needles (or size needed for gauge) suitable for working both flat and small circumferences in the round
• a third needle, the same size as above, for joining the front and back panels at the shoulder using a 3-needle bind off
• 2 stitch markers, which you can tell apart, for noting the beginning of the round and lace placement on sleeves
• tapestry needle, to weave in ends and work seams
• 2 x spare yarn, cable, stitch holder, or other tool for putting stitches on hold
• pins, locking stitch markers, or other notions for holding pieces together while seaming
• 5 buttons, 0.75″ / 18mm diameter
• optional: crochet hook, the same size as your needles, for working the neater neckband bind off (both the technique and the use of a crochet hook are optional)
• your preferred blocking equipment
Yarn Requirements
Solitary comes in 10 body sizes and 10 sleeve sizes with instructions to adjust the length of both the body and sleeves.
The preview document includes the schematic, all measurements, and full yardage breakdowns. It should be everything you need to work out which sizes will work for you, how much yarn you’ll need, and which needles to use.
You can view and download the preview document below:
Sizing
Solitary is both size inclusive and shape inclusive.
Solitary comes in 10 body sizes and 10 sleeve sizes. You can mix and match any body size with any sleeve size for a custom fit.
There are also instructions to adjust the body length, including changing how deep the v-neck is, and to adjust the sleeve length, which does not require adjusting the lace.
Body Sizing
Solitary’s body section comes in 10 sizes, 1-10.
Measurements are given as follows: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] (8, , 10).
Recommended body ease is 3-8″ / 7.5-20cm. Sample A (grey) is shown with 7.5″ / 19cm positive ease.
All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.
A: Bust / Waist (circumference)
33 (37.5, 42, 46.25) [50.5, 55, 59.5] (63.75, 68, 72.5)”
82.5 (94, 105, 115.5) [126.5, 137.5, 149] (159.5, 170, 181.5) cm
B: Back Width (flat)
15.75 (18, 20.25m 22.25) [24.5, 26.75, 29] (31, 33.25, 35.5)”
39.5 (45, 50.5, 55.5) [61.5, 67, 72.5] (77.5, 83, 89) cm
C: Front Panel Width (flat, each)
9.25 (10.25, 11.25, 12.5) [13.5, 14.75, 15.75] (16.75, 18, 19)”
23 (25.5, 28, 31.5) [34, 37, 39.5] (42, 45, 47.5) cm
D: Neck Opening (flat)
4.5 (4.5, 4.5, 4.5) [4.5, 6.5, 6.5] (8.75, 8.75, 8.75)”
11.5 (11.5, 11.5, 11.5) [11.5, 16.5, 16.5] (22, 22, 22) cm
E: Neck to Shoulder (flat)
6 (7, 8.25, 9.25) [10.25, 10.25, 11.5] (11.5, 12.5, 13.75)”
15 (17.5, 20.5, 23) [25.5, 25.5, 29] (29, 31.5, 34.5) cm
F: Total Length
26″ / 65cm for all sizes, with full instructions to customise in 2.75″ / 7cm increments.
Solitary’s sleeves come in 10 sizes, A-J.
Measurements are given as follows: A (B, C, D) [E, F, G] (H, I, J).
Recommended sleeve ease is 2-8″ / 5-20cm.
Sample A (grey) is shown with 2.25″ / 5.5cm bicep ease.
All measurements refer to the garment and are taken laid flat.
G: Bicep / Top (flat)
5.25 (6.25, 7.25, 8.5) [9.75, 10.5, 12.25] (13.75, 15.25, 16.25)”
13 (15.5, 18, 21.5) [24.5, 16.5, 30.5] (34.5, 38, 40.5) cm
H: Bicep / Top (circumference)
10.25 (12.25, 14.5, 17) [19.25, 21, 24.25] (27.25, 30.5, 32.25)”
25.5 (30.5, 36.5, 42.5) [48, 52.5, 60.5] (68, 76.5, 80.5) cm
I: Cuff (circumference)
7.75 (9.75, 9.75, 9.75) [12.00, 12.00, 12.00] (12.00, 14.25, 14.25)”
19.5 (24.5, 24.5, 24.5) [30.0, 30.0, 30.0] (30.0, 35.5, 35.5) cm
Sleeves are 17″ / 42.5cm long as written, with full instructions to customise as desired.
Construction
Solitary is a drop shoulder garment. The back is knit first, then the fronts; these are joined using a three needle bind off. After blocking the sides are seamed, which is what allows the sizing to be mix and match; you can choose to seam more to create a smaller armscye and accommodate a narrower sleeve, or less to create a deeper armscye and accommodate a wider sleeve. Sleeves are worked separately bottom up and seamed; the neckband / buttonband is picked up and knit.
You can watch a video explaining this construction method here:
Stitches
knit
purl
central double decrease
knit 2 together
knit 3 together
left lifted increase
purl 2 together
right lifted increase
slip slip knit
slip slip slip knit
yarn over
Techniques
knitting flat
knitting in the round
long tail cast on
picking up stitches
mattress stitch
binding off (standard)
3 needle bind off
Accessibility & Inclusion
As always, Solitary is available in an accessible format.
Solitary is also available via the Pay It Forward fund.
Want to use Pay What You Want Pricing? Use the box below to customise your price. Note that the price shown is the minimum.
This pattern has samples in the Sample Gallery!
