INTRODUCTION

Alectrona

by Arianna Frasca

The name "Alectrona" refers to the Greek goddess, the goddess of the morning, or "waking from slumber". In light of this inspiration, this blouse is structured yet delicate, a representation of beauty and strength at once.

Balloon sleeves and dainty lace make this blouse a striking addition to any wardrobe. It is worked top-down and features lace detail on the balloon sleeves and ribbed waist. The fit is relaxed, comfortable, and the ribbing on the waist will create a beautifully shaped blouse.

I chose Tussock, with its brushed bouclé (fuzzy/fluffy) texture, because I wanted a halo of soft and cozy warmth. With its feather-light fiber, it's like wearing a fluffy cloud. This fingering weight yarn, made of 60% superfine kid mohair and 40% silk, is a beautiful blend for absorbing color and reflecting tones.

model + photos: Arianna Frasca

SIZE

 XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X]
shown in size S with 1 inch/2.5 cm of positive ease in the bust and 0 inch/0 cm of ease at the ribbed waist.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest/Bust:  30.25[33, 37.25, 42.75, 46.25, 49.75, 53.25, 58.75, 61.25] inches / 77[84, 94.5, 108.5, 117.5, 126.5, 135.5, 149, 155.5] cm
Length:  19.25[20, 21, 22.25, 23, 24, 24.75, 25.75, 26.25 inches / 49] cm

The garment is meant to be worn with 1-2 inches/2.5-5 cm of positive ease at the bust and 0-2 inches / 0-5 cm of negative ease at the ribbed waist.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Purl Soho Tussock [60% super fine kid mohair, 40% silk; 328 yds/300 m per 0.88 ounce/25 g skein] color: Golden Lichen; 3[3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US 8/5mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm length
US 4/3.5mm circular needle, 16-inch/40-cm length
Set of US 4/3.5mm needles for working small circumference in the round

Notions
7 stitch markers
stitch holders or waste yarn
yarn needle

GAUGE

18 sts/26 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch with larger needles
14-st Lace Panel = 3.75 inches / 9.5 cm wide with larger needles

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Lace Pattern (worked over 14 sts)
Round 1: K4, yo, SSK, yo, k2tog, yo, (k2tog) twice, yo, k2.
Rounds 2, 4 & 6: Knit.
Round 3: K1, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, SSK, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog.
Round 5: K2, yo, (SSK) twice, yo, SSK, yo, k2tog, yo, k4.
Round 7: SSK, yo, k1, yo, SSK, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, SSK, yo, k1.
Round 8: Knit.
Rep Rounds 1-8 for patt.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

YOKE
Using smaller circ and long-tail cast-on method, cast on 52[64, 76, 88, 100, 112, 124, 136, 148] sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts. Pm for beg of rnd.

Knit 1 round.

Change to larger circ.

Round 1: K 14[16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30] , pm, k 12[16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44] , pm, k 14[16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30] , pm, k 12[16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44] .
Round 2: *Sl m, LLI, k to marker, RLI; rep from * 3 more times. 60[72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144, 156] sts.
Round 3: Knit.

Set-up round: *Sl m, LLI, k 16[18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32] , RLI, sl m, LLI, k 0[2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16] , pm, work Round 1 of Lace Pattern across next 14 sts, pm, k 0[2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16] , RLI; rep from * once more. 68[80, 92, 104, 116, 128, 140, 152, 164] sts.
Next round: *(Sl m, k to m) twice, sl m, work Round 2 of Lace Pattern, sl m, k to m; rep from * once more.

Raglan inc round: *Sl m, LLI, k to m, RLI, sl m, LLI, k to m, sl m, work next round of Lace Pattern, sl m, k to m, RLI; rep from * once more. 8 sts increased.
Next rnd: *(Sl m, k to m) twice, sl m, work next round of Lace Pattern, sl m, k to m; rep from * once more.
Rep last 2 rounds 25[26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33] more times. 276[296, 316, 336, 356, 376, 396, 416, 436] sts.

Sizes 1X-3X Only:
Body inc round: *Sl m, LLI, k to m, RLI, sl m, k to m, sl m, work next round of Lace Pattern, sl m, k to m; rep from * once more. 4 sts increased.
Rep last rnd once more. -[-, -, -, 364, 384, 404, -, -] sts.

Sizes M-5X Only:
Rep Body inc round  -[-, 1, 4, 2, 2, 2, 7, 6] time(s) more.

All Sizes continue here
 276[296, 320, 352, 372, 392, 412, 444, 460] sts.

Separate Body and Sleeves:
Next round: *K 68[74, 82, 94, 100, 106, 112, 124, 128] , place next 70[74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102] sts on holder (with markers), cast on 0[0, 2, 2, 4, 6, 8, 8, 10] sts for underarm (using the backward loop method); rep from * once more.
 136[148, 168, 192, 208, 224, 240, 264, 276] sts.

BODY
Cont to work over these sts in St st in the round, removing all markers except at beg of round, for 3 inches/7.5 cm, or until Body measures 6 inches / 15 cm shorter than total desired length.

Change to smaller circ.

Rib round: (K2, p2) around.
Rep Rib round until ribbing measures 6 inches / 15 cm.
BO in rib patt.

SLEEVES
Using larger 16-inch/40-cm circ, starting at center of underarm, pick up and knit 0[0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5] sts, patt across 70[74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102] sts held for sleeve, pick up and knit 0[0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5] sts to center of underarm. Join to work in the round and pm for beg of round. 70[74, 80, 84, 90, 96, 102, 106, 112] sts.

Rounds 1-3: Sl m, k to m, sl m, work next round of Lace Pattern across next 14 sts, sl m, k to end.
Round 4: (RLI, k1) 28[30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49] times, sl m, work next round of Lace Pattern, sl m, (RLI, k1) 28[30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49] times. 126[134, 146, 154, 166, 178, 190, 198, 210] sts.

Work even in St st and Lace Pattern as est for 40[40, 40, 34, 30, 30, 30, 22, 22] rounds, or until Sleeve measures approx. 8.5 inches / 21.5 cm shorter than total desired length.

Cuff
Note: Change to needles for working small circumference in the round when/if necessary.

Round 1: (K2tog) 28[30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49] times, sl m, work Lace Pattern across next 14 sts, sl m, (k2tog) 28[30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 44, 46, 49] times. 70[74, 80, 84, 90, 96, 102, 106, 112] sts.
Rounds 2-3: K to m, sl m, work Lace Pattern across next 14 sts, sl m, k to end.
Round 4: (K2tog) around. 35[37, 40, 42, 45, 48, 51, 53, 56] sts.
Round 5: (RLI) 0[1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0] time, k2tog 1[0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0] time, k to end. 36[36, 40, 44, 44, 48, 52, 52, 56] sts.

Change to smaller needles.
Rib round: (K2, p2) around.
Rep Rib round until ribbing measures 8 inches / 20.5 cm.
BO in rib patt.

Repeat for second sleeve.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and block to measurements.

A – Back neck width: 3[3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.25, 5.75, 6.25, 6.75] inches / 7.5[9, 10, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5, 16, 17] cm
B – Yoke depth: 10.25[11, 12, 13.25, 14, 15, 15.75, 16.75, 17.25] inches / 26[28, 30.5, 33.5, 35.5, 38, 40, 42.5, 44] cm
C – Bust circumference: 30.25[33, 37.25, 42.75, 46.25, 49.75, 53.25, 58.75, 61.25] inches / 77[84, 94.5, 108.5, 117.5, 126.5, 135.5, 149, 155.5] cm
D – Body length: 9 inches / 15 cm
E – Upper arm circumference (before balloon sleeve): 16.25[17, 18.5, 19.25, 20.75, 22, 23.25, 24.25, 25.5] inches / 41.5[43, 47, 49, 52.5, 56, 59, 61.5, 65] cm
F – Sleeve length:  15[15, 15, 14.25, 13.5, 13.5, 13.5, 12.25, 12.25] inches / 38[38, 38, 36, 34.5, 34.5, 34.5, 31, 31] cm

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Arianna is an Italian living in the US, with a passion for creativity and decorations. Knitting brings together her love for DIY and her work as an architect.

As a mom of three girls, she doesn't have much spare time for knitting, so she prefers to design simple but exciting patterns. Her mission has always been to simplify life and create something you truly love.

Find her on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2020 Arianna Frasca.