For many years, the American designer BabyCocktails @theacolman has combined her talent for creating knitting patterns full of twists and textures with her love of gourmet cocktails!
We fell in love with her latest ‘Pina Colada’ pattern knitted in Gilliatt, and Céline has worked on a superb version in Pénélope and Bérénice. To enable French-speaking knitters to knit this beautiful pattern with confidence, we’ve worked on a French translation which we’re delighted to be able to offer you today on our website!
CONSTRUCTION
The ‘Pina Colada’ jumper is knitted from the bottom up: the main cable begins at the 2/2 rib hem, then the front and back are knitted following the panels of cables and honeycomb stitch. The lower part of the body is narrower than the bust, with increases at the sides. The work is first done in the round, then, starting at the armholes, the body is divided between the front and back and the top of the yoke is knitted flat.
The shoulders are then seamed together with a mattress stitch and stitches are picked up at the neckline and armholes to knit the collar and sleeves in the round. The sleeves feature the honeycomb stitch pattern on the top and are in reverse stockinette on the bottom, making them easy to adjust in width.
The pattern includes lots of tips on how to personalise the jumper to your own preferences, including working from the bottom of the body to the armhole without shaping the sides to obtain a boxy silhouette or create a custom fit, or adjusting the length or width of the body and sleeves.
TECHNIQUES USED AND SKILL LEVEL
This pattern is at an advanced skill level and will require you to know how to cast-on and bind-off stitches, increase and decrease, knit in the round and pick up stitches, knit cables, follow a chart or written instructions for cables and honeycomb stitch. The motifs are present all over the body of the jumper and require attention, even if they are simpler to knit than they appear: you can try knitting the honeycomb stitch without a cable needle and gain in speed of execution.
The directions for this pattern are very detailed and include charts for the motifs and their written transcription line by line.
HOW TO PICK YOUR SIZE
The ‘Pina Colada’ sweater is available in 8 sizes corresponding to the following final measurements:
Body circumference at bust: 38.75(41.5,45.25,49.75,53.5)(59.5,64.5,68.5)” / 98.5 (105.5, 115, 126.25, 136) (151.25, 163.75, 174) cm
Body circumference at hem: 34.75(37.5,41.25,43.75,47.5)(53.5,58.5,62.5)” / 88.25(95.25,104.75,111.25,120.75)(136,148.5,158.75) cm
Body length to armhole: 11(12,12,13,14)(14,15,15)” / 28(30.5,30.5,33,35.5)(35.5,38,38) cm
Armhole depth: 7.5(8,8.5,9,9)(9.5,10,10)”/ 19 (20.25, 21.5, 22.75, 22.75) (24.25, 25.5, 25.5) cm
Upper Sleeve circumference: 14.25(15.25,15.75,17.25,17)(18,19,19)”/ 36.25 (38.75, 40, 43.75, 43.25) (45.75, 48.25, 48.25) cm
Cuff circumference: 10.75(10.75,10.75,10.75,11.25)(11.25,11.25,11.25)” / 27.25 (27.25, 27.25, 27.25, 28.5) (28.5, 28.5, 28.5) cm
Sleeve length, including cuff: 19(20,20,20,21)(21,21,21)” / 48.25 (50.75, 50.75, 50.75, 53.25) (53.25, 53.25, 53.25) cm
Our sample was knitted in size 115 cm (45.25″) in Pénélope and Bérénice in colourway “crème” held together, with a comfortable positive ease of 25 cm (9.75”) at the chest to take advantage of the drape and suppleness of these two yarns worked together. The lower part of the body has been lengthened by 5 cm (2″), for a more classic length, and the sleeves have been made following the instructions for the smallest size.
Thea’s version has been made in Gilliatt according to the pattern’s instructions, and is shown in these pictures with a tighter positive ease at the chest of 7.5 cm (3″) at the bust. This version highlights the pattern’s cropped cut, which gives it a modern look and makes it easy to wear with high-waisted trousers or skirts, or even with a dress to emphasise the waist. The close-fitting cut is counterbalanced here by the comfortable width of the sleeves for a modern silhouette.
YARN CHOICE
This pattern can be knitted in a classic, soft version in Gilliatt (100% French mérinos d’Arles and Portuguese black merino woolen spun; 270 yards (250 m) / approx 100 g) or by combining a strand of Pénélope (90 % organic Merinos d’Arles (France) / 10 % mulberry silk (China) / 145 yds (133 m) / 50 g) with a strand of Bérénice (55% Super Kid Mohair labelled RMS,Responsible Mohair Standards (South Africa), 25 % mulberry silk (China), 230 yds (210 m) / 25 g) for a softer, more sophisticated version.
With its round structure and the elasticity and lightness of Arles merino, Gilliatt will bring out the cables in particular, creating a warm, slightly rustic jumper with great allure. The subtly heathered colours in the Gilliatt palette add depth to the pattern without obscuring it, and you can indulge yourself by choosing your favourite colour from the 47 available!
For a version in Gilliatt (with one thread) knitted without modification, you’ll need 5 (5, 5, 6, 6) (7, 7, 7) balls, or approximately 1050 (1145, 1235, 1370, 1465) (1555, 1645, 1740) m / 1150(1250,1350,1500,1600)(1700,1800,1900)yds of worsted yarn. Thea has chosen the natural colour ‘poivre blanc’ for her sample.
The Pénélope/Bérénice combination is a pleasure to knit and wear, with the light halo of the mohair, the softness of the materials, the satin sheen and the subtle drape. This choice of yarns will allow you to create a jumper that is luxurious and spectacular, yet very cosy. To keep the motif clearly distinguishable, we advise you to choose tone-on-tone or very lightly shaded combinations.
For an version without modification made with two yarns knitted together (Pénélope + Bérénice), you will need 9 (10, 11, 12, 12) (13, 14, 15) balls of De Rerum Natura Pénélope held together with 5 (5, 6, 6, 7) (7, 8, 8) balls of De Rerum Natura Bérénice.
Gauges:
16 sts and 28 rows/rounds = 10 x 10 cm [4” x 4”] in reverse stockinette, after blocking.
24 sts and 28 rows/rounds = 10 x 10 cm [4” x 4”] in honeycomb, after blocking.
The ‘Pina Colada’ pattern from BabyCocktails is available in English and French here:
About the designer:
After leaving a career in advertising to raise her daughters, Thea found she loved imagining her own knits more than she enjoyed following a pattern. Combining knitting design with a longtime interest in cocktails made for the perfect second career, and she hasn’t looked back!
Her taste leans towards classic shapes, farm yarns, and small businesses and likes to play motifs that look more difficult than they actually are, in her work. She’s known for her cables and texture, and her garment patterns are known for the attention to individual fit, including descriptive notes in the instructions, so knitters can adapt their knits as they like.
Ravelry: BabyCocktails
Instagram: @theacolman
Thea has published several patterns in our yarn Gilliatt which you can discover on her website and on Ravelry:
Upper West sweater knitted in Gilliatt “caramel”
Upper West hat knitted in Gilliatt “quartz”
Violet Aster sweater knitted in Gilliatt “aster”
Mamie Taylor hat knitted in Gilliatt “plume”
Photo credits of the Gilliatt “poivre blanc” sample and other designs: Thea Colman