Love on the Brain is a versatile wardrobe staple named after Rihanna’s song about addictive love. This sweater is knitted in one piece from the top down, and features dropped shoulders, a relaxed fit, and doubled-over ribbing at the cuffs and neckline for a polished finish. The design is easily customisable, allowing you to adjust the hem length or modify the cuffs to suit your style. First, the back piece is knitted flat to the armholes, after which stitches are picked up from the shoulders one at a time for the front pieces. The neckline is shaped with increases. Once the front and back pieces are long enough, they are joined, and the body is worked in the round down to the hem. The sleeves are knitted in the round and finished with doubled-over ribbing.

Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9)

Recommended ease
20–30 cm / 8–11” of positive ease.
Shown with 26 cm / 10.25” of positive ease.

Finished measurements
Bust circumference: 78 (93, 112, 126, 142) (158, 173, 190, 204) cm / 31 (37, 44, 50, 56) (62, 68, 75, 80)“.
Length from shoulder to hem: 50–65 cm / 20–25”— this can be altered.
Sleeve circumference: 36 (38, 38, 40, 42) (46, 48, 50, 50) cm / 14 (15, 15, 16.5, 16.5) (18, 19, 20, 20)”.

Yarn
Approx. 850 (925, 1000, 1125, 1240) (1400, 1500, 1700, 1800) m / 930 (1010, 1100, 1230, 1350) (1530, 1640, 1860, 2000) yds of fingering-weight yarn and approx. 850 (925, 1000, 1125, 1240) (1400, 1500, 1700, 1800) m / 930 (1010, 1100, 1230, 1350) (1530, 1640, 1860, 2000) yds of fingering-weight mohair or suri alpaca yarn holding two strands of yarn together OR approx. 850 (925, 1000, 1125, 1240) (1400, 1500, 1700, 1800) m / 930 (1010, 1100, 1230, 1350) (1530, 1640, 1860, 2000) yds of DK-weight yarn.

Sample knitted with: 6 (6, 7, 8, 8) (9, 10, 11, 12) balls of Lang Yarns Merino 150 (150 m / 160 yds / 50 g, 100% merino), photographed in colourway 197.0107 and 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) (14, 15, 16, 18) balls of Lang Yarns Suri Alpaca (100 m / 110 yds / 25 g, 100% alpaca) photographed in colourway 1082.0046.

Needles
3 mm / US 2.5 40 cm / 16” circular needles or dpns and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles and 5 mm / US 8 40 cm / 16” and 60 cm / 24” or 80 cm / 32” circular needles.

Other materials
Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Gauge
18 sts × 23 rows = 10 × 10 cm / 4 × 4” in stockinette stitch with 5 mm / US 8 needles (after blocking).