Siddal is a loosely-fitting sweater with a gathered yoke neckline, delicate lace details and fluted sleeves – relaxing to knit and easy to wear. The sweater is knitted in worsted-weight yarn for a quick and gratifying knit. The perfect sweater for wearing with a soft floaty skirt for a romantic look or pairing with comfy shorts or trousers for a practical, comfy and wool-based alternative to a fleece or sweatshirt!

Siddal is inspired by one of the most iconic figures of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, Lizzie Siddal. An accomplished artist and poet herself, she was also famously the favoured muse of the movement. It is her face which appears in some of the most important Pre-Raphaelite, from Millais’ Ophelia to Rossetti’s Beata Beatrix. Many paintings show Lizzie in medieval-style dresses, with deep V-necks, body-skimming bodices and softly flowing skirts, with bell­shaped sleeves falling dramatically to her narrow wrists. When designing the Siddal sweater, I tried to reference this style in a contemporary way, creating a soft unstructured silhouette with slightly fluted sleeves.

Siddal is worked from the bottom up with two body lengths available. The reversed 3×1 rib pattern transitions from a dainty lace border which repeats on the delightful bell-shaped sleeves. Yoke decreases are worked into the rib, drawing the eye upwards. The neckline is finished with a garter stitch edging in which a cord is threaded for fastening at the neck.

Siddal is knitted in Susan Crawford Bluem Worsted, a 100% Bluefaced Leicester Wool yarn which takes colour beautifully and seems almost to glow from within. With its soft handle and lustrous finish, it has the perfect amount of drape for this soft, feminine design. Bluem Worsted is hand dyed at our Lake District studio in a beautiful range of softly muted shades.

Charlie is shown wearing Siddal in the hand dyed shade of Serge de Nimes, a washed denim shade and Susan is shown wearing Siddal in the hand dyed shade of Morel, a warm shade of mushroom.

The pattern is available in nine adult sizes to fit from 71–157cm (28–62in) chest, with the choice of two body lengths, to ensure the perfect fit. The pattern includes written instructions, easy-to-follow charts and a helpful schematic.

Samples shown in the 3rd size, Long length to fit chest 92–97cm (36–38in) in shade Serge de Nimes worn by Charlie with 12½cm (5in) positive ease and in the 4th size, Short length to fit chest 102–107cm (40–42in) in shade Morel worn by Susan with 10cm (4in) of positive ease. Siddal is designed to be worn with between zero and 10–20cm (4–8in) of positive ease depending on the desired fit.

The pattern includes instructions for nine sizes to fit chest measurements between 71cm (28in) and 157cm (62in) and contains both clear written pattern directions, together with charted lace instructions.

Yarn kits are available from Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Bluem Worsted, 100% Bluefaced Leicester (165m / 180yds per 100g skein)
5 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 9) skeins, shade Serge de Nimes or Morel

Suggested needles
Small needles: 4 mm (US 6) circular needle (80-100 cm / 30-40 in),
4 mm (US 6) circular needle (30-40 cm / 12-16 in)
Large needles: 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle (80-100 cm / 30-40 in)
4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle (30-40 cm / 12-16 in)

Gauge
21 sts and 24 rounds = 10 cm / 4 in over 3x1 rib pattern. We obtained this gauge using 4.5 mm needles.

Notions
Waste yarn, tapestry needle, 150 cm / 60 in decorative cord.

Techniques
Knitting in the round
Standard decreases
Following a chart