(TEST IS FULL) TEST CALL: Ailis Sweater

TEST IS NOW FULL.

Deadline: 8-Mar-26

We're starting a test for #ailissweater - fingering weight pullover/cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down. Note that this is an intermediate difficulty pattern.

We're looking for testers of each size (each size will have a maximum of five testers) who can complete this project by the 8th of March, 2026.

It’s mostly first-come, first-served, but make sure your Ravelry projects are current so I can easily see your previous work when you register.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference (pullover): 

• 91 (100, 111, 120, 131, 140, 151, 160, 171) cm
• 36¼  (40, 44¼, 48, 52¼, 56, 60¼, 64, 68¼)”

For the cardigan, add 2.5 cm / 1” to the given pullover measurement.

Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.

To apply for testing, please fill out this form: https://go.zaneteknits.com/apply-to-test

Other details of the design:

Yarn: Fingering weight yarn. Depending on the length of the garment, allow approximately:

Main Colour (MC):

• 850 (930, 1035, 1115, 1215, 1305, 1425, 1520, 1625) m 
• 930 (1020, 1130, 1220, 1330, 1430, 1560, 1665, 1775) yds 

Contrast Colour (CC):

• 130 (140, 155, 170, 185, 195, 210, 225, 240) m 
• 140 (155, 170, 185, 200, 215, 230, 245, 260) yds 

This estimate is based on the cardigan option. It includes an extra 10% to cover swatching and differences in knitting style, yarn structure, or fiber content.

Yarn used in the sample (size 2, cardigan option) is 5 skeins of Townhouse Yarns Farm to Yarn 4ply (100% Irish Wool- Romney Lambswool and BFL; 350 m [383 yds] / 100 g): 3 skeins of Beyond the Pale as main colour (MC) and 1 skein of Cinnabon as the contrast colour (CC).

Difficulty: Intermediate. 

Gauge: 26 sts & 34 rows = 10 cm / 4” in Stockinette st and stranded colourwork in the round, blocked.

Suggested needles : 2.75 mm (US 2) or  needle size that gets the gauge circulars with sharp tips, 60-100 cm / 24-40″ long and (optional) DPNs for small circumference knitting

Notions: Stitch markers, locking markers, row counter, tape measure, stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle

For cardigan option: crochet hook (2 mm), sticky/wooly waste yarn for securing the steek, preferably lace-weight, 8-10 18-25 mm / ¾ -1” buttons, sewing needle and thread to attach the buttons. 

Techniques used: Lifted increases, stranded colourwork, Ladderback Jacquard, Backwards loop cast-on, knitting in the round, Icelandic bind-off. If working the cardigan option: steeking and yarnover buttonholes.

Construction notes: The sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down. It starts by casting on stitches for the back neckline and shaping the shoulders using lifted increases.  

Stitches are then picked up along the back shoulders to create the front shoulders, working each side separately with increases to shape the front neckline.  

Next, stitches for sleeves are picked up along the front shoulder edges, the front neckline stitches are cast on (with additional steek stitches for the cardigan option), and the yoke is worked in one piece down to the underarm. Increases are added along the sleeves and body during this section.  

The sleeves are separated, and the body is worked in one piece down to the desired length.  

The sleeves are worked separately in the round down to the cuffs.  

The neckband is added by picking up stitches along the neckline and working in the round to the desired height. 

For the cardigan option, button bands with yarnover buttonholes are added before securing and cutting the cardigan open.