Children of Gaza Sweater

The Children of Gaza Sweater follows the socks I released last year, and it is my first ever free sweater pattern. I made it free because this project is not about selling a pattern. It’s about solidarity with the Palestinian people and about the children whose lives have been lost or torn apart by a conflict they never asked for. I have felt helpless watching it unfold, but I have also learned that helplessness doesn’t mean we do nothing.

This year, I am running a full marathon to raise money for charities that work directly with children affected by conflict. If this pattern resonates with you, I would love your support through my fundraiser, or through a donation to any charity close to your heart. Violence is never a solution, and the youngest should never be the ones who suffer most.

Inspired by traditional keffiyeh patterns, the sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down with stranded colourwork in the yoke. It’s DK weight, and only the main colour needs to be a full sweater quantity. For the contrast colours, I encourage you to dig into your leftovers and create gradients that are meaningful to you.

The pattern includes some long floats, so the Ladderback Jacquard method is recommended. It includes video tutorials for all the techniques as well as chart options for both lighter and darker main colours along with ladder placement suggestions. I hope you’ll knit it, wear it, and help spread the word!

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 96.5 (107.5, 114.5, 125.5, 134.5, 145.5, 154.5, 167.5, 176.5) cm

• 38½ (43, 45¾, 50¼, 53¾, 58¼, 61¾, 67, 70½)”

Designed to be worn with 15-20 cm / 6-8” positive ease around the chest.

Gauge

Stranded colourwork in the round, blocked.

Yardage

DK weight. Depending on the length of the sweater and shaping option, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 675 (745, 805, 870, 930, 1000, 1075, 1135, 1205) m

• 740 (815, 880, 950, 1020, 1095, 1175, 1245, 1320) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 665 (735, 785, 850, 905, 970, 1040, 1100, 1165) m

• 725 (800, 855, 925, 990, 1060, 1135, 1200, 1275) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarns used in sample (size 2) are 7 balls of Willow & Lark Poetry (60% Merino wool, 10% Camel, 30% Acrylic; 114 m 125 yds / 50 g) in Clotted Cream colourway as main colour and various fingering weight leftover yarns held double as contrast colour.

Needles

• 3.75 mm (US 5) or needle size required to obtain gauge. These should be circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long.

Notions

Stitch markers, locking stitch markers and/or bobby pins if using Japanese short rows, row counter, stitch holder, tapestry needle, measuring tape.

Techniques

Knitting in the round, short rows, stranded knitting, lifted increases, Ladderback Jacquard.

Notes

The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down.