Pasaka Sweater

The construction is a simple top-down round yoke with no complicated shaping, allowing the focus to remain on the stranded colourwork. Because the motifs are quite intricate, using high-contrast colours is recommended to ensure the design stands out clearly.

To manage some of the longer floats and maintain even tension, the Ladderback Jacquard method is suggested. The pattern includes charts with suggested ladder placements to help with this technique.

For a professional finish, a tutorial and link for a stretchy bind-off specifically for 2x2 ribbing are also included.

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 85.5 (94.5, 104.5, 115.5, 125.5, 134.5, 145.5, 155.5, 165.5) cm

• 34¼ (37¾, 41¾, 46¼, 50¼, 53¾, 58¼, 62¼, 66¼)”

Designed to be worn with 5-10 cm / 2-4” positive ease around the chest.

Gauge

Stranded colourwork in the round, blocked

Yardage

Light fingering/heavy lace weight. Depending on the length of the sweater and shaping option, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC):

• 995 (1080, 1185, 1290, 1400, 1480, 1595, 1700, 1795) m

• 1090 (1180, 1295, 1410, 1530, 1620, 1745, 1860, 1965) yds

Contrast colour (CC):

• 265 (295, 315, 345, 360, 400, 425, 470, 490) m

• 290 (320, 345, 375, 395, 440, 460, 510, 535) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarns used in sample (size 2) are 9 cones of ITO Kosho (90% wool, 10% cashmere; 175 m [191 yds] / 25 g): 7 cones of #0905 Blackberry as main colour and 2 cones of #0917 Top Angora as contrast colour.

Needles

• 2.75 mm (US 2) 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 knit in the round, starting with a cast-on at the neckline base. Increases are worked, followed by short rows to raise the back of the neck. Next, the contrast color is added, and the colorwork chart is followed up to the sleeve and body separation. The body and sleeves are then worked separately in the round. The body can be shaped or left straight, and the sleeves are decreased to the wrist. Both the body and sleeve lengths can be easily adjusted. The hem and cuffs are finished with a 2x2 rib and a stretchy bind-off. Finally, stitches are picked up around the neckline base to knit the neckband.