Thuraya Sweater

Lately, I've been feeling a bit experimental, and the Thuraya sweater is my second attempt at making knitting with mohair more exciting than just holding it with other yarns. I've been trying out new ways to combine them and really opening up the design possibilities. I played around with some slip stitch patterns and ended up creating this cozy fall sweater.

The sweater itself has a classic crewneck and is worked seamlessly from the top-down. I used a European shoulder and a drop-shoulder construction, with the sleeves worked at the same time as the yoke. One of my favorite things about this design is that you can customize the length of the different stitch pattern sections. So, if you want a simpler sweater, just do more of the stockinette. Or maybe you're really loving the two-color thorn stitch – you can totally highlight that too! The construction alone is sure to keep you engaged.

It's written for DK-weight and lace-weight yarn pairs, and if mohair isn't your thing, you can easily swap it out for another lace-weight option and create a sweater that's uniquely yours.

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

Finished chest circumference:

• 104.5 (115.5, 124.5, 135.5, 144.5, 155.5, 164.5, 175.5, 184.5) cm

• 41¾ (46¼, 49¾, 54¼, 57¾, 62¼, 65¾, 70¼, 73¾)”

Designed to be worn with 25-30 cm / 10-12” positive ease around the chest.

Gauge

Using Opaque yarn in stockinette on larger needles, worked flat and in the round, blocked.

Yardage

DK weight yarn (as Opaque) and a strand of lace-weight mohair (as Sheer). Depending on the length of the sweater, allow approximately:

Opaque yarn:

• 660 (705, 760, 825, 870, 930, 985, 1045, 1095) m

• 720 (775, 830, 900, 955, 1015, 1075, 1145, 1195) yds

Sheer yarn:

• 440 (475, 515, 550, 585, 630, 670, 715, 750) m

• 480 (520, 560, 605, 640, 690, 735, 785, 825) yds

Yarn in Sample

Yarn used in the sample (size 2) is 4 skeins of Moondrake DraKe (85% Fine Superwash Merino, 15% Mulberry silk; 225 m [246 yds] / 100 g) in colourway Aubergine as the Opaque Yarn and 2 skeins of Moondrake Kinu Momo (60% Kid Mohair, 40% Mulberry silk; 300 m [330 yds] / 25 g) in colourway Timeless as the Sheer yarn.

Needles

• 4.00 mm (US 6) or needle size that gets the gauge for Opaque yarn; circulars with sharp tips, 60-100 cm / 24-40″ long and (optional) DPNs for small circumference knitting
• 3.25 mm (US 3) or needle size 2-3 sizes smaller than gauge needle size; 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.

Techniques

Lifted increases, slip and tuck stitch knitting, Backwards loop cast-on, knitting in the round, Tubular bind-off.

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, 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.