Pretty sure I can drag out the Winter knits until at least March, right? It’s definitely still chilly enough, anyway. Luckily so, as I’ve just released a new sweater knitting pattern – the Hey Now Sweater, named so because A) I’m unimaginative with pattern names these days, and B) it seemed appropriate for a bright fun sweater. Kid’s TV presenter but in a good way, with a hint of the Icelandic sweater about it too.
Speaking of Iceland, I cast on in a hurry as soon as the yarn arrived, thinking I’d knit up a sweater to wear in Iceland in December. How perfect would it have looked against a dramatic Icelandic waterfall, or in a cosy coffee shop in Reykjavik? Alas, said Iceland trip did not happen, as my boyfriend injured his back days beforehand and I didn’t fancy a solo trip with 4 hours daylight. Hopefully this year. So the sweater was photographed in the dining room instead.
EDIT: As of 29/06/20, this pattern is available to download directly via this blog post. Scroll down to purchase.
Finishing an oversized sweater in 10 days might have been ambitious, but in Aran weight I think I could’ve just about managed it! The yarn is Something To Knit With Aran from Arnall-Culliford Knitwear, which I love for two reasons: it’s THE softest, loveliest blend of 70% highland wool and 30% superfine alpaca, and it’s produced by my long time friend in the knitting world, Jen. Jen and I first worked together on The Knitter Magazine years ago, followed by a fun Fyberspates shoot (click through for a giggle / patterns that I still love). That shoot was my first ever modelling job, so things really have come full circle! Kits for the Hey Now Sweater are now available on Jen’s website, where you can choose to knit a stranded sweater in the same colour combination as my sample, the fabulously bright mustard combination that Jen used, or any other combination of your choice, at 25% off the price of buying the skeins individually. A fairisle sweater was one of the classic handknitted items I wanted to add to my wardrobe, and I’m already thinking of other colour combinations I’d like to use. a classic Aran cable is also on my list, but I think that one can wait until next Winter…
The details: the #HeyNowSweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, with stranded colourwork worked neatly around raglan shaping. The body is worked without shaping until the split hem, for which there is a photo tutorial included in the pattern. Loose sleeves are then worked from the top down, before another colourwork section gathers in to a deep ribbed cuff.
Yarn: Aran weight yarn in 5 shades. Shown here in Arnall-Culliford Knitwear Something to Knit With Aran (aran weight; 70% highland wool, 30% superfine alpaca; 82m per 50g skein). Sample shown in shades:
Main colour / MC: ‘Mist’ 13 (14: 15: 16: 17) 19: 20: 21: 22 skeins. 1012 (1100: 1207: 1269: 1368) 1483: 1580: 1690: 1785 metres / 1098 (1194: 1310: 1377: 1484) 1610: 1715: 1834: 1937 yards.
Contrast colour 1 / CC1: ‘Cornflower’ 1 skein in all sizes
Contrast colour 2 / CC2: ‘Sky’ 1 skein in all sizes
Contrast colour 3 / CC3: ‘Strawberry’ 1 skein in all sizes
Contrast colour 4 / CC4: ‘Pool’ 1 skein in all sizes
Kits available here.
The turtleneck could easily be made into a crew neck by working a shorter length of ribbing, which would mean your sweater requires 1 fewer skein of the main colour.
Needles and notions: 5mm needles (ideally a 40cm or 60cm circumference for working the collar and upper yoke, and an 80cm circumference for working the lower yoke). 5mm DPNs or a 100cm circular needle (for magic loop) for the sleeves. You will also need 4 stitch markers, with one marker different to the others to denote the beginning of round, plus two cable needles for holding stitches whilst working the split hem.
It is important to consider colour dominance with stranded knitting. For this pattern, the float of the contrast colour should always go under the main colour to ensure it is dominant over the background.
This pattern uses charts for the colourwork sections.
Gauge: 18 sts and 23 rounds per 4” / 10cm in plain stocking stitch and stranded colourwork on 5mm needle, blocked. 20 sts and 26 rounds per 4” / 10cm in 3×3 rib on 5mm needle, blocked.
Sizing: 1 (2: 3: 4: 5) (6: 7: 8: 9).
To fit bust measurement: 28-30 (32-34, 36-38, 40-42, 44-46) 48-50, 52-54, 56-58, 60-62 inches / 71-76 (81-86: 91-97: 102-107: 112-117) (122-127: 132-137: 142-147: 152-1570 cm.
Finished bust measurement: 42¼ (45¾: 49¾: 53¼: 57¾) (61¾: 65¼: 69¼: 73¾) inches / 107 (116½: 126½: 135½: 147) (157: 166: 176: 187½) cm
I LOVE seeing people knit my patterns – if you could tag @lilykatemakes and #HeyNowSweater on Instagram that would be great!
The Hey Now Sweater is #sizeinclusive to a bust of 62”(plus the intended positive ease).
Alternatively, download the pattern via Ravelry here.
Lily Kate x
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