Inspiration
When you are a history and art lover like me, you will probably recognize the source for the design of these yoke collars. They are inspired by those magnificent 17th century portraits like the Dutch ones by Frans Hals and Rembrandt. Back then people who could afford it, men and women alike, would wear a meter’s long and starched millstone collar. In Holland they were mostly white and starched with wheat flour.

History Sweater Tool Kit
Compile your own History sweater and choose the chart you like. For this basic top down yoke sweater I provided three options to embellish the yoke. Chart 1 pictures the contours of one single collar. Chart 2 extends the collar to a second layer all the way to the point of dividing body and sleeves. The third option gives the optical effect of the millstone collar complete with shadow effect. This yoke uses 3 colors per round where the ‘folds’ begin.
I knitted all three versions in different yarn, varying in weight, color and type. When turning from DK to Sport Weight I simply up scaled my size to one size larger maintaining the circumferences I need. You will find it easy to play with the width of the sweater as the yoke consists of wedges in a multiple of 20 (Millstone Collar 1 and 3) and 21 (Millstone Collar 2) stitches. You will also find directions for the making of three sleeves variations: pleated short, pleated long and regular tapered long sleeves. I hope you will have fun with my History Sweater ‘tool kit’.

Specifics
Sizes (XS, S, M, L) - XL, XXL, 3XL, 4XL
Bust circumference (74, 88, 99, 112) – 124, 137, 149, 162 cm / (29, 35, 39, 44) – 49, 54, 59, 64 in. Neck circumference (40, 46.5, 53, 55) – 58, 60, 63, 65 cm / (16, 18, 21, 22) – 23, 24, 25, 26 in. Sleeves circumference upper arm (26, 28, 33, 38) – 4.5, 45, 49.5, 52 cm / (10, 11, 13, 15) – 16, 18, 19, 20 in. Sleeves circumference wrist (option Long Sleeves) (22, 23, 26, 28) – 29, 30, 31.5, 33 cm/(8.6, 9, 10, 11) – 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13 in. Sleeves (option Long Sleeves) length from underarm (35, 35, 35, 35) – 38, 38, 38, 38 cm / (13.7) – 15 in – adjustable for all sizes. Body length 55 cm /21.6 in – adjustable for all sizes. Sleeves (option Short Sleeves) length from underarm 17 cm/6.6 in – adjustable for all sizes. Body length 55 cm /21.6 in – adjustable for all sizes.

Yarn used for chart Millstone Collar 1
For version 1 I up scaled one size as the pattern is written for DK, using 3 skeins of Sport Weight, La Bien Aimee, MERINO SPORT, 100g/325m (355 yd), 100% superwash merino, colors Yellow Brick Road Graffiti, 1 skein Grellow. For the black I used stash from Swans Island, 100g/480m (525 yd), 100% organic merino wool, hand-tied hand dyed (CC).

Yarn used for chart Millstone Collar 2
DK Weight, Wol met Verve, VIGOROUS DK, 115g/230 m (251 yd), 100% superwash merino, handdyed, colors Raspberry Rose (CC), Nude (MC1),Speckled Off White (MC2).

Yarn used for Millstone Collar 3
DK Weight, Garthenor, NUMBER 2 JACOB, 50g/140m (153 yd), 100% certified organic British Pure New Jacob Wool, colors Pebble (CC3), Whitewash (CC1), Flint (MC). And Garthenor, STOUR,50g/170m (185 yd), 100% certified organic single flock Pure New Poll Dorset Wool, Bilberry (blue - CC2).

Amount of yarn needed
Ranges from 1600 m/1749 yd XS to 2000 m/2187 yd 4XL. The pattern gives detailed information per size and per color (MC, CC1, CC2) of the skeins you need.

Needles
Circular needles 3.5 mm (4 US) cable sizes 60 cm (24 in), 80 cm (32 in) and 40 cm. Circular needles 3 mm (3 US) cable sizes 40 cm (16 in). For the smaller circumferences you can either use magic loop or DPNs.

Gauge
Gauge 22 sts x 30 rounds = 10x10 cm (4x4 in) in stockinet stitch after blocking, needles 3.5 mm.

Hope you will enjoy the making of your own updated Millstone Collar! Soft and cozy for the winter months to come.

Antoinette aka Beauxknits