The Lissuin pattern is also available in ‘Novel Knits’, a book celebrating British Literature in stitches.

In the works of J.R.R. Tolkien Lissuin is a sweet-smelling flower from Tol Eressea ‘’whose fragrance brings hearts ease’’. Elves brought the flowers to Númenor for adornment of the feast following the wedding of Aldarion and Erendis.

The jumper (US ‘sweater’) is knitted seamlessly in the round from the bottom up with raglan shaping at the yoke and a steeked sweetheart neckline. Thus purling in the colourwork pattern is entirely avoided. Combined with spit splicing this construction method also creates very few ends to weave in.

The pattern is graded for knitting jumpers in ten sizes, from 32 to 50 inch chest circumferences. When finished the jumper has one inch of positive ease at the chest.

I have worked to make this pattern very helpful to the knitter. Clear written instructions are accompanied by charts for every portion of the project except the ribbed edgings. A detailed schematic (diagram) is included to guide the knitter in blocking the finished jumper. The PDF links to various online tutorials for the special techniques involved; twisted German cast-on, magic loop knitting, spit splicing, corrugated ribbing, stranded knitting, and steeking.

Needles used are 3mm/US 2 1/2’’ circulars in 60cm/24’’, 80cm/32’’, and 100cm/40’’ lengths, or size required to get the required tension/gauge of 32 stitches and 40 rounds = 10cm/4’’ in stranded pattern. An 80cm/32’’ 2.75mm/US 2 circular is also required for the neck edging.

Yarn requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift comes in 25g balls. The number of balls required in each shade varies according to the size knitted as follows:

Sizes are 32’’ (34’’, 36’’, 38’’, 40’’, 42’’, 44’’, 46’’, 48’’, 50’’)

Leprechaun: 4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5)
Port Wine: 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6)
Dusk: 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4)
Daffodil: 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)
Lemon: 1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2)
Ivy: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)

Please take care if substituting other yarn brands. The sleeve length relies on some growth from blocking. Non-wool or superwash wool yarns may not be friendly enough to blocking to achieve this.

Many thanks to Alison Greenwill for technical editing of this pattern.