Midsummer by Maaike van Geijn

Midsummer

Knitting
November 2025
Sport (12 wpi) ?
26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette Stitch
US 2 - 2.75 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
English Finnish

Midsummer is a floral colourwork yoke sweater with a relaxed yet elegant fit, knitted seamlessly from the top down. It is inspired by the iconic photograph of Tove Jansson wearing a Midsummer flower wreath. Tove often depicted Midsummer as a magical, mysterious time of quiet seas and ponds, blossom­ing meadows, bonfires and deep wonder.

This sweater is an ode to Tove and her art, inspired by a celebration she cherished. The flower garlands, worked in stranded colourwork, are enhanced with duplicate stitch to add more variety and soften the repeats, moving beyond the predictable rhythms of traditional stranded motifs.

Sizes 
1 (2, 3, 4, 5) (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Recommended ease: 4–8” / 10–20 cm of positive ease. 

Finished Measurements
Chest Circumference: 37 (40.5, 46, 48.5, 52.5) (56, 58.5, 62.5, 67.25, 71.5)“ / 92.5 (101.5, 115, 121, 131) (140, 147, 156, 168, 178.5) cm. 

Yoke Depth (at centre front, excluding neck ribbing): 8.75 (9.25, 9.5, 10, 10.5) (10.75, 11.25, 11.5, 12, 12.5)“ / 22 (23, 24, 25, 26) (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) cm.

Upper Sleeve Circumference: 12.5 (13.25, 14, 15.5, 16.5) (17, 18.25, 18.75, 19.25, 20)“/ 31.5 (33, 35, 38, 41) (42.5, 45.5, 47, 48, 50) cm.

Sleeve Length from Underarm to Cuff (adjustable): 17.25” / 43 cm.

Length from Underarm to Hem (adjustable): 8.5 (8.5, 8.5, 9.5, 9.5) (9.5, 9.5, 9.5, 10.5, 10.5)“ / 22 (22, 22, 24, 24) (24, 24, 24, 26, 26) cm.

Materials
Yarn: Sport Nouveau by La Bien Aimée (100% non-superwash fine merino, 328 yds / 300 m – 100 g). 

MC: 4 (5, 5, 5, 6) (6, 7, 7, 8, 8) skeins in the colourway Avoine.
CC1: 1 skein in the colourway Blue Royal.
CC2: 1 skein in the colourway The Shire.
CC3: 1 skein in the colourway Anemone.
CC4: 1 skein in the colourway Coquelicot.
CC5: 1 skein in the colourway Blanc.
CC6: 1 skein in the colourway Yellow Brick Road.

Or approx. the foll. amounts of a similar sport-weight yarn:
MC: 1270 (1400, 1560, 1640, 1820) (1970, 2100, 2190 , 2340, 2450) yds / 1160 (1280, 1420, 1500, 1660) (1800, 1920, 2000, 2140, 2240) m.
CC1: 23 (25, 27, 28, 32) (33, 35, 37, 40, 41) yds /21 (23, 24, 26, 29) (30, 32, 33, 36, 38) m.
CC2: 60 (64, 69, 73, 79) (84, 92, 96, 100, 102) yds / 54 (59, 63, 66, 72) (77, 82, 87, 90, 93) m.
CC3: 23 (25, 27, 28, 32) (33, 35, 37, 40, 41) yds /21 (23, 24, 26, 29) (30, 32, 33, 36, 38) m.
CC4: 32 (35, 38, 40, 43) (46, 50, 51, 55, 58) yds /29 (32, 35, 36, 39) (42, 45, 47, 50, 53) m.
CC5: 27 (30, 32, 33, 37) (38, 41, 43, 45, 48) yds /24 (27, 29, 30, 33) (35, 38, 39, 41, 44) m. CC6: 17 (19, 20, 22, 23) (23, 27, 28, 30, 30) yds /15 (17, 18, 20, 21) (21, 24, 26, 27, 27) m.

Alternative yarn suggestions are for example Semilla by BC Garn, Hverdagsuld by CaMaRose and Nimbus by Fonty.  

Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm (for ribbing), US 4 / 3.5 mm (for St St) and US 5 / 3.75 mm (for colourwork) circular needles (16”/ 40 cm, 24”/ 60 cm and 32–40” / 80-100 cm) and DPNs (or preferred method for working small circumferences in the round). 

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders or waste yarn.

Gauge
26 sts × 34 rnds to 4” / 10 cm on US 4 / 3.5 mm needles in St St, after blocking. 26 sts × 34 rnds to 4” / 10 cm on US 5 / 3.75 mm needles in Colourwork patt, after blocking.