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Description
There is a local breeder of Ryeland sheep here in Aberdeenshire in Scotland (http://www.dessland-ryelands.com/) and as soon as I discovered their yarn I knew I had to knit something with it. Other than merino, this is probably one of the softest wool yarns I’ve used. It also has an incredible bounce to it. When knitted held together with one strand of mohair, the result is a luscious, soft and squishy sweater that I can hardly bare to take off.

This drop shoulder sweater is worked from the top down, starting with a folded neckband. The shoulders are cast on and the front and back are worked flat until reaching the body. The body is worked in the round and the sweater is finished with a folded hem. The sleeves are picked up and worked top down and finished with a folded hem.

The stripes are made using a strand of Dessland Ryeland Flock held together with one strand of Rowan Kidsilk. There is one main colour stripe made with MC and CC1 held together and several contrasting colour stripes made with MC and all the other CC colours. The MC/CC1 stripe is knitted in reverse stockinette stitch, although there is actually very little purling in this sweater due to a neat little trick! When we get to the body and start knitting in the round, we reverse direction of our knitting each time we change stripe which allows us to carry on knitting instead of purling.

For this sweater I’ve used 4 contrast colours with one neutral main colour, but you can use as many as you like. It’s a great project for using up leftover mohair yarn!

Materials
Dessland Ryeland Flock (100% Wool) 100g, 350m / 380 yd (please email enquiries@dessland-ryelands.com for availability).

MC Grey/Brown 3 (3, 4, 4, 4)(4, 4, 5, 5) balls

Or substitute for any 4 ply wool yarn, preferably from a Ryeland but any other soft and bouncy wool yarn would be fine, in the following approx. quantities:
900 (980, 1070, 1150, 1250)(1310, 1420, 1475, 1585) yds / 830 (900, 975, 1050, 1150)(1200, 1300, 1350, 1450) m

Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% Mohair, 30% Silk) 25g, 210m / 230yd

CC1 Anthracite 3 (3, 3, 3, 3)(4, 4, 4, 4) balls
CC2 Jelly 1 ball
CC3 Purpilicious 1 ball
CC4 Peacock 1 ball
CC5 Blushes 1 ball

Or substitute for any other lace weight mohair yarn in the following quantities:
CC1 Anthracite 450 (490, 535, 570, 625)(670, 705, 745, 780) yds / 410 (450, 490, 520, 570)(610, 645, 680, 715) m
CC2 Jelly 110 (120, 125, 135, 155)(160, 170, 180, 190) yds / 100 (110, 115, 125, 140)(145, 155, 165, 175) m
CC3 Purpilicious 110 (120, 125, 135, 155)(160, 170, 180, 190) yds / 100 (110, 115, 125, 140)(145, 155, 165, 175) m
CC4 Peacock 110 (120, 125, 135, 155)(160, 170, 180, 190) yds / 100 (110, 115, 125, 140)(145, 155, 165, 175) m
CC5 Blushes 110 (120, 125, 135, 155)(160, 170, 180, 190) yds / 100 (110, 115, 125, 140)(145, 155, 165, 175) m

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

Finished Measurements
40 (44, 48, 52, 56)(60, 64, 68, 72)”
101 (112, 122, 132, 142)(152, 163, 173, 183) cm

Recommended ease is 8 – 10” / 20 – 25 cm

Gauge
16 stitches & 26 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette st using Main Fabric needle.

Needles
Main Fabric: US 7/4.5mm 24”/60cm to 40”/100cm circular needle.
Inner Neckband and Cuffs: US 6/4mm 16”/40cm circular needle.