Comfortable and stylish with a flattering drape, Strange Weather is an easy pullover that lets the yarn take centre stage. This sweater is worked flat in two pieces from cuff to middle, and joined with a three needle bind off at the centre front and back. Seam each side from shirttail shaping to cuff, work a simple garter stitch neckband, and you’re done. Strange Weather comes in a wide, #sizeinclusive range of sizes, to fit busts from 30 in/76 cm to 61 in/155cm with 6-10 in/15-25 cm of ease. Pattern includes tips for selecting your yarn, adjusting the sleeve length, body length, and neckline depth, and for adding extra room around the hips. To make Strange Weather, you will need to know how to knit, purl, and seam. Instructions for working a three needle bind off are included in the pattern.

Finished Garment Sizes

Bust: 40 (43, 46, 49) (52, 55, 58) (61, 64, 67) in/101.5 (109, 117, 124.5) (132, 139.5, 147.5) (156, 162.5, 170) cm. Intended to be worn with 6-10in/15-25cm ease. The sample shown is size 3 (46 in/117 cm), worn with 10 in/25 cm of ease at the full bust on a 5 ft 7 in/ 170 cm tall model.

Yarn

Shibui Knits Nest (75% fine highland wool, 25% alpaca; 175 yds/146 m per 1.76 oz/50 g): 7 (8, 8, 9) (10, 11, 11) (12, 13, 14) skeins (shown in Graphite)

Needles

• US7/4.5 mm circular needle 36 in/80cm length or longer (or size needed for correct gauge)
• US6/4.0 mm circular needle, 24 in/60cm or shorter (or one size smaller than gauge needle)
• US7/4.5 mm straight needles or circular needle 24 in/60cm length or longer (optional: if not using, you will need a spare needle size 4.5mm or smaller for 3 needle bind off. See Pattern Notes.)

Notions

• 1 stitch marker
• yarn needle
• scrap yarn for holding stitches

About the Yarn

Nest is a DK weight wool/alpaca blend, comprising fine wool threads wrapped loosely around a lofty wool/alpaca single. The colour contrast between the threads and the single gives a marled look, while the structure makes for a light, airy, slightly textured fabric. The fine highland wool used is sturdier than merino for better wear, but still soft enough to go next to the skin unless you’re quite sensitive to wool. The alpaca adds softness, warmth, and drape. This design could work in a variety of yarns, though the sideways construction means that heavier, worsted-spun yarns could pull your sweater out of shape. If you’re substituting yarn, look for a fairly lofty sport to DK weight yarn that has some drape at the pattern’s gauge. You will need approximately 1220 (1320, 1420, 1550) (1650, 1790, 1910) (2040, 2200, 2340) yds/1115 (1210, 1300, 1420) (1510, 1640, 1750) (1870, 2010, 2140) m.