A sweater version of my popular ‘Original Cardigan’. A mix of Peerie and classic Fair Isle motifs decorate the yoke, which is matched with a traditional all-over pattern at the base. Knit top-down and in the round. Use highlights of really bright colours to make this unique sweater really sing.

Construction

A seamless, top-down sweater, you will start by casting on the neck stitches and incorporating a few short rows into the ribbing at the back. Gradual increases are made as you knit the colourful yoke. Once the yoke has been knitted, the sleeves and body are separated and continue to be knit in the round to the bottom. The body is straight down and the sleeves are tapered.

Gauge (in Fair Isle colourwork):

30 stitches x 28 rounds = 10 x 10 cm on 3 mm needles.
Neck ribbing gauge stretches out to almost 20 stitches in 10 cm, all other ribbings will gather in slightly and be tighter than the main fabric.

Materials

1 x size 3 mm circular needle, 20, 40 & 60 cm long (for ease of working first yoke and then body stitches.)
1 x size 2.5 mm circular needle 60 cm long.
1 x set of size 2.5 mm dpns.
2 x stitch holders.

Yarn

Any fingering-weight or super fine yarn that knits to 30 stitches in 10 cm on 2.75-3 mm needles. Fair Isle colour work is best when knit using a non-superwash pure wool that will bloom and blend with the other colours around it when washed. I use 2 strands held together of Z. Hinchcliffe & Sons Lambswool, (2/17; 2 ply) Linen (MC) and Inferno (CC1). Available at Uppingham Yarns (wool.co.uk).
Other suitable yarns (NOT held together):
Jamieson’s and Sons Spindrift; J & S Jumperweight; Bouclelaine Oeussant; BC Garn Bio Shetland; Rauma Finull; Isager Tvinni

You will need about 250 (275, 300, 325, 350) meters of each MC and CC1 and oddments of 8-9 colours from your stash.